Course Testimonial: Jonah Hershowitz

Jonah Hershowitz, Pain Specialist“I’ve been studying and using laser and PBM therapy clinically for 15 years, and THOR’s training was hands-down the best available. It was well organized and covered the important information to get off the ground with treatment. It really helps that James is likeable, has a good sense of humor, and keeps it fun.”

Jonah Hershowitz
Pain Specialist
San Francisco CA, USA

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Course Testimonial: Jocelyn Myra Caja

Jocelyn Myra Caja, Medical Doctor“The training course was enriching, great evidence-based medicine and good pacing. Thanks.”

Jocelyn Myra Caja
Medical Doctor
Manila, Philippines

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New paper published reports significant benefits using NovoTHOR for fibromyalgia

NovoTHOR Whole Body Light Pod

City Hospital, Birmingham UK (an NHS hospital) published a new paper on NovoTHOR for fibromyalgia.

Sixteen fibromyalgia patients who had been suffering from pain and related sleep and psychological issues for an average of 15.6 ± 7.7 years received 18 NovoTHOR treatments over a 6-week period.

Participants reported significant benefits such as reduced pain, less fatigue, better sleep quality, and improved mobility and energy levels. They also felt happier and more able to engage in daily activities, noting an overall uplift in their quality of life.

The study details several specific improvements in day-to-day functioning such as:

  1. Engagement in Sports and Physical Activities: Some participants reported being able to engage in sports and physical activities again. For example, one participant was able to participate in sporting activities with his wife, such as holding focus mitts for her, which he hadn’t been able to do before.
  2. Increased Social Activities: Participants noted an increased ability to go out to social events. For example, one mentioned going out to the theatre and being able to engage in evening activities without the usual repercussions of fatigue the following day.
  3. Hobbies and Interests: There was a resumption of hobbies and interests, such as arts and crafts, gardening, and reading, which participants had previously set aside due to their symptoms.
  4. Traveling: Improved symptoms allowed some participants to travel longer distances to visit relatives, something they hadn’t been able to do for years due to their condition.
  5. Day-to-Day Tasks: Participants also reported improvements in their ability to perform day-to-day tasks, such as household chores and walking the dog, activities that had been challenging due to pain and fatigue.

Trip to Dignitas was cancelled. Mood showed improvement as early as the first full treatment, most significantly to the point where one patient “no longer wants to take their own life“, another had been saving to go to Dignitas “it gave me hope whereas before I didn’t wanna live. . .I do feel a bit brighter, I do“.

Participants describe feeling much happier in themselves and feeling a lot more positive in their attitude, upbeat, brighter, happier, lighter, more bubbly than normal

chipper
such a boost
my mood’s lifted, and I feel good
I no longer cry at the drop of a hat
I can take things on
my mood’s improved massively

Another acknowledges that their mood is better correlated with getting tasks done.

Being able to dress how I used to because the pain is better

A participant with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) describes feeling lighter with fewer flashbacks that usually cause her to break down in tears.

A participant was struggling with anhedonia (inability to feel pleasure)—”if somebody gave me a newspaper/book to read I just wouldn’t bother with it“. This disinterest has improved exponentially—”I’d certainly say the past month I’ve started using stuff like the rubik’s cube, I mean that’s something I’ve not played on since I was a kid, so I’ve been
doing something to test the mind”
.

“I just feel as though I’m not walking through mud anymore. I feel like I can hold my head up and you know, walk on, walk straight. . .I don’t feel like I’ve got a cloud above my head” (Participant A)

“I mean, literally every time I come home I’ve got a smile on my face”

“my depression was bad, really bad, I was suicidal—but now I don’t even feel like that now. . .it’s improving to a state where I don’t even think about taking extra tablets or doing anything stupid. . .it’s definitely helped with my depression. Before I started I was suicidal, very suicidal. And it’s improved to the stage where I don’t want to commit suicide anymore”

Read the paper here: Whole-Body Photobiomodulation Therapy Propels the Fibromyalgia Patient into the Recomposition Phase: A Reflexive Thematic Analysis

Posted in PBM/LLLT, Research, THE FUTURE OF PBM/LLLT | on New paper published reports significant benefits using NovoTHOR for fibromyalgia

Course Testimonial: Debra Vanschaardenburg

Naples FL, USA“I liked everything in the training course. Great information, wonderful lecture and teacher. Everything was so good, thanks.”

Debra Vanschaardenburg
Wellness Clinic / Consultant
Naples FL, USA

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Making the hardest days easier – photobiomodulation for treatment of oral mucositis

Making the hardest days easier – photobiomodulation for treatment of oral mucositis

Oral mucositis is a common side effect of high-dose chemotherapy or radiotherapy, leaving many patients unable to eat, drink, or swallow and consequently requiring tube feeding.

Until recently, there had been no satisfactory treatment or method of prevention. However, Photobiomodulation (PBM), a light therapy treatment proven safe and effective by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), is now widely used across the NHS with incredible results.

Jenny Gale, a head and neck clinical nurse specialist at East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Trust, said: “It can really make your mouth sore, and it hurts to swallow, which can make eating and drinking difficult, as well as impacting your general wellbeing.”

She added: “PBM is completely painless and very simple to carry out; most patients can do it themselves.

“Evidence shows patients need less pain relief when they’ve had PBM, and they generally cope with their treatment better. It’s really exciting that we are offering it in our hospitals now.”

The breakthrough allowing NHS adoption of PBM is due to the development of the THOR LED lollipop, which patients use by placing it in their mouth for 60 seconds on the tongue and 60 seconds under the tongue.

Photobiomodulation is a low-intensity light therapy that stimulates mitochondria to produce more energy (ATP) and reduce inflammation, rapidly reducing pain and improving healing rates.

It can be used prophylactically to prevent the incidence and severity of oral mucositis or therapeutically after mucositis has developed.

Both the Christie and Leeds Cancer Centres found that PBM reduced morphine prescriptions by 63 per cent and 45 per cent, respectively, in their audits and reduced hospital bed days by 88.7 per cent at Christie and hospitalisation by 89 per cent at Leeds.

There is a rare opportunity to attend the World Association for Photobiomodulation conference, which will be held in London this year from August 23 to 25, where many NHS users of PBM will be presenting their data and discussing it one-on-one with delegates.

Visit PBM2024.com for details.

Posted in Industry, PBM/LLLT, THE FUTURE OF PBM/LLLT | on Making the hardest days easier – photobiomodulation for treatment of oral mucositis

Course Testimonial: Wendy Besler MD

Wendy Besler, Medical Doctor“The training course was very informative and really helpful, especially the review of research studies. Thanks.”

Wendy Besler MD
Medical Doctor
Michigan, USA

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Course Testimonial: Nicola Freeman

Nicola Freeman, Consultant radiographer“James was very engaging and knowledgeable about the equipment, what happens at a cellular level, the physics of the interactions etc. It was good to see the other uses for the PBM unit and gave me ideas for other things that we could try too. James was open in his discussion and acknowledged his obvious bias to the device, but was realistic of it’s potential.”

Nicola Freeman
Consultant radiographer
Leicester, UK

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Posted in Testimonials | on Course Testimonial: Nicola Freeman