Safety and Side Effects

Side effects, safety and contraindications of low level laser therapy and non-laser light therapy

Based on the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) information sheets for medical devices, low level laser therapy (LLLT) as well as normal light therapy devices are categorized as “non-significant risk” products.

After more than three decades of research there is no known major side effects attached to these light therapies.

Reported side effects for some first-time users include:

• Tiredness (temporary) – probably due to the release of metabolites but the majority report a resurgence of energy
• Headaches (temporary) – from the reactivation of neural connections and increased microcirculation
• Dry throat (temporary) – from the stimulation of renal functions
• Reactivation of repressed mental trauma – the reactivation of neural connections may trigger repressed traumatic memories to resurface.

Energy Safety Issues

Qi-light has a non-laser based light source (incoherent light) with insignificant intensity. The energy generated is lower than natural light. It’s energy output of 8mW is 125 times lower than that of a small flash light with the typical power of 1 W.

RadiantLife LT has a low intensity laser source that is powered to generate very low and safe energy output. Its energy output of 5 mW is 200 times lower than that for a small flash light with the typical energy of 1W.

However pointing a laser light to the retina can cause tissue damage and scarring. The danger of this is mitigated by the fact that the RadiantLife laser is not pure, collimated laser: the light is not completely coherent and has some built-in divergence of about 57 degrees. Human involuntary reflex would also cause immediate blinking when the laser light is pointed to the eye. Nevertheless precaution should still always be taken and it should not be handled by children without supervision.

Reference

1. Tuner J and Horde L. The New Laser Therapy Handbook. Prima Books AB. 2010