Intranasal photobiomodulation is a distinct form of light therapy or photobiomodulation (PBM). Perhaps, the newest form of PBM, intranasal photobiomodulation (iPBM), is simple, yet powerful.
Invention of iPBM took place less than a decade ago. The objective of the inventor was two-fold. Thus, one objective was delivery of the red light for systemic effects in the body. Another objective was to deliver near infrared (NIR) light to the frontal area of the brain via the nasal passage.
On the one hand, the main supporting reason to place a source of red light into the nasal passage is the proximity to the dense capillary network. This proximity allows the red light to penetrate the capillaries and reach the blood.
On the other hand, the support for the idea to place the NIR light in the nasal passage is the proximity to the frontal aria of the brain. The NIR light easily penetrates a porous bone which is the only barrier on its way to the brain.
Furthermore, intranasal photobiomodulation can be easily combined with other forms of PBM, including transcranial PBM. Ultimately, such combinations deliver more holistic modulating effects to the body and the brain.
As a form of light therapy, the iPBM is versatile and has a number of applications. The effectiveness of iPBM is under investigations in clinical studies for a number of applications.