Photobiomodulation Therapy (PBMT): What is It? How Does It Work? What Can It Do For You? Juanita J. Anders, Ph.D. Professor of Anatomy, Physiology, and Genetics Professor of Neuroscience Uniformed Services University

I describe the mechanisms by which different wavelengths of light impact the cells, tissues and organs of the human body, and how specifically timed light exposure of specific wavelengths can be used to improve sleep, enhance alertness, modulate hormone levels, and improve mood. I also explain the use of ultraviolet and infrared phototherapies to relieve pain increase testosterone and estrogen levels; improve skin health, appearance and wound healing; and how red light can be used to offset age-related vision loss and provide neuroprotection. Throughout the episode, I describe the mechanisms of light-based therapies and actionable tools that people can use positively impact mental and physical health. Thank you to our sponsors AG1 (Athletic Greens): https://athleticgreens.com/huberman Thesis: https://takethesis.com/huberman LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/huberman Our Patreon page https://www.patreon.com/andrewhuberman Supplements from Thorne https://www.thorne.com/u/huberman Social & Website: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/hubermanlab Twitter - https://twitter.com/hubermanlab Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/hubermanlab TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@hubermanlab Website - https://hubermanlab.com Newsletter - https://hubermanlab.com/neural-network Subscribe to the Huberman Lab Podcast: Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3DbFdlv Spotify: https://spoti.fi/34Xod5H Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3wo01EJ Other platforms: https://hubermanlab.com/follow Article Links Skin exposure to UVB light induces a skin-brain-gonad axis and sexual behavior: https://bit.ly/3MbtbeT Skin Exposure to Ultraviolet B Rapidly Activates Systemic Neuroendocrine and Immunosuppressive Response: https://bit.ly/36nmojd A visual circuit related to the periaqueductal gray area for the antinociceptive effects of bright light treatment: https://bit.ly/3xutcXo Light exposure during sleep impairs cardiometabolic function: https://bit.ly/3xykAPq Light-emitting diodes in dermatology: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials: https://bit.ly/3viUlJW Low-level laser (light) therapy (LLLT) in skin: stimulating, healing, restoring: https://bit.ly/3vwHJPQ Weeklong improved colour contrasts sensitivity after single 670 nm exposures associated with enhanced mitochondrial function: https://go.nature.com/3rA6IjT Red light: A novel, non-pharmacological intervention to promote alertness in shift workers: https://bit.ly/3MfBbvI Gamma Entrainment Binds Higher-Order Brain Regions and Offers Neuroprotection: https://bit.ly/3vqkgzB Other Links Light pads: https://amzn.to/3xAFVIb Light boxes: https://amzn.to/36lHcaC Timestamps 00:00:00 Using Light to Improve Health 00:04:31 The Brain-Body Contract 00:05:17 AG1 (Athletic Greens), Thesis, LMNT 00:09:56 Physics of Light, Electromagnetic Energy 00:12:23 Wavelengths of Light 00:15:38 How Light Penetrates Tissues 00:20:13 Light & the Body: Direct & Indirect Signals 00:28:35 Light, Seasonality & Melatonin 00:33:40 Melatonin: Regulatory & Protective Effects 00:38:49 Tools: Optimizing Melatonin Levels 00:44:49 Sun (UVB light) Exposure, Mating Behavior, Testosterone & Estrogen 00:58:09 Seasonality, Romantic Passion & Testosterone 01:02:13 Tool: Skin Sun Exposure & Testosterone 01:06:13 Light & Improved Pain Tolerance 01:11:55 Protocol: Sun Exposure & Chronic Pain 01:12:48 Tools: Sunlight (UVB), Blue-Light Blockers, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) 01:19:44 Light & Enhanced Immune Function 01:23:30 Tool: Light During Winter Months 01:26:18 Light Therapies: Local vs. Systemic Exposure 01:28:54 Tool: Improving Mood, Timing of Natural & Artificial Light 01:32:44 Light Conditions & Sleep Optimization 01:39:00 Infrared Light, Skin & Wound Healing 01:46:00 Infrared Light Therapy & Skin, Low-Level Laser (Light) Therapy (LLLT) 01:49:20 Infrared Light & Age-Related Vision Loss 01:59:36 Tools: Infrared Panels, Morning Exposure 02:05:22 Infrared Light at Night, Shift Work 02:08:35 Light Flicker Phototherapy & Neuroprotection 02:19:07 Phototherapies for Health 02:20:50 Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify Reviews, Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Patreon, Thorne, Instagram, Twitter, Neural Network Newsletter, Brain-Body Contract The Huberman Lab Podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing or other professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice, and no doctor/patient relationship is formed. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast is at the user’s own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their health care professionals for any such conditions. Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac - https://www.blabacphoto.com

Presentation given by Prof. Tiina Karu at the International Light Association 2015 Conference, in Tallinn, Estonia. Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Photobiomodulation: This presentation reviews the current knowledge in photobiology and photo-medicine regarding the influence of monochromatic, quasi-monochromatic and broad-band radiation of the red-to-near infrared (IR-A) part of the solar spectrum upon mammalian cells and human skin. The role of cytochrome c oxidase as the photo-acceptor and photo-signal transducer is underlined and its photo-sensitivity under certain circumstances is discussed. The role of ATP as a critical signaling molecule is summarised.

35 min talk on History and Anti-inflammatory Mechanisms of Photobiomodulation for FOTnS Virtual Conference in Brazil (also has Portuguese subtitles)

Mechanisms of photobiomodulation and application to the brain. Professor Michael Hamblin (University of Johannesburg). Introduction by Dr Rhys Mould. The Guy Foundation 2021 Autumn Series. Visit our website: www.theguyfoundation.org.

Michael R Hamblin Ph.D. was a Principal Investigator at the Wellman Center for Photomedicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, an Associate Professor of Dermatology at Harvard Medical School and is now a Distinguished Visiting Professor at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa. He gained his PhD in organic chemistry from Trent University in England. His research interests include photodynamic therapy, photobiomodulation drug delivery, nanomedicine, and tissue engineering. His research program was supported by NIH, CDMRP, USAFOSR and CIMIT. He has published over 560 peer-reviewed articles, over 150 conference proceedings, book chapters and International abstracts and holds 10 patents. He is Editor-in Chief of “Photobiomodulation, Photomedicine and Laser Surgery”, Associate Editor for 10 journals, on the editorial board of a further 20 journals. He has an h-factor 113 and 52,000 citations. He has authored/edited 25 textbooks on PDT and photomedicine including 13 SPIE proceedings. Dr Hamblin was elected as a Fellow of SPIE in 2011, received the 1st Endre Mester Lifetime Achievement Award from NAALT in 2017, the Outstanding Career Award from the Dose Response Society, and the 1st Ali Javan award for Photobiomodulation Basic Science Research from WALT in 2018. This talk was part of Synchrony 2020 Online Symposium - 'From Bench to Biopharma', organised by the The BRAIN Foundation in partnership with UC Davis MIND Institute and CalTech. For more Synchrony 2020 talks and highlights: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDtO9h17tcWcRGZHOgtNG9YMJ7BJkO6VR 🧠 🧠 🧠 🧠 🧠 🧠 🧠 🧠 🧠 🧠 🧠 🧠 🧠 🧠 Synchrony https://synchronysymposium.com/ is the first and only international symposium on translational research in #autism, that brings together academia, #biotech, pharmaceutical companies and #venture partners from around the world with the mission to improve health and quality of life of people with #autismspectrumdisorder. 🧠 🧠 🧠 🧠 🧠 🧠 🧠 🧠 🧠 🧠 🧠 🧠 🧠 🧠 The BRAIN Foundation https://brainfoundation.org/ is a 501c(3) non-profit. The founders of BRAIN envision a world where every child and adult on the autism spectrum is healthy, participates fully in education and employment, and has a better quality of life. It aims to catalyze research that results in evidence-based interventions for the disabilities associated with autism, and also results in better medical standard of care. To accomplish this, it funds impactful research through #philanthropy and our network of partners in the venture, corporate, and grassroots community.

Interview by Al Jazeera for the work published in Science and Translational Medicine 2014. Courtesy: Mr. Tareek Bazely

Summary of talk given at the 14th Annual International Conference on Dose-Response on "Preconditioning in Biology and Medicine" 2015 hosted by the International Dose-Response Society.