Photonic Therapy
Photonic Therapy
Photonic Therapy is the application of monochromatic light to classical acupuncture points, and is the correct name for what has been described as laser acupuncture, or low-level laser therapy.
Photonic Therapy is used as an alternative to traditional “needle acupuncture” as often pets do not tolerate the traditional from of acupuncture very well.
Any condition which responds to traditional acupuncture is also amenable to Photonic
Therapy.
Here at Wilston Vet we have been using Photonic Therapy mainly for pain relief in pets. This has been particularly useful for any joint, skeletal or arthritic pain.
How is it Performed?
Treatment consists of stimulation of skin areas, two or three times weekly, for 5 seconds per point. Usually about eight treatments are required for most conditions. If the condition has been persistent for a long time then a larger number of treatments may be required. As the treatment is totally safe and painless, longer treatment times will not do any harm.
Our veterinarians provide the first consultation and devise a treatment plan. Subsequent visits are performed by our veterinary nurses.
How Much Does it Cost?
The initial consultation and treatment plan performed by our veterinarians is a standard consultation fee. ($48.00). Please allow 30 to 45 minutes for this initial consultation.
Follow up treatments performed by our nurses are $27.50 each and take between 15 and 20 minutes.
You are welcome to drop your pet off for treatment, or else stay during the procedure.
Remember that it is totally non-invasive and painless.
How does it Work?- The technical side of things.
When a light is shone on an acupuncture point it changes the electrical potential of the cell’s walls and the energy level of the cells, in exactly the same way as an acupuncture needle would do, without the problems associated with skin penetration.
Acupuncture points are known to be areas on the skin of increased electrical conductivity, the stimulation of which can change physiological body functions. Acupuncture points can therefore be seen to be the skin’s, electric field sensory system, which is common to all things, in both the animal and plant kingdoms.
When an acupuncture point is stimulated by a needle it produces pressure and an electrical stimulation which is transmitted via the nerves to stimulate the brain. This is not just a momentary effect, but the change in electrical potential at that location changes the energy levels of the surrounding cells for some 32 to 48 hours. The needle causes microtrauma, which releases a cascade of body substances, which act as chemical messengers to stimulate the nerve endings to stimulate healing. This is the same as if a person gets stung by a bee, where the injury is momentary but the effects can last for a couple of days.
The chemical messengers released by the needle’s microtrauma, are called primary messengers. These stimulate AMP, which acts as a secondary messenger. When a light is shone on an acupuncture point it changes the electrical potential of the mitochondrial walls within the cell, and therefore the energy of the cell in exactly the same way as an acupuncture needle would do, by increasing AMP, without the problems associated with skin penetration. A person has information about their environment, such as noises, light intensity, temperature, or clothing touching their skin, flooding into the brain the whole time. The brain has the ability to switch off and ignore these signals. It is the same with pain, if the condition goes on for more than 6 weeks the brain learns to accept the problem and the person is in chronic pain, and has a non-healing problem or progressive disease such as arthritis, diabetes, or glaucoma. By stimulating certain skin areas, we can change the perception the brain is receiving, and cause the brain to release certain neurochemicals (endorphins and cortisones), which cause the body to heal.
If you would like more technical information, please see
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