Uncover Light Therapy’s Role In Chronic Healing

Jennifer Miele

Well, I thank you, Sinclair, for having me on this, for the beautiful words, and for recognizing generosity. That means the world to me. I am going to point out that you were always that way. So, you are welcome.

Sinclair Kennally, CNHP, CNC

Let us dive right into it. I really want folks to understand that we are going to remember our audience here for Reversing Chronic Gut Conditions. It has been a long road, right? I know that this is my population as well as yours. We have both been there with our own personal health journeys. We really empathize with and understand the complexities, and also how medicine may not have met folks really dealing with these chronic gut conditions in the way that one would hope, given the data available to us today. What I would like to start with actually is, what do you think are some of the most overlooked tools when it comes to supporting people with these chronic, persistent gut conditions and looking at how we can make use of them today?

Jennifer Miele

I think that some of that is actually a very good question. We are focusing more on the final photobiomodulation and light field. It really is a tool that I think we overlook because, to be very honest, everyone that we see is dealing with chronic gut issues. It does not matter if they are coming in with just general malaise, or not feeling well, or have a specific diagnosis of some kind, whether it be oncological, autoimmune, or just in general, not feeling well or low energy. A lot of our food sources these days are compromised. We know all these things. We are dealing with a lack of nutrients, absorption, enzymes, hydration, and cellular energy. One of the biggest things that I think none of us ever think about is the gut, which is our, we always think of as our second brain, to be honest. I think it is almost the first brain, as anything that goes in processes and keeps the body. It is the filtration; it is the battery source of the body. Finding proper foods and not overprocessed foods. I think this is a big one for people. We buy everything in packages and overprocess it. I think that is a big one. But most people know this. Then also, some people are on many different medications and supplements, and their bodies cannot absorb them anyway. We are trying to find a balance there, and we always focus on how we can give energy back to the body? Because the body is literally given energy. Literally, we can heal. Our body has the ability to heal itself. What we need to do is give it the state and support to be able to do that.

I think we overlook the intelligence of our bodies much of the time. Because we overload a little too much, which is what I love about photobiomodulation and laser therapy. Because most of us do not go out in the sun, even though all of us say, Hey, go out in the sun, our vitamin D levels are low. We do not do that. Having these little devices that can give your body back mitochondrial energy and cellular energy through light is something you can look at as an energy medicine or as pure scientific. It can be explained both ways. Both spectrums can be brought together. When it comes to some of the things that are overlooked in gut health, I think that simple things are being overlooked. The basis for all these different tools of photobiomodulation to give their energy back to the cells is also very important. I mean, there are a number of things that all of us do with different tools and access to devices that are available to us that we overlook. I do not know if that answered the question well enough, but it is an important little factor. I think we overlook it quite frequently.

Sinclair Kennally, CNHP, CNC

I agree. Absolutely. Could you help the audience understand what photobiomodulation is and it can heal the body in general?.

Jennifer Miele

Yes. To explain photobiomodulation in general terms, there are many ways to go about it. In general, there are specific structures and cells in our body that absorb specific wavelengths of light. You hear that most of us are vitamin D deficient because a lot of us are sitting indoors, wearing sunscreen, and protecting ourselves from the sun by then going out and getting that absorption. Most of us are not people that work outside—people that work outside and in farms, our surfers, or outside a lot and in gardens. You will notice usually that they do have a little bit more strength of energy per se. They are getting a little bit more of that cellular energy into their bodies by recharging solar power—literally, solar power on steroids. There are many ways to do it. Most people are going to be aware of these infrared light pads for pain. We see them almost everywhere. The devices we are referring to, which I am talking about, are different devices that are versatile. They can be utilized in different situations, including the one in which I am wearing a little wrist EndoLight band that has lasers that hit specific arteries or acupoints on the left wrist. It creates more systemic blood flow.

We know that certain colors of light have different effects on the body, for example. I am cheating a little bit because my brain is like, I need to make sure here. Red light and infrared light ranges in oxidation, increases oxidation, increase circulation, increase mitochondrial function, and increase ATP production. It is improving cardiovascularity. It is improving circulation; yellow light, for example, or the spectrum of yellow, enhances serotonin; dopamine increases vitamin D; it opens detox pathways—these are all things that we have seen, studied, and scientifically shown. But also in our own medical practices, we are seeing these results. Same thing, for example: we have green lights, then we have blue lights. Blue and ultraviolet are, I think, one of the two main ones that most people hear about out there in the infection field. Because many places use ultraviolet, there are different types of ultraviolet. Different devices will combine different wavelengths or colors of light in a way that can be given back to the body and give that energy back. We have a gastrointestinal issue with severe inflammation and discomfort. We are not able to absorb. We can utilize light therapy, and we know that it is never one thing, but we can utilize the different wavelengths of light, laser LEDs, etc., in these different types of devices to give that energy back to the body. You can target it more specifically if you combine or choose which wavelengths of colors you would like to use. Because each wavelength or color has a different effect, a physiological effect on the body, that is kind of a general explanation of the photobiomodulation.

Sinclair Kennally, CNHP, CNC

I think it is super helpful because people have seen the red light devices out there, and they are a little pricey. It is important to understand, like, Is this actually a good use of my time and my money? How does this actually contribute to my protocol? What else do I need in place if I have photobiomodulation as part of my protocol? All those questions—I think you searched for people.

Jennifer Miele

Yes, yes. It is very important.

Sinclair Kennally, CNHP, CNC

Let us talk about that. What would you describe as a photobiomodulation place or light therapy placed in a chronic condition for a support protocol? What you see is a beautiful stack. If you are really going to optimize the benefits of light therapy but also acknowledge its limitations.

Jennifer Miele

There are limitations to any therapy, right? But with light therapy or laser therapy, we have not seen that there is a limitation per se or an area where it would not be indicated because we are just getting back cellular energy to the body. There are specific cellular structures, and those structures can absorb specific wavelengths or colors. Let me go to Okay, light stimulates cellular signaling. It stimulates the metabolic system, stimulates the circulatory system, and gives back energy to the system. Also, if we look at what light does when it is exposed to cells under microscopes, we can see that we are affecting enzymatic properties and protein properties. We are seeing that it is actually working in the sense of giving energy back to the body rather than pulling it out. It is not taking a medication or supplement where we can overdose, right? We are doing something that the body is either going to utilize or it will not because it is just light. There are many different devices. You are right out there. This is going to help me, or this is not going to help me.

There is no way that it would not help to a certain extent because it is light. But there are differences in the kinds of diodes you use. They are LEDs, or light-emitting diodes. Light-emitting diodes are still great. We even use them. But with the quality of the diode, it is kind of going in. What would be a good explanation? I would say, Go in, get a coffee at the coffee shop, and it comes in a prepaid machine or pre-machine that you hit the button on. It is all mixed, and it has been sitting there for days, and the coffee is already ground. Or you go into a coffee shop, and they pull out the organic coffee and grind it. At the moment, you have a different value or a different quality for the product. I know I am relating it to coffee, and most probably I should not be, because this is gastrointestinal. But a lot of people say you should be drinking coffee if you are doing this right. Gut health, but I am using it as an example of the difference between, say, driving a beat-up car or a brand new one, where the diodes have different qualities. It does not mean that it does not work. You are going to get from point A to point B, but the quality of getting there and how your body responds to it are different. I did say that for the people looking at different units, we work with whatever medical company we work with; we work with many different companies, and they are German. Their quality—I mean, it kind of goes with the name, right? We always think of German companies as having this high standard. I will admit, they really do. The diodes that they use and one of the reasons why I work with them; we all work with them as a team. They are constantly doing research and trying to find the best next thing, but they are also making sure that it is not just the best next thing, and the trending thing. But it has some kind of science behind it, where we know what’s been used.

We have had these different lights. EndoLights and watches where you go online and you find one for X amount of dollars, you see another one for two times the price, and you go, Which one would I go for? How do I know the difference? Encourage people to research it because you are going to benefit from either one. But if you know the company’s background is medical, the diodes, for example, are pure lasers with one LED, and the others are pretty much pure LEDs. The type of diode makes a difference. You can have, we were just talking about one part versus another, the quality of the diode, the gasses in the diode to create that light have an effect and have a different effect on how you penetrate the body. The specific wavelength that is chosen to combine those light colors in a device is also very important. The layout of how the device is prepared is also very important. 

There is a method to the madness, as they say. There is research behind everything that is done. The EndoLight band is one thing from the Weber company, and it has pure laser diodes except for yellow. You are going to get much better penetration than with the version we had, which only used red light and the rest of the remedy. We still got an amazing result after putting it on topically and leaving it open for about three days. We see that it is affecting the body in a positive way. People who are looking for these different devices and know if they are going to buy something good or bad should reach out, ask questions, do research, and look for the company. You may be spending a little more, but it is important that the company offers you good support and that you are looking at what’s behind the science of that product. It is really important that the company is not just selling something. They are actually trying to continue to do research and make the product better, which you will notice with us that it is constantly having something new for that reason, but new with a science background understands that answers that question as well. Yes, I think so.

Sinclair Kennally, CNHP, CNC

It is important thing to underscore, we have tried. I hate to admit it, but well over a couple of dozen devices, 

Jennifer Miele

Oh, me too..

Sinclair Kennally, CNHP, CNC

Yes. We were on one end of the spectrum; I even tried to use a laser, but what I realized later was that it was a knockoff of the Weber Laser Watch. But I did not realize it at the time. I used somebody else’s laser watch, and I was trying to use it with the nasal diodes to help my sense of smell recover after having COVID.

Jennifer Miele

Oh good. Laser light. 

Sinclair Kennally, CNHP, CNC

I really lost my sense of smell with that. But it did not help. 

Jennifer Miele

Oh gosh.

Sinclair Kennally, CNHP, CNC

Even the research was there, and we were seeing it clinically in some aspects. I did not get my sense of smell back until I used the Weber Laser Helmet and the Weber Laser Watch with the sinus styles. In combination, I could smell the sea for the first time in a year.

Jennifer Miele

Oh. Isn’t that amazing? I love it. That is the kind of thing I am referring to. 

Sinclair Kennally, CNHP, CNC

Yes. It is true that quality does make a difference, for sure. Let us talk about different ways that people with chronic gut conditions can really use these therapies at home, or also they can look for clinicians who have these setups. Part of our audience is made up of practitioners on the hunt for new tools. Feel free to nerd out and share some of the clinical applications.

Jennifer Miele

I guessed I am nerd out and am getting permission to nerd out; well, this is fun. All right, as far as clinical applications go, I will explain a little bit about the different devices. The listeners kind of know what we are referring to. I am sure they are listening. Okay, what is she talking about? Most of you have probably seen those light pads out there, right? People who are listening to us or seeing those light pads or infrared pads for pain or a number of those different types of things. Well, Weber has created that as well. You have an infrared and red light pad, which is a small one. Then we also have a full-body one. These are more for systemic inflammation and to get a kind of idea of what is out there, and then for the practitioners as well. Then there is this EndoLight band, which is the newest model of the laser watch. It was first a spectrum, which is still available, but now it is the EndoLight. The EndoLight has different settings on it for either recharging, general inflammation, or you can utilize it more for dealing with infection issues or something like that. It all bridges us back to the gut issue; however, the point is that going somewhere. You were saying, too, that during the time of the pandemic, we actually designed a home care device that could be utilized at home because there is a device with a red light that goes for intranasal, and there are also ear adapters; these are lasers for ear applications as well. Then, as a little pad, there were all the different multicolored ones: red, green, yellow, and blue. You had the spectrum of lights together so you could put them on different parts of the body topically, in addition to using the delight of the smartwatch on your wrist. These are different applications, but during the pandemic, we were saying that we needed to work with people to bring viral loads down. There are tons of studies showing that ultraviolet and blue light bring viral loads down in our own clinical practice and what we do with a ton of chronic infection issues, oncology, and all these different things.

Now, even prevention, which is great, is paying more attention to that now. We saw that ultraviolet and blue light together were having an antiviral effect. Studies have shown this, and when you use a natural substance or a pharmaceutical in combination with light therapy, you get what we call photodynamic, which is the combination of using a natural substance in combination with light and matching the absorption rate of that substance with the color or wavelength of light. It enhances the absorption. This is something you can look up online on Google and actually type in green tea extract and nanometer absorption with a question mark. You get all these long articles, and the wavelength of light is very funny. Most people do not even realize it, even though I did not know it for years. Wow, Google, Wikipedia, Mayo Clinic—you have all these traditional websites out there coming up with photobiomodulation and phototherapy in combination with natural agents. Wow, that’s interesting. It is out there; it is available to us just to research and find. When we combine these things together, we get better effects, which is what we were seeing with riboflavin or methylene blue, which activates certain spectrums. You were talking about using red, ultraviolet, and blue light intranasally, as well as red light. That’s actually what we do. 

We created a device that could also be used with ultraviolet and blue light, both intranasally and orally. There was even a study done out of country, which we have the published study showing that within X amount of days, if we used it within 5 to 6 days, all of the viral titers went negative. We are seeing this amazing result. The biggest one was long-haulers syndrome. What you were experiencing—not having the ability to smell or having these different taste buds—changed. When we use red light, it reduces inflammation, circulation, and repels things the body repair itself. It is not doing it specifically. It is signaling your body’s reactions for cells to heal. This is where these different applications come in. Then there is this helmet that goes on the head. The helmet uses infrared and red light. Funny enough, it even sometimes, we have gut issues and neurological issues that are connected, we do not utilize it for those. Parkinson’s, and a number of different things have been utilized to see if it help with the symptomology and the condition, and it has. Then there are, of course, the practitioners out there, where there is the professional device, where you can do topical applications, you can do needle-less laser acupuncture with these certain fiber optic lines, and you can also do inter-articular joint injections with it; you activate PRP or the hyaluronic acid. We have even done people; we even work with people that have gastrointestinal issues that had issues going into, let us say, the rectum. We have even done it that way. We have done intravenous I.V. laser therapy, which is truly intravenous, through a fiber optic catheter. I mean, there are many different ways to do these things. It kind of sounds like Star Trek medicine, and it kind of is, because, again, it is never one thing. Here in our clinic, for example, we combine nutraceuticals with very long and hard to develop the different immunotherapy protocols that we have designed from your own body, as well as the I.V. nutraceuticals and how they combine together. Then, obviously, when you integrate laser therapy for photobiomodulation, it has a whole different range. 

With the gut issues, we have to think of them almost as a systemic thing. If we are reducing systemic inflammation, increasing vascularity support, giving the mitochondrial production back its work, and sometimes even gut issues have an infection aspect or have some kind of issue going on, whether it is parasitic, viral, or whatever, half the time we do not even know what it is or if it is injury-related. A colleague of mine shared earlier today that there was an injury-related issue that was affecting us, and we got to use the laser topically in the lower back, helping to reduce the inflammation down. I mean, there are many different ways to utilize these things. With gut health, we have used it in different ways. One is just giving the body back general support by using it on the wrist, and another would be to actually do topical applications around the points of the guts to help that repairs, which we have done when we have systemic inflammation. But again, the biggest thing is if we can give the body back the support, and if you are taking certain supplements or certain protocols to help gut health and repair, you can enhance the cellular energy by either doing an intravenous or topical at home for your body to have the energy to utilize the things you are doing, which is a big one for people these days who are either overstimulated or understimulated. This kind of helps rebalance that. Does that make sense? 

Sinclair Kennally, CNHP, CNC

Yes. It is beautifully said. Overstimulated or understimulated. What a great point to end on! I mean, it is true. We are overfed and malnourished, or overstimulated but underenergized. It is a very–

Jennifer Miele

Yes.

Sinclair Kennally, CNHP, CNC

We are living in it.

Jennifer Miele

It is that way. Do this or do that. Now, what about the balance? It is really about balancing and bridging, finding the connection for each individual person, and not one person is going to react the same way. We all know this. 

Sinclair Kennally, CNHP, CNC

What I really like about light therapy is its ability to do for our population of chronically ill people. People who have really struggled with multiple root cause exposures for decades, not knowing it, whether it is molds, parasites, heavy metals, industrial toxins, systemic infections, focal infections, dental issues, whatever it is, that is really what started the ball off running, so to speak.

Jennifer Miele

Yes.

Sinclair Kennally, CNHP, CNC

We are far downstream in how many practitioners try to deal with that, whether it is an allopathic or natural health. There is a lot of symptom management, but whether it is palliative in nature or suppressive in nature, you are still not really getting to the root causes. What I really like about laser is that it energizes the body enough to reduce inflammation and also allows you to go to work on those root causes.

Jennifer Miele

Very well said.

Sinclair Kennally, CNHP, CNC

It could actually be palliative in nature, but that is a side effect. It is really preparing the body to do that deep, lasting healing in a way that you cannot get at it any other way. You know?

Jennifer Miele

No, no, no. That is very true, because to give that cellular energy back to the body, you have to do all these other things. It could be invasive or involve procedures. This is a way that, even just through the derma, your body can absorb just by being outside in the sun. But this is giving you the full spectrum. These different light therapies are giving you, it boosts cellular energy. It helps with lactic acid regulation. My mouth is not working. It is amazing. Reduction of inflammation and inflammatory processes. Stabilizes different receptor pathways. I mean, these are all things that have been studied and shown, but also were clinically seeing these things work. People come in all the time. They were just exhausted, and they reacted. Everything that hurts and every reaction that their bodies have are overstimulated or understimulated. We go in there and give general, really targeted support to the individual, and then utilize light therapy. It could be a different application, but it brings them back into this rebalancing state, as you said, where the body has enough energy to actually utilize what is there. I think that is a key point. Giving energy back to the body in a noninvasive way or as less as possible to support the body’s innate ability to heal itself—I think that is something that we are missing a lot of.

Sinclair Kennally, CNHP, CNC

Yes, I totally agree. That is beautifully said. I have to tell you something. I meant to tell you this, that it happened. I was at a conference recently, and I was sitting next to Michael, spend all my partner for the audience who does not know, he is my partner in all things. He is the reason I did not die. Kelly Kennedy.

Jennifer Miele

Just one reason.

Sinclair Kennally, CNHP, CNC

Yes, it is  just one reason. Is that Christine Kelley, Sasha Patel and I; we were all sitting there in a conference with our EndoLight watches on. Which a conference environment is not exactly pro human. it is not pro-life. it is sort of..

Jennifer Miele

No. 

Sinclair Kennally, CNHP, CNC

With wi-fi and terrible light wavelengths and terrible food and water. You have to work  hard to like, maintain.

Jennifer Miele

Sat all the time. 

Sinclair Kennally, CNHP, CNC

Just sitting there with our little.

Jennifer Miele

Light therapy. It was hysterical.

Sinclair Kennally, CNHP, CNC

I love it.

Jennifer Miele

Yes, I do that sometimes when I am on the airplane. You are like, Yes, I am going to give my body energy now. They are like, What is that? You see this light flashing. It is like, You really want to know. Are you just asking? Because you feel pretty light? Yes, people are always fascinated by it. It is actually really fun. Again, this feeling is exciting and innovative because it supports all the other therapies, treatments, and things that we do. There’s no negative interaction. You are not going to overstimulate because your body is going to utilize what it needs. That is the beautiful thing about photobiomodulation or laser therapy and what we all do with these. Like what you said in the conference, conducive to staying healthy. If you think about how we go to medical conferences in an unhealthy environment, we are constantly on call. There is a huge dichotomy there. It is quite funny, but you have your tools. 

Sinclair Kennally, CNHP, CNC

Very funny, yes. Well, one of the things I like to do with the Weber Light Pads is that there are smaller ones that are more cost-effective, and I have really sensitive people lay them across their abdomen.

Jennifer Miele

The gut, yes. Because that is what I do.

Sinclair Kennally, CNHP, CNC

Yes. The lymphatics in there. All kinds are messed up, and they are so inflamed that you do not want to spend most of the protocol trying to get somebody to calm down enough to get my healing work done.

Jennifer Miele

Exactly.

Sinclair Kennally, CNHP, CNC

Yes.

Jennifer Miele

That is a very good point. Yes, there are so  many ways you can utilize this. That is a very good point you had.

Sinclair Kennally, CNHP, CNC

Yes, so true. I know we need to wrap up soon. But I want to give you a chance to speak directly to those people who have been on a long health road, and they have tried everything, and they are really looking for that one stone that has been unturned or the one thing they overlooked, or what is the right stack that is going to help them make progress. What advice do you have for those folks?

Jennifer Miele

I think there are many things, and each one’s going to be a little bit different for the individual. But I think the biggest one is that it is not usually about finding one magic bullet. It is about finding an integrative program that works for you and is designed for them, and if something is not working for any reason, sometimes you need to make one small, little adjustment that makes everything else work. It is not that you add in one other thing and suddenly it is that thing. A lot of times it is, but a lot of times it is the integration. It is that puzzle piece of putting all the pieces together, and then suddenly everything clicks and it works together synergistically. That is a huge one. I think that is something that is overlooked quite frequently when we add all these different things in that we are not really looking at how they work together. What I love about light therapy is that it does not matter what you are utilizing with laser therapy; light therapy will actually enhance whatever you are doing and make it work more effectively. Again, we go back to undoing a broken record, but it gives energy back to the body in a non-invasive way. If we need to make adjustments or changes to those stones that are unturned, stones that are overlooked, I encourage people to look at what they are actually doing and see what is and is not working.

Also, do not give up too early because it is not a magic bullet. How long did it take you to get to this point? I have had my own, as you know, health issues. I have been through severe Lyme disease, supposedly an ecological issue, and lupus, and it has been a very interesting road. Coming through on the other side and maintaining myself has been a journey. It really is. Sometimes you get frustrated because you do not know who to believe, what to listen to, or if something is working or not. You get to this place of, Oh, yes, it is just another way, and you are trying to get me on. Yes, no, yes, and no. We want you to be educated. We want you to know what works and how it works, and it has to resonate with you. I think that one stone unturned is to remember to give your body energy and balance so that it can use what you are doing and really look at what you are doing and how you are integrating it. Do not go out of a panic and start adding many things and end up overdoing it because we all have that role, and there you are, guilty.

That I think, that’s a big one. I think people—I mean, I know we are talking about light therapy specifically, but I think in general, that is a good tone. I think adding to them would be vital and incredibly important to them. But it is an integration. It really is. It is not about just getting this device and using it. No, it is about making sure that it fits for you and what fits for that person individually, which is the huge key because you can buy all the machines and equipment in the world that you want. But if it is not right for you and how you are doing it, if you are not actually putting together a program that’s designed for you, and if there are too many generals directing things, you need it. We always take a roundtable approach, and one of us always has all the answers. That is why we work together as a team for the individual—the healing tribe. But it is very important, I think, to find that balance for them.

Sinclair Kennally, CNHP, CNC

Yes, I totally agree. I love everything you just said. It is  important to remember that more is not always more, and also that the balancing elements in the protocol are actually what is going to make this work for you.

Jennifer Miele

Yes, True. 

Sinclair Kennally, CNHP, CNC

Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom today. You are so generous and kind in this space. 

Jennifer Miele

Thank you.

Sinclair Kennally, CNHP, CNC

I know many quiet little deeds that you have done that I think that went unheard of or unnoticed and  Jenny’s really a force, a force for good, especially for the chronically ill. Thanks for sharing your way.

Jennifer Miele 

Thank you. Thank you for recognizing that. It feels good. Thank you.