Low Level Laser Therapy
conducted by the HolisticBird Study Group
written by Angela Carpenter
December 2001
Click on any photo for a closer view
Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) has been used in Europe, the Far East and Australia for decades and has just within the last few years
begun emerging in the United States. It has recently been given FDA approval for veterinary use. These are not the high powered lasers that have partially replaced scalpels in the operating room, but a method of treatment using photon/light therapy as a healing modality. Photon therapy includes the use of low level lasers and/or L.E.D. ‘s.
Expensive commercial units are available for home veterinary use with an output of 800 nm (nanometers) and above, but favorable results have been reported using hand-held laser pointers available for office use within the 375-650 nm range.
LLLT can be used for a wide range of healing purposes including: wound healing, dermatitis, eczema, softening scar tissue, edema, cysts, muscle inflammation, nerve injuries, rheumatoid arthritis (osteoarthritis seems to be unaffected, according to some studies), hematoma, pain relief, to trace meridians, and as an alternative for acupuncture. Ailing organs may benefit from the light if the light can penetrate the tissues deep enough to reach them.
While information could not be obtained as to how deep a hand held laser at 375-600 nm might penetrate a bird’s tissues, 850 nm is said to penetrate human tissue a little deeper than one inch (30 mm).
The red and near infrared light can be produced by laser or high intensity 
LED. Unlike surgical lasers, there is no heating effect. Instead the effect is photochemical. Red light aids in the production of ATP in cells which increases cellular health and energy. Normal cells produce a measurable amount of radiation. (The human body generally emits 330 nm to at least 700 nm.) Diseased tissues have been shown to have a reduced level of radiation. The radiation in normal cells stimulates adjacent cells to divide in the normal process of regeneration and healing. Laser light stimulates abnormal tissue to activate normal inter-cellular radiation, thus stimulating the normal healing process to start again. The photons produced by laser light normalize tissue by activating enzymes within cells. One activated enzyme within a cell triggers a chemical reaction in which more enzymes are activated in a domino-type effect. LLLT has no effect on normal tissue. Photons will only be absorbed by cells that need them. If cells are functioning normally, no effect will be noted from LLLT.
Photopuncture (using laser light to stimulate acupuncture points) is a viable modality for treating humans, dogs, cats, horses, and other animals. Photopuncture is painless and ideal for use in nervous animals, one need not be skilled in the practice of needle insertion, it cannot introduce infection and is generally less time consuming than needle treatment. However, Dr. Dave McCluggage, DVM, cautions it’s use on birds in that the size of birds themselves vs. the point of light emitted by a laser beam would allow the stimulating of more than the target point.
Safety
While no adverse reactions have been reported in LLLT, as a precaution it is recommended that the lasers not be used over the thyroid gland, in conjunction with immune suppressant drugs, within 2-3 weeks after a steroid injection and in heart patients should not be used over the vagus nerves, sympathetic ganglia or cardiac region. In patients on drugs known to cause photosensitivity a “spot test” should be performed to determine the unlikely event that the laser will cause a photosensitive reaction. Patients with epilepsy should have a towel draped over their head to prevent the chance that a flash of light might trigger a seizure. The subject must not look directly into the laser tool in order to prevent retinal damage. Looking at the beam is not harmful, but looking directly at the source of the beam could be.
Study Group
The HolisticBird discussion list has started a study group related to the use of LLLT with our companion birds. We will discuss the different ways that laser healing might be applied to our birds, develop protocols to prevent variables in our studies tailored to each individual case, document our findings with before and after photos as well as written reports, and report our experiences working with our own birds to Dr. David McCluggage. Some of our projects will include working with feather follicle damage, fatty lipomas and feather plucking.
Desensitization Process
Here are a process to help desensitize birds to the light beam:
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Find a treat the bird likes, be it a food treat, scratch on the head, or in the case of a bird that dislikes interaction and won't eat due to stress, "going away" is the best treat. (If it's only the laser and not you they reacted negatively to, hide the laser as the "treat", or turn it off as the "treat", whichever it is he objects to... the site of the device itself, or the light emitting from it. Offer also a tangible reward such as head scratches, a bite of a food treat dropped into dish or onto table as the laser "disappears".)
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At the closest distance that doesn't distress the bird (even if that distance is across the room), show the laser. Bridge (say "yes", "good", "good bird", or, my bridge of choice is the clicker, click) hide the laser and then go give the treat.
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When the bird handles that distance, move a little closer and do the same thing, show the laser, see accepting behavior, bridge and treat.
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If at any time during the desensitization process the bird does begin to react negatively again, back off, you are moving too fast. No Bridge, no treat. Go back to the last level previously accepted. Bridge and treat for accepting behavior. You may have to stay at the same level for several repetitions. Just repeat at that level until he "passes" the criteria of acceptance.
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Keep working on getting closer until you can get to the proximity at which you feel you should be working on the bird.
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If you've gone through this whole process with the laser off, turning it ON is going to be a whole new process. Don't just go up to him and turn it on, go through from the beginning again, this time with the laser turned on. It will go faster the second time around.
References:
Holistic Guide for a Healthy Dog by Wendy Volhard and Kerry L. Brown, DVM
Low Level Laser Therapy (Classes I, II and III) for Ttreating Rheumatoid Arthritis (Cochrane Review), By Brosseau L, Welch V, Wells G, deBie R, Gam A, Harman K, Morin M, Shea B, Tugwell P
Low Level Laser Therapy (Classes I, II and III) for Treating Osteoarthritis (Cochrane Review), By Brosseau L, Welch V, Wells G, deBie R, Gam A, Harman K, Morin M, Shea B, Tugwell P
Online:
http://www.laser.nu/
http://www.avetlaser.com/
http://users.med.auth.gr/~karanik/english/articles/laser.html
http://www.altvetmed.com/acupunct.html
http://www.holistic-vet.com/acupuncture.htm
http://www.healing.org/only-7.html
http://www.panaminstitute.com/ratview.htm
http://www.laser.uk.com/intro/index.html