Then it was used to help heal wounds. The light device is about the size of a small video-cassette recorder, plugs into standard power outlets and has a handheld applicator. NASA is interested in applications that may benefit astronauts who injure themselves in space. To speed wound healing, Whelan takes a handheld light, which glows red, and places it on the affected part of the body for up to 20 minutes. The light will flow through the tissue and, in many instances, stimulate the affected cells.
Cells burn energy while regenerating and healing.
The light Whelan applies to wounds increases energy inside the cell structure, stimulating the cellular process that heals damaged tissue, wards off infection and fights disease. Whelan also has used the light to help speed healing in moist areas of the body, such as the mouth, where conditions can prolong painful sores. The light therapy also is being used to treat cancers, Whelan said. Whelan has been successful in treating skin cancer and brain tumors. His team is also studying the effect of using light therapy to activate cancer fighting drugs.