Ear light therapy
Ear light therapy is a woo light therapy method, where earphone-shaped LED lights are inserted into the ear. Ear light therapy is promoted as a stimulating treatment for sleep-related conditions such as jet lag, tiredness in shiftworkers and seasonal affective disorder (SAD, a form of clinical depression caused by low levels of sunlight).[1] The current scientific consensus is that it is ineffective.[2][3]
Against allopathy Alternative medicine |
Clinically unproven |
v - t - e |
Despite lack of effectiveness, ear light devices are nevertheless still sold by Valkee Ltd. under than brand name HumanCharger.[1] The device was approved as a medical device in the EU; however, this simply certifies its safety, such as electrical and thermal safety, but not actual effectiveness.[4]
The origin of the device is in brain research done at the University of Oulu in Finland. The retina of the eye is a type of nerve tissue, so its similarity to brain tissue is expected. In 2011, University of Oulu scientists published a finding that brain tissue contains a light-sensitive pigment called light-sensitive photoreceptor protein (Opsin-3 that is encoded by the OPN3
Given their simple construction — a LED and a battery — the devices are rather expensive, costing 199 €. Continuing the sale of an ineffective medical device has been criticized as unethical,[4] and has been called out as a scam.[9]
See also
- Ear candling — a less bright idea
References
- https://humancharger.com/
- http://www.askforevidence.org/help/valkee-light-therapy-in-ear-device-lacking-in-evidence
- www.chronobiology.ch/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/bromundt_etal_2013.pdf
- http://hyvinvointi.ts.fi/terveys-tiede/korvavalon-tehosta-ei-nayttoa/
- https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-human-brain-is-sensitive-to-light-breakthrough-findings-from-valkee-and-the-university-of-oulu-127506878.html
- Jurvelin H, Takala T, Nissilä J, Timonen M, Rüger M, Jokelainen J, Räsänen P. Transcranial bright light treatment via the ear canals in seasonal affective disorder: a randomized, double-blind dose-response study. BMC Psychiatry. 2014 Oct 21;14:288. doi: 10.1186/s12888-014-0288-6. PubMed PMID: 25330838; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4207317.
- Timonen M, Nissilä J, Liettu A, Jokelainen J, Jurvelin H, Aunio A, Räsänen P, Takala T. Can transcranial brain-targeted bright light treatment via ear canals be effective in relieving symptoms in seasonal affective disorder? A pilot study. Med Hypotheses. 2012 Apr;78(4):511-5. doi: 10.1016/j.mehy.2012.01.019. Epub 2012 Jan 31. PubMed PMID: 22296809.
- Jurvelin H, Takala T, Heberg L, Nissilä J, Rüger M, Leppäluoto J, Saarela S, Vakkuri O. Transcranial bright light exposure via ear canals does not suppress nocturnal melatonin in healthy adults–a single-blind, sham-controlled, crossover trial. Chronobiol Int. 2014 Aug;31(7):855-60. doi: 10.3109/07420528.2014.916297. Epub 2014 May 14. PubMed PMID: 24828616.
- http://earlightswindle.com/gloom/2018/09/valkee-turnover-up-50-1-million-loss-as-usual/