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Why green light helps reduce pain in mice (Activates opioid receptors)
Medical Xpress / Science Translational Medicine ^ | Dec. 8, 2022 | Bob Yirka / Yu-Long Tang et al

Posted on 12/09/2022 3:54:39 PM PST by ConservativeMind

A team of researchers has traced neural activity from the eyes to the brain in mice to find out why green light helps to reduce pain. In their paper, the group describes studying each part of the visual neural system in mice, from the back of the eyes to the brain, to learn more about how light can impact sensations in the brain.

Prior research and anecdotal evidence have suggested that green light, particularly green light generated by LEDs, can reduce pain levels in people with conditions such as arthritis, migraines and fibromyalgia—but the reasons have remained a mystery. In this new effort, the researchers sought to find the answer.

The researchers studied all of the parts of the visual processing system in mice that are involved in receiving and processing light. They began with the rods and cones photoreceptors on the outer part of the retina and retinal ganglion cells (ipRGC) in the inner part of the retina. By disabling each at different times and then testing how they led to changes in pain experience, the researchers found that the neural pathway to pain relief began with the photoreceptors.

The team then moved on to retinal ganglion cells, which receive signals from the photoreceptors. They used genetic silencing to learn more about which of the cells was responsible for communicating with the ventral lateral geniculate nucleus in the thalamus.

Next, the team monitored such signaling as different colors of light were directed into the eyes of the mice and found that green light resulted in more GABA signaling, which resulted in more expression by the Penk gene which encodes for a protein called PENK. And PENK is a precursor for a molecule called ENK, which activates opioid receptors in the brain. And that leads to the dulling of pain.

(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...


TOPICS: Health/Medicine
KEYWORDS: greenlight
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Perhaps we feel better, when looking at grass, because our bodies are coded to dull pain from it.
1 posted on 12/09/2022 3:54:39 PM PST by ConservativeMind
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To: Mazey; ckilmer; goodnesswins; Jane Long; BusterDog; jy8z; ProtectOurFreedom; matthew fuller; ...

The “Take Charge Of Your Health” Ping List

This high volume ping list is for health articles and studies which describe something you or your doctor, when informed, may be able to immediately implement for your benefit.

Email me to get on either the “Common/Top Issues” (20 - 25% fewer pings) or “Everything” list.

2 posted on 12/09/2022 3:55:14 PM PST by ConservativeMind (Trump: Befuddling Democrats, Republicans, and the Media for the benefit of the US and all mankind.)
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To: All

Green Lantern was always my favorite superhero


3 posted on 12/09/2022 4:00:17 PM PST by escapefromboston (Free Chauvin)
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To: ConservativeMind

low dose naltrexone..which does help my pain..supposedly inhibits the opioid receptors. I still might try green light to see what happens even though it does the opposite.


4 posted on 12/09/2022 4:01:03 PM PST by RummyChick ( )
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To: RummyChick

https://allaylamp.com/products/the-allay-lamp


5 posted on 12/09/2022 4:10:08 PM PST by RummyChick ( )
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To: ConservativeMind

Green stuff is food for many critters.

Comforting!


6 posted on 12/09/2022 4:13:35 PM PST by Brian Griffin
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To: ConservativeMind

Feel serene with green!


7 posted on 12/09/2022 4:22:16 PM PST by lee martell
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To: RummyChick

I’m taking hydrocodone for a T-4 complete spinal cord injury.

It helps but even after 42 years the injury site is hypersensitive.

I will have to look for green light bulbs next time I’m at Lowe’s. Any help in reducing the pain level would be appreciated.


8 posted on 12/09/2022 4:34:50 PM PST by airborne (Thank you Rush for helping me find FreeRepublic! R)
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To: ConservativeMind

When I’m driving in the city, green lights make me happier than red lights.


9 posted on 12/09/2022 4:35:58 PM PST by HartleyMBaldwin
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To: Brian Griffin

Just not soylent green please!


10 posted on 12/09/2022 4:37:05 PM PST by airborne (Thank you Rush for helping me find FreeRepublic! R)
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To: ConservativeMind

So now the DEA will schedule green light, because it makes you feel good, and we can’t have that!


11 posted on 12/09/2022 4:38:45 PM PST by beef (Say NO to the WOE (War On Energy))
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To: RummyChick

I take LDN also, but not for pain. Along with bupropion for idiopathic fatigue relief. A little too early to tell if it’s working, but I think it is. Expected to first reduce (for a couple hours), then increase natural endorphins. Do you take 4.5 mg dose also?


12 posted on 12/09/2022 4:46:51 PM PST by steve86 (Prophecies of Maelmhaedhoc O'Morgair (Latin form: Malachy))
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To: airborne

Lowe’s:

https://www.lowes.com/search?searchTerm=green+rope+lights

https://www.lowes.com/search?searchTerm=green+lights


13 posted on 12/09/2022 4:53:18 PM PST by Carriage Hill (A society grows great when old men plant trees, in whose shade they know they will never sit.)
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To: Carriage Hill

Thanks. I saw this on AmazonSmiles (it’s Amazon, but each purchase includes a small donation to the charity of my choice) ( www.kpva.org ).

https://www.amazon.com/Migraine-Sufferers-Headaches-Sensitivity-Dimmable/dp/B0997B4W37/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=1C8RX2P681AAY&keywords=green+light+therapy+lamp&qid=1670634314&sprefix=green+light+therapy%2Caps%2C98&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzTElVQlVWU05QT1VEJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwOTkxNjQxMkJRSzJONExFRTkyRiZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwMjYxNTk1MkdDRzNUVEFNSFNVOCZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=


14 posted on 12/09/2022 5:05:54 PM PST by airborne (Thank you Rush for helping me find FreeRepublic! R)
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To: steve86

i take pieces of a 50 mg trying to get them under 5 mg. fatigue is part of my problem so yeah it helps with that.

But I dont take them every day for fear of liver issues. I may try every day once I have my liver tested to make sure not causing a problem. Its really the 50 mg that has known liver damage.


15 posted on 12/09/2022 5:29:52 PM PST by RummyChick ( )
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To: airborne

I saw this one up-thread, for $200, and thought there’s got to be a cheaper on.

https://allaylamp.com/products/the-allay-lamp


16 posted on 12/09/2022 5:36:02 PM PST by Carriage Hill (A society grows great when old men plant trees, in whose shade they know they will never sit.)
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To: RummyChick

I get my LDN from a U.S. dispensary online.

Actually distributed as 1.5 mg so 3/day.

Some people take only the 1.5 or 3.0 / day.

Cost about $1 / day for the 4.5 mg

I would be surprised at any anti-fatigue effect unless combined with bupropion.

When combined, should have some appetite-suppressing effect as well.


17 posted on 12/09/2022 6:06:25 PM PST by steve86 (Prophecies of Maelmhaedhoc O'Morgair (Latin form: Malachy))
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To: Carriage Hill

The one I posted is $69.99


18 posted on 12/09/2022 6:07:27 PM PST by airborne (Thank you Rush for helping me find FreeRepublic! R)
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To: steve86

my 15 50 mg of pills was less than $7.

It is prescribed for weight loss along with another drug. Maybe the one you mentioned. I do think it helps with weigh loss.

Fatigue is part of fibromyalgia and that is what a lot of people use it for.


19 posted on 12/09/2022 6:21:43 PM PST by RummyChick ( )
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To: RummyChick

Even 1 or 2 mg seems to make a difference in side effects to some people so I wouldn’t personally try to split 50s. I do split lots of other tablets, tho.


20 posted on 12/09/2022 6:41:21 PM PST by steve86 (Prophecies of Maelmhaedhoc O'Morgair (Latin form: Malachy))
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