Photobiomodulation: Evolution and Adaptation

Photobiomodulation (PBM) can be described as the intentional use of low-power laser or light-emitting diode light in the visible and near-infrared light spectra as a medical treatment to living biological tissues. This article describes the evolution of photochemical reactions on Earth, the mitochondria, and their implications in PBM; the science of light and energy (necessary to understand the mechanisms of PBM); and the clinical science of light as therapeutic medicine. Finally, selected reviews of current treatment protocols and ongoing research regarding the possibilities for the use of PBM in the human body are examined.