ATTN: SDMB medical professionals-I need info on "Photoluminescence Therapy"...

[Weird_AL_Einstein]

ATTN: SDMB medical professionals-I need info on “Photoluminescence Therapy” and the man who appears to be its foremost proponent, Dr. William Campbell Douglass.

Specifically, I would like to know where I can find a critical/alternative view on this therapy, and on Dr. Douglass and whatever claims he has made in his book promoting Photoluminescence Therapy, “Into the Light”.

I did try Google. I was able to find plenty of sites hawking the book and/or the therapy. I was able to find out that Dr. Douglass has a reputation as a right wing-nut, and is identified with the school of thought within the medical community that holds that AIDS is not actually caused by HIV. But no critical analyses of his claims about photoluminescence.

I am motivated to get this information because my father gets mailings from this guy, or his organization, touting various alternative medicines, including photoluminescence, about which he appears to be particularly enthused.

My Dad can be a bit gullible when it comes to stuff like this. So an objective source of information about it would be very useful to me. I am specifically not looking for any refutation of Dr. Douglass’ political views, as they are irrelevent, and in fact line up rather well with my dad’s.

My thanks in advance to anyone who can help me out here.

[Duck_Duck_Goose]

From http://www.fflt.org/ltover.htm

In Photoluminescence therapy, a small amount of blood, from 60cc’s to 250cc’s is drawn from the body, passed through a chamber, “treated” with UV light and returned to the body. In order to more fully understand how this mechanism works, a basic distinction between a bacterial cell and a healthy cell, and how this pertains to Photoluminescence must be established.

In layman’s terms, Photo-therapy causes a chemical reaction in which the shell walls are pierced killing the bacteria and virus, thereby “marking” (identifying) them. The blood and the marked “debris” are then returned into the body “exciting” or stimulating the immune system. The body’s now excited, natural “soldiers” seek out and destroy the identified diseased “invaders”.

It is believed that by destroying the bacteria in the treated sample of blood, an “autogenous” (self-generated) vaccine is produced. When this vaccine is coupled with the photonic energy been previously absorbed by the treated blood, an “induced secondary energy” is released and the diseased cells in the patient’s bloodstream are rapidly destroyed.

Common sense should tell you that this is only so much snake oil. It’s gibberish. How does the UV know which cells to destroy and which to spare? Has it been proved anywhere that UV will destroy only bacteria and not, say, red blood cells, or antibodies to viruses like polio that you were immunized for when you were a kid?

And the words “it is believed” are a dead giveaway–they don’t have any scientific proof of this process, just the theory. And the books for sale.

If this really worked, they’d be happy to trot out the data. No data, no proof, no real effect.

And the same as with all other “fringe” medical treatments, when they start bringing in the jargon–“photonic energy”, “induced secondary energy”–that’s when your alarm bells ought to start ringing.

More on the theory here.
http://www.lightparty.com/Health/HealingLight.html

QuackWatch.

http://www.quackwatch.com/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/Cancer/acsbook.html

The American Cancer Society’s Guide to Complementary and Alternative Cancer Methods discusses more than 100 methods that it characterizes as “complementary” (used along with standard treatments, often with the hope of providing symptomatic relief) and/or “alternative” (used instead of standard methods). Each entry provides a brief description and overview followed by information on the claims, treatment form, history behind it, evidence for or against it, and references. People searching for “miracle cures” won’t find any listed, but the book offers reliable advice on what to avoid.

The book states that there is no scientific evidence that any of the following can cure or influence the course of any cancer:

.

…light therapy…

Does your dad have cancer? Have him read this.
http://www.quackwatch.com/00AboutQuackwatch/altseek.html

[Duck_Duck_Goose]

OTOH, if he doesn’t have cancer, and he’s not talking about bequeathing his entire billion-dollar estate to this guy, leave him alone, it’s not hurting anything. My grandpa was sold on the benefits of “juice” for years, and I couldn’t see that it hurt anything for him to make all kinds of weird juices and drink them. Banana/carrot, etc.

Although my mom did draw the line at his brief fling with the “drink your own urine” school of medical treatment. “It’s a waste product. It’s stupid,” she told him firmly, so he stopped.

[Squink]

So what does luminescence have to do with it ?
Apparently nothing. If Dr. William Campbell Douglass has a valid therapy, why does he carelessly debase it by giving it a misleading, if gee-whizzy, sounding name ?
Here’s a few links to sites that use the term Photoluminescence in its proper context.