Ultraviolet Blood Irradiation (UBI) quickly became an outdated treatment for a range of illnesses and diseases with the invent of antibiotics. It is often referred to as a forgotten cure and there is still much debate as to its effectiveness.
The process begins with removing a small amount of blood (about 6% of total blood volume) from the body and exposing it to ultraviolet light for a short period of time (around 10 seconds). This process kills off most pathogens in the blood including bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms in the blood.
However, the controversy comes in due to the fact that the UV light can also destroy tissue which is why the blood is removed from the body before treatment. But UV rays can also destroy or damage healthy cells therefore it is essential to adhere strictly to dosage and time of exposure.
The process is however designed to target bacteria and viruses which are much smaller than blood cells and therefore receive up to 5 times the amount of phototonic energy. These cells are therefore killed while leaving other cells intact.
The dead cells also begin to act as antigens. An antigen is a substance in the body that is foreign and therefore activates a strong immune response. This enhanced immune response to the antigens helps the body to fight the viruses and bacteria that still exist in the blood stream.
The process has been found to be very effective at fighting strains of viruses that are especially virulent and have become resistant to antibiotics and other treatments. In a world where viruses are constantly mutating, providing the body with a means to naturally combat super bugs and diseases could be the new way to treat them.
This treatment effectively treats many different types of viruses from the flu to more virulent diseases like encephalitis, hepatitis, HIV and many more. Another benefit of using ultraviolet blood irradiation is that there seems to be no negative side effects.
However, this is radiation and a lack of scientific study and evidence (especially an absence of a control group in many case studies) may be the reason for this result. In fact, modern medicine does have a means of providing the same type of light therapy using lasers instead of UV rays which poses far less risks.
The laser method does not require the removal of blood from the body but rather exposes it to the light as it passes under the thin membranes within the nose. So why has this treatment not become the norm for treating viral diseases and illnesses rather than the conventional medical treatments?
Simply due to the fact there is a lack of scientific evidence to fully support the theories that it is an effective treatment. Currently, UV blood irradiation is considered to be an alternative therapy by the larger medical community which basically classes it in the same category as homeopathic and other traditional or home remedies and treatments.
On the other hand, studies that have been conducted do provide sufficient evidence of a link between this type of therapy and the reduction of bacterial and viral infection in the body.