Benefits of Ultraviolet Blood Irradiation (UVBI) Therapy

• June 17, 2024
• Written by :  Rebecca LaMarca, MSN, APN-BC, CNS

The medical community has known about the unique health benefits of ultraviolet blood therapy for nearly a century, with the first successful UVBI treatments being carried out as far back as the 1930s. In modern functional medicine, UV blood treatments have shown exceptional promise in supporting patients through various treatment-resistant illnesses, from autoimmune conditions to drug-resistant infections.

What Is Ultraviolet Blood Irradiation Therapy (UVBI)?

Ultraviolet blood irradiation, abbreviated as either UVBI or UBI, is a functional therapy used to help treat various conditions, from overactive immune systems to drug-resistant bacterial infections. It works by exposing the patient’s blood to ultraviolet light and introducing that treated blood back into the patient’s bloodstream to encourage healing.

While ultraviolet light is considered a complementary therapy, it has shown outstanding promise in controlling infections. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) even promoted upper-room ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) — an airborne-pathogen-killing method based on the same principle — as a way to lower the risk of viral spread during the COVID-19 pandemic.

How Do UV Blood Treatments Work?

Ultraviolet blood irradiation benefits the human body in several unique ways. Firstly, UV light is germicidal, meaning it’s exceptionally good at killing pathogens like bacteria and viruses. Fortunately, these pathogens are significantly more vulnerable to UV light exposure than human red and white blood cells. This means that if we expose infected human blood to the right wavelength of UV radiation, we can safely neutralize the pathogens.

It can also stimulate or regulate the immune system by modulating white blood cells, including neutrophils, lymphocytes, macrophages and cytokines. Each of these cells plays an important part in how the blood gets rid of pathogens. This modulation of white blood cells can encourage the body to fight against infection and even calm down if overactive, helping to reduce chronic or acute inflammation.

Benefits of UVBI Combined With Ozone Therapy

UVBI is often combined with various types of ozone therapy, such as major autohemotherapy (MAH), 10-pass hyperbaric ozone therapy (NAD+) and methyl blue IV therapy. The two treatments are done as a pair to increase effectiveness and add more healing benefits to the session. Studies have shown that ozone can help control pain, fight infection, regulate inflammation and heal wounds while being cost-effective.

What Are the Conditions Treated by UVBI?

Practitioners can help treat a plethora of illnesses using blood irradiation therapy. Patients have reported a significant decrease in symptoms using UVBI for infections, autoimmune disorders, chronic pain and fatigue, allergies and more. Below is a breakdown of how UVBI therapy benefits recovery from various illnesses:

UVBI for Infections

To visualize how UVBI helps combat infections, it’s essential to understand how the human immune system works. The body is susceptible to infection from bacteria, fungi, parasites and viruses from many sources, whether it’s an airborne illness like influenza or a bacterium with direct access to the blood through a vector like a flea or a tick. These foreign organisms enter the body, multiply and eventually spread through the lymphatic system and bloodstream, releasing toxins and damaging cells, causing symptoms.

The patient’s immune system must recognize foreign organisms by detecting proteins or “antigens” on the bacteria or virus’s surface. It then stores information about this new illness to identify it later and activates white blood cells to fight the infection. If the immune system is compromised or weak, it struggles to detect and effectively combat the infection, putting the patient at risk of illnesses such as:

• Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
• Tuberculosis
• Norovirus
• Measles
• Hepatitis A, B and C
• Staphylococcal diseases
• Streptococcal diseases
• HIV/AIDS
• Lyme disease

Practitioners use UVBI for infections because it effectively kills pathogens without damaging healthy human cells, even when the immune system is weak. This exposes the immune system to neutralized pathogens that still carry antigens, encouraging the immune system to recognize and fight against the disease. Research has shown that ultraviolet blood irradiation treatment has immense potential to combat infections as a complementary treatment, including the viral load of hepatitis C and symptoms of Lyme disease.

UVBI for Autoimmune Disorders

When the immune system mistakes the body’s own cells as invading pathogens, it activates white blood cells in error, attacking healthy, necessary cells and tissues in the body. We see this self-destructive immune response in chronic autoimmune conditions such as:

• Lupus
• Multiple sclerosis (MS)
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
• Celiac disease
• Graves disease

UVBI’s ability to modulate neutrophils, lymphocytes, macrophages and cytokines shows promise in helping patients with autoimmune diseases avoid flare-ups and find relief from symptoms. Groundbreaking new studies have shown that UV light has the ability to suppress the overactive immune system by reducing the number of active T cells, a type of white blood cell responsible for autoimmune responses.

UVBI for Chronic Pain and Fatigue

There is a strong link between high levels of inflammation and chronic pain and fatigue. Ultraviolet rays modulate inflammatory cytokines by blocking their release, so UVBI may reduce the symptoms of chronic fatigue and lessen pain by reducing inflammation. This is especially interesting for people with debilitating conditions such as:

• Fibromyalgia
• Ehlers Danlos syndrome
• Myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome
• Temporomandibular Joint Disorders (TMJ)

How Are UV Blood Treatments Administered?

Ultraviolet blood irradiation therapy entails taking a small amount of blood from the patient — usually around 5% of total blood volume — diluting it with an anti-coagulant to prevent clotting and then running it through a long, thin tube called a cuvette. The blood within the cuvette is then exposed to UVA and UVC light inside a specialized chamber. After exposure, the treated blood is returned to the patient’s circulatory system, combining with the untreated blood and promoting healing.

Ultraviolet blood irradiation treatments take 45 minutes to 2 hours, depending on whether you combine the procedure with traditional MAH ozone therapy or hyperbaric ozone therapy. Depending on which health care practitioner you work with, you can have UVBI administered to you on-site at a holistic wellness clinic or from the comfort of your home, office or event space.

Where Can I Get Ultraviolet Blood Irradiation?

If you’re located in New Jersey, New York City, Bucks County or Philadelphia, IV Elements brings UVBI therapy benefits directly to you, along with a range of IV treatments and vitamin boosters. We also offer drip lounges in Hoboken, Ashbury Park, Ridgewood and Parsippany.

Why Choose IV Elements for Your UVBI Treatments?

At IV Elements, we prioritize your comfort, convenience and well-being above all else. Our specialized array of functional and alternative medicinal treatments is administered by highly trained health care professionals, and our methodologies are supported by rigorous scientific research and clinical studies.

Along with our UVBI and IV treatments, we offer state-of-the-art weight loss solutions like semaglutide and tirzepetide, laboratory testing services and hormone therapy for a fully holistic wellness experience. We’d love to answer your questions, so check out our FAQ page or contact us online.

Get the Benefits of UVBI From Your Home, Office or Private Event

Reach out to us today and book your IV therapy appointment at home, at your place of work, at your vacation destination or at one of our reputable drip lounges. You can also schedule a drip party for yourself, your loved ones and your friends to kick off or wind down celebrations.

• Share
• Tweet
• Share
• Email