Brits suffering from hay fever may soon be able to get "rapid relief" from their suffering with a handheld device that sends a red light up their nose.
Lumimed has not yet been approved in the UK but new research suggests that it could make a dramatic difference for the millions of people suffering from hay fever.
By using red light technology, it sells itself as a “drug-free alternative to traditional allergy treatments”.
And in a recent study of 20 patients, all of them experienced some improvement after using the nasal device.
The patients were all suffering from allergic rhinitis which is inflammation of the inside of the nose caused by an allergen that in the case of hay fever is pollen.
The device which looks like an electric razor is touch sensitive and activated when it is placed inside the nostril.
Then after ten second the device emits an audible bleep and the light treatment is automatically stopped. It is a device that scientists have said can be used on a daily basis and has rapid results.
“Red light technology leverages light occupying the long end of the visible light spectrum with a wavelength between 630nm-700nm,” it states on the Lumined website.
The light therapy inhibits the release of histimines which are a response to pollen entering the body and leads to watery eyes and a runny nose.
The red light decreases inflammation and it has also been found to be effective in chronic conditions including arthritis.
The study stated: "Steroids and antihistamines have numerous side effects. There are no known side effects of this treatment device.
"LumiMed Nasal Device uses phototherapy to reduce allergen-induced histamines in the cells that line the nasal cavity, particularly mast cells, while also reducing inflammation of the mucus membranes."
The latest study was carried out by researchers including the founder of Lumined Dr Denis Bouboulis who concluded: "Lumimed provides a non-medication alternative for patients relief from symptoms. There are no known side effects of this treatment device.”
The study found that almost half of the patients during the study found their symptoms disappear.
It stated: "The results from these case studies indicated that of the 20 patients in this case study, 100 per cent of patients experienced improvement in overall Total Nasal Symptom Score after using LumiMed Nasal Device.
"Of those patients, 40 per cent brought their Total Nasal Symptom Score down to 0. Furthermore, 95 per cent felt the LumiMed Nasal Device was comfortable to use, while 85 per cent of patients felt the LumiMed Nasal Device was easy to use."
