Transcranial Low-Level Laser Therapy also referred to in clinical research as transcranial photobiomodulation (tPBM) is an advanced, non-invasive neurological therapy designed to support brain healing, recovery, and optimal function. At Neurvana Health, Transcranial Laser Therapy is used as part of a comprehensive, evidence-informed approach to neurological and post-injury care.
Transcranial Laser Therapy at Neurvana Health uses a specialized medical device that emits both high-intensity red and infrared laser light. These are not cutting or ablative lasers. They do not burn, damage, or sear the skin. Instead, they are engineered to safely penetrate through the skin, soft tissue, and in the case of transcranial applications, even bone.
When applied to the head and upper cervical spine, this light reaches the brain and central nervous system, where it influences cellular and neurological function at a deep level. This makes transcranial laser therapy particularly unique among non-invasive brain therapies.
The brain is highly sensitive to inflammation, blood flow changes, and energy availability. Transcranial laser therapy has demonstrated the ability to positively influence all three making it applicable to a wide range of neurological, inflammatory, vascular, and injury-related conditions.
This therapy does not simply mask symptoms. Instead, it supports underlying repair mechanisms that allow brain tissue to recover and function more efficiently.
One of the most impactful and well-supported uses of transcranial laser therapy is in post-concussive syndrome (PCS) a condition that remains under-recognized and under-treated in conventional medical settings.
While many concussions resolve with rest, a significant number of individuals develop persistent symptoms after a single concussion or repeated head injuries. These symptoms may last months or even years.
Post-concussive symptoms can vary significantly from person to person and may include:
Because PCS often does not appear on MRI or CT imaging, patients are frequently told their brain is “normal,” despite ongoing and disruptive symptoms.
Transcranial laser therapy works through several key physiological mechanisms that directly address the underlying drivers of post-concussive symptoms.
After a concussion, the brain often develops a low-grade inflammatory response. While inflammation is part of the natural healing process, the brain can struggle to shut it off completely.
Red and infrared laser light have a powerful localized anti-inflammatory effect, helping to calm persistent neuroinflammation that contributes to headaches, cognitive dysfunction, and mood changes.
The brain is one of the most highly vascular tissues in the body. Concussions commonly damage small blood vessels (microvasculature) rather than large vessels.
These microvascular changes:
Transcranial laser therapy is one of the few therapies shown in clinical research to stimulate angiogenesis the growth of new blood vessels allowing damaged brain tissue to receive improved blood flow, oxygenation, and metabolic support.
Brain cells are extremely energy-dependent. After concussion-related inflammation and blood flow disruption, brain cells often experience mitochondrial downregulation, meaning they produce less energy.
Specific red and infrared wavelengths directly stimulate:
This improved energy availability allows neurons to repair, regulate, and communicate more effectively–supporting long-term neurological recovery.
Sessions take place in a quiet, comfortable, and private treatment room designed to support relaxation. You will recline comfortably for 45 minutes. During the session, medical laser arrays are applied sequentially over the scalp and cervical spine.
The experience is non-invasive, relaxing, and pain-free. Some patients notice mild warmth at the application sites, which is a normal sensation. Many individuals choose to use this time as restorative quiet time to rest, reset, or simply unplug.
Transcranial laser therapy has an excellent safety profile, supported by tens of thousands of patients in clinical trials and extensive clinical experience at Neurvana Health.
When side effects occur, they are typically mild and self-limiting:
These effects generally resolve within hours to a day. Patients are monitored after treatment, and subsequent sessions are adjusted as needed.
Treatment protocols are individualized based on your condition, symptom severity, and how you respond to care. The goal is not indefinite therapy. When healing is achieved and symptoms resolve, patients are weaned off treatment.
A typical protocol includes an initial series of eight sessions, most often scheduled once or twice per week.
For patients traveling from outside of Calgary or Alberta, treatment intensives may be recommended. This approach typically involves completing four to five sessions within a single week, followed by a break of one to two weeks to allow the body and nervous system time to respond. Based on your clinical response and treatment goals, a second intensive may be recommended and discussed with you.
Progress is monitored using a combination of subjective and objective tools.
QEEG brain mapping is a functional brain imaging tool that evaluates overall brainwave activity and communication patterns between brain regions. It allows clinicians to:
For conditions such as post-concussive syndrome or stroke recovery, the goal of transcranial laser therapy is true neurological repair not symptom management alone.
When successful and when no new injuries occur, many patients experience lasting resolution of symptoms and are able to discontinue therapy entirely. Some patients achieve full recovery within the initial treatment series.
