Quick Overview of Red Light Therapy
Welcome! If you’ve asked yourself, “What is red light therapy?” or heard about the science of photobiomodulation, then you’ve come to the right place! So, we wrote this beginner’s guide to help you get started on your journey to improved health.
Many scientists and doctors recommend using red light for health and wellness. So what does it involve? Red light therapy involves directing specific wavelength combinations of light on living tissue. Accordingly, the medical community and consumers are realizing that malfunctioning tissue can be repaired with red light and near-infrared light.
Also, healthy tissue can be improved with the appropriate doses of red light. It can be targeted on specific areas of the body.
Red light therapy is a form of photobiomodulation. PBM stimulates cellular metabolism. As a result, these stimulated cells grow faster and self-repair. Therefore, when cells are exposed to the correct light, they produce signals that improve blood flow and tell other cells that “it is time to heal”. In layman’s terms, this can help a person’s health in several ways:
- Helps body tissue recover from injuries faster
- Slows, reverses, or prevents certain diseases
- Reduces pain and inflammation
- Improves bodily functions such as metabolism
Red light therapy is not new. There are many new products available. We’re excited that you’ve begun your journey. And we hope you find comfort and relief.
Why Is Red Light Therapy Interesting?
Red light therapy is appealing to consumers because it is safe and non-invasive. Therefore, it is often contact-free and never involves ingesting anything.
To put it into perspective, it is far safer than an x-ray.
Until recently, you received red light therapy in a clinical environment. Health and medical professionals usually administer treatment with devices that require special training. But the technology has advanced, the cost of the equipment is coming down and the devices are fairly easy to operate. There are many products available for in-home. Therefore, few require any special training or expertise.
Red light therapy has been studied pain management, injury or surgery recovery, and mental health. It has even been studied for hair growth and weight management. Furthermore, the research community is conducting new studies regularly. As a result, red light therapy could be a legitimate option for your health and wellness.
What is Red Light Therapy? A Detailed Explanation
You’ve made it this far. At this point, you may be wondering more about the science behind red light therapy. In this section, we will touch on the scientific and medical concepts in ways that an average person would understand. Please note that we are not doctors or scientists. To be clear, our role is to be an informed consumer. Just like you.
What is Light?
Light is simply a flow of charged sub-atomic particles that travel in harmonious waves of energy. These waves of particles are called “photons”. Just like waves in the ocean, light waves can be very different. Some waves are taller. Others have a lot of space between them. Certain light waves carry a lot of energy. Others barely move you when they run into your body.
How Does a Living Cell Work?
Scientists have called mitochondria the “power plant” of a cell because mitochondria product the energy that cells need to reproduce, repair, and signal other cells to do the same.
Mitochondria produce a chemical called adenisine triphosphate (ATP), which is an energy-rich molecule. You can think of ATP as a kind of fuel that a cell uses to do its job. Cells have all kinds of “jobs” in the body.
Cells Can Generate Energy From Light
Scientists have discovered that certain wavelengths of light will stimulate mitochondria of certain cells in different ways and at different speeds, making light therapy an interesting and powerful way to change how the body works.
By exposing the right kinds of cells to the right forms of light, it is possible to get cells to do what we want them to do. This is what makes light useful for achieving specific health and wellness outcomes.
Research has shown that higher-wavelength light can be effective in therapeutic situations. They can fight infection, repair wounds, and even produce signals to other cells that it is time to start work or speed up the job.
Which Health & Medical Conditions Can Be Treated with Red Light Therapy, Low-Level Laser Therapy, & Photobiomodulation?
At this writing, the list of conditions being studied for treatment by red light therapy is long. Red Light Therapy has been in numerous clinical trials to treat skin, bone, muscle, the brain, joints, and more. This type of therapy has been administered to consumers and patients of clinical professionals to improve sleep habits, reduce anxiety, and improve focus and mental state. And the medical community is active in using this form of non-invasive, non-pharmaceutical therapy to uncover additional health and wellness applications.
Low level laser light therapy and other forms of photobiomodulation could help treat many conditions.
- Reverses the effects of aging on skin wrinkles, eyesight, and cognitive function
- Reduces the impact of acne and psoriasis
- Treats of pigmentary disorders
- Reduces fat
- Sharpens mental clarity by improving sleep habits, focus, concentration
- Treats mental health conditions such as bipolar disorder and depression
- Accelerates rehabilitation after traumatic brain injury
- Heals wounds faster, including healing cuts faster and minimizing or reducing scarring
- Combats side effects of cancer treatments
- Combats certain cancers such as squamous cell carcinoma
How to Use Red Light Therapy
There are two common ways that individuals can experience photobiomodulation:
In a clinical setting
Initially, the equipment and devices developed for this innovative form of therapy were employed by medically-trained personnel. Those who sought this treatment typically would seek it on a scheduled basis and under the supervision of clinical staff. Check this page often. We intend to share what we learn about interesting examples of clinically-administered red light therapy services.
These days, you can find professional clinics that offer red light therapy for a wide range of health concerns.
At home
The technology behind photobiomodulation therapies has advanced to a point where there are now devices on the market that can be purchased by consumers for use in their own homes. Our evaluation of many of the products advertised on the market indicate that these devices are safe and fairly easy to use.
Is Red Light Therapy Safe?
The US Food & Drug Administration has established a classification system to regulate the use of lasers, as part of a larger mandate to regulate radiation-emitting devices and products. The FDA system for lasers and light-emitting diodes (LEDs) includes four classes, with some sub-classes. The purpose of the classifications is to group products by the hazards possible when using them. The lowest class, which can include products like CD players, is considered non-hazardous. Slightly more hazardous products include laser pointers and barcode scanners. The highest class is reserved for medical and industrial applications, and involve such powerful and focused light that they can result in significant bodily injury or even represent a fire hazard.
Any reputable manufacturer or clinical operator of this technology should be able to articulate how their products conform to the framework outlined by the FDA.