Red Light Therapy
The concept of the power of light for healing purposes has been around for thousands of years. Our ancestors never had to think about the amount of light they got every day, they received the perfect blend of light provided by the sun during the day and around the fire at night.
With the invention of laser (light amplification by stimulated emission by radiation) in 1960 by American Physicist Theodore H Maiman, scientists and physicians began to use lasers to deliver therapeutic levels of light.
One such physician and surgeon was Hungarian Endre Mester (1903-1984), who discovered that a low-level ruby laser light could regrow hair and accelerate the healing process in mice.
The concept that “sunlight was medicine,” and considered necessary for human health eventually became general knowledge. Heliotherapy, or sunlight therapy, is more commonly known now in modern medicine as photobiomodulation (PBM) or low-level laser light therapy (LLLT).
What Can it Help With?
Pain & Inflammation
Sunlight early in the day is great for reducing inflammation on a systemic level. However, if you want to provide a localized area of the body more additional light to benefit its healing and repair process, then consider light therapy devices.
Sleep
Light therapy for sleep is powerful and simplistic.
The time of day that you get sunlight on your skin matters for the quality and quantity of sleep you get at night. Getting natural sunlight in your eyes early in the day for 30 minutes is highly recommended to improve your “sleep wake” cycle or circadian rhythm.
Mood & Mental Health
There is no questioning the power of being the sun to lift one’s mood. With exposure to sunlight our body increases production of feel good chemicals (neurotransmitters).
There is a cumulative benefit with light exposure to reduce inflammation in our body and improve our sleep which in turn can balance our mood.
Electromagnetic Spectrum and Red Light Therapy
Light is radiation in a specific range of the electromagnetic spectrum. Waves of light in the electromagnetic spectrum range from very small waves (gamma rays) to large wavelengths of light (radio waves).
Light measurements are typically quantified by the amount of energy emitted (or the number of photons) as a function of wavelength (measured in nanometers – nm). Only a tiny part of this electromagnetic spectrum is visible to the human eye – from 400nm to 700nm.
Within the electromagnetic spectrum, there are 5 types of light that can affect the function of our cells. These lights are referred to as “bioactive”. Our health is influenced by the amount of bioactive light we get each day. Here’s how each can affect our health:
Blue Light
Through our eyes, sets our circadian rhythm clock in our brain (suprachiasmatic nucleus), regulating multiple neurotransmitters and hormones in our body.
UV Light
(UVB) interacts with our skin, bio-synthesizing vitamin D from the sun.
Far Infrared
Heats up our cells stimulating changes in cell function and circulation.
Red Light
Acts on our cell’s mitochondria to increase ATP production.
Near-infrared
(NIR) acts on our cell’s mitochondria to stimulate ATP production as well as to create temporary low dose metabolic stress (hormesis) that builds our cell’s anti-inflammatory and antioxidant defense systems.
Sound too Good to be True?
It’s science. The health of every organ and every cell in the body depends on energy being produced by the mitochondria in those cells. Cells skin, gland or brain – when the mitochondria produce more energy, the cells work better.
Red Light and Near Infrared Light
Red and near-infrared light are part of the spectrum of light (electromagnetic spectrum) emitted by the sun (and by fire light too). RL and NIR light wavelengths can reach into our tissue (several centimeters) and penetrate our cells, tissues, nerves, rods/cones, brain, and bones. Increase energy production, modulate inflammation, relieve pain, improve cell regeneration.
The highest part of the visible spectrum of light is red light, which is from 600-700 nm. Near Infrared light is not visible to the human eye, from roughly 700-1400 nm.
Most of the research surrounding the bioactive effects of red and near infrared light fall in specific ranges of 630-680 nm and 800-880 nm.
Modern living with limited sun exposure and artificial lights has led us down a path of RL and NIR light deficiency.
