What is Red Light Therapy?

Red Light Therapy (RLT) is a treatment that uses low wavelength red light. RLT was something NASA began experimenting with on plant growth in space and also to heal wounds in astronauts. Because of the success rates, this therapy is being studied for more potential uses.

What are the benefits of RLT?

During these scientific studies, there have been high correlations between RLT and various ailments such as: inflammation, anxiety/depression, athletic performance, bone/joint health, brain/nerve health, fat loss, hair health, heart health, immune health, oral health, pain, skin health, sleep, thyroid health, and wound healing.

Anti-Inflammatory:

Red/NIR light inhibits several cellular pathways. The Net Effect: reduced inflammation. Chronic inflammation is widely recognized as the major contributor to all chronic diseases. RLT reduces inflammation where mitochondria are present (which is basically everywhere in the body). Red Light Therapy produces anti-inflammatory effects that are comparable to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (minus all the negative side effects).

Pain:

Although pain is a very complex condition, pain is mainly caused by either inflammation or poor microcirculation. Inflammation sensitizes the nerves during an injury which makes things tender, irritable and painful. Compromised micro-circulation leads to a lack of oxygen and nutrients which causes a lower threshold for pain signals to be sent to the brain. By decreasing inflammation or improving your blood flow, the pain signals and pain decreases. Research consistently shows that RLT/NIR are effective for reducing this inflammation.

Bone & Joint:

Red/NIR light stimulates energy production in our cells, increases bone factors, enhances blood vessel formation and blood flow to the necessary areas, reduces inflammation and produces collagen. Basically, it helps you to build stronger bones and more collagen.

Wound Healing:

In order for a wound to heal, there is a dynamic process that coordinates the cellular events that are essential for tissue repair and then re-establishing the epithelial barrier function. This happens in three phases: inflammatory, cellular proliferation and tissue remodeling. RLT plays a positive role in the increase of cellular proliferation and the viability of mesenchymal stem cells, endothelial cells, osteoblasts, lymphocytes, epithelial cells and fibroblasts.

Sleep:

Studies show that Red/NIR light has a positive impact on the hormone that promotes sleep: melatonin. It can dramatically improve the quality and quantity of sleep. Melatonin protects mitochondria from damage and is essential for regeneration while we sleep. It also prevents free radical damage, regulates and maintains bioenergetic function and respiratory activities, electron transport chain and ATP production.

Skin Health:

Red light stimulates both collagen and elastin production and repairs UV damage. It stimulates collagen synthesis and fibroblast formation which reduces inflammation and improves energy production of the mitochondria and facilitates DNA repair. Your skin is part of the integumentary system and is critical to your health and wellness. Red/NIR light can combat common skin conditions (acne, vitiligo, burns, etc.), reduce cellulite and reduce color patches or hyperpigmentation.

Hair Health:

Red/NIR light has proven to help both men and women to not only prevent hair loss but regrow hair. RLT can even increase the thickness of each strand of hair, thus helping the quality and quantity of hair. Hair grows in three phases: anagen (growth phase), catagen (transition towards skin pore), and telogen (blood supply to the hair follicle and growth ends). Red/NIR promotes the transition from the telogen phase back to the anagen phase.

Oral Health:

Red Light Therapy is also known as low-level laser therapy (LLLT). It has been shown to have extremely significant bactericidal potential without damaging oral tissue. This has been documented in vitro and vivo.

Immune System:

Degeneration of the lymphoid organs associated with the immune system occurs as a normal part of aging. Atrophy of the thymus and the reduction of T-cell production are the most noticeable age-related changes that affect these lymphoid organs. RLT may reverse or prevent the shrinking of the thymus by inducing melatonin production or stimulating bone marrow stem cells that replenish the thymus. In theory, RLT could even extend your lifespan.

Thyroid Health:

Currently, Red/NIR light therapy is one of the only treatments that may reverse autoimmune hypothyroidism. The thyroid gland is part of the endocrine system that secretes hormones that regulate every cell, tissue and organ in the body. Almost 5% of the U.S. population over the age of 12 has some form of hypothyroidism but it is estimated that about 40% of the population suffers from some form of underactive thyroid.

Heart Health:

Studies have shown there is a significant reduction in mitochondrial injury and increased ATP in the infarcted area of the heart. RLT can reduce myocardial injury by increasing energy supply. RLT/NIR reduces the inflammation everywhere mitochondria are present which includes the heart.

Fat Loss:

Red/NIR light is able to elicit a response that causes fat cells to release stored fat into the bloodstream on a cellular level. Once in the circulatory system, fat can be burned off as energy. This can be amplified by having a regular exercise regimen. Some fat is harder to lose because it has poor blood circulation, it becomes hyper-sensitive to insulin or because the fat receptors in the fat cells cause them to be resistant to releasing the fat.

Athletic Performance:

When you combine RLT with exercise, it amplifies the benefits. It improves your exercise capacity as well as recovery time. It augments muscle gain AND fat loss. There is also significant research that RLT prevents muscular fatigue, enhances muscular strength and endurance, increases muscle growth and fat loss, and prevents delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS).

Brain & Nerve Health:

The brain, heart and muscles are the tissues in our body with the greatest mitochondrial density. Because RLT has a great impact on the mitochondria, this means that the brain and our overall cognitive function can drastically improve with this therapy. RLT can increase the neuronal nitric oxide content, increase vessel diameter, and improve cerebral blood flow (CBF). Neuroinflammation is one of the crucial pathophysiological findings in brain disorders. RLT reduces pro-inflammatory cytokines via inhibition or various signaling pathways which results in decreased inflammation.

Anxiety & Depression:

There are several theories as to the pathophysiology of anxiety and depression: neurotransmitter imbalance, decreased cerebral blood flow, decreased energy, oxidative stress, neuroinflammation or impaired neurogenesis. NIR can induce short bursts of reactive oxygen species leading to the activation of antioxidant mechanisms which result in reduced oxidative stress. RLT stimulates neurogenesis and protects against cell death.

Do I need to go somewhere for RLT, or can I do it at home?

You can absolutely do it at home! The only downside is that the at home Red Light Therapy units can be a little pricey. I would encourage everyone to do their own research before purchasing a unit. For me, I see the unit as an investment in my health and you can’t put a price on that. When I was purchasing my unit, I ended up comparing two companies: BioLight and Joovv. Things I looked at were light power, EMF emission, light flicker, as well as price. Ultimately, I ended up going with BioLight (model ReStore+) based on things I found to be more important with the unit itself. I also ended up buying the Guardian unit to help target my oral health.

ReStore+ (Full Body Unit): $1,299

Guardian (For Oral Health): $189