What is Red Light Therapy?

Red Light Therapy is the treatment of human tissue with specific red and near infrared wavelengths of light at certain concentrations to induce therapeutic benefits.  

First discovered in the early 1900’s, Red Light was then studied by NASA scientists in a research project examining the effects of different light wavelengths on plants and humans with astonishing results. This research has been furthered by teams of doctors and scientists who have since published over three thousand scientific papers on the benefits, efficacy and different applications of Red Light Therapy.

Is it safe?

Yes. Not only are there thousands of peer-reviewed studies demonstrating the effectiveness of Red Light Therapy; what really sets red light therapy apart from the crowd is its safety profile. In all the studies conducted on the treatment, the common thread was that the treatment produced no adverse effects.Notably, the wavelengths in our Red Light Therapy Lights are not like the wavelengths in a tanning bed and thus do not have any of the harmful UV wavelengths that are associated with skin cancer. And as the wavelengths do not produce heat, and our lamps only emit a gentle warmth that is soothing and enjoyable and it is safe to touch the surface of our lamp

How does it work?

Red light therapy has been featured in more than 3,000 scientific studies; thereby the fact that it is effective has been quite well established.

It is difficult to measure the biochemical processes that unfold on the cellular level; however there are universally accepted standing hypotheses on how red light affects the human body.  The scientific community postulates that the process involves a reaction by the body to these specific wavelengths of light. Since near infrared and red light wavelengths can be found in the sun; our bodies are inherently receptive to these beneficial wavelengths.

With red light therapy; the therapeutic process begins in the mitochondria. In the modern world, we are exposed to so many things that cause cellular stress, from radiation, free radicals, ph imbalances, injuries etc. An overabundant byproduct of this oxidative stress is Nitric Oxide (NO)  which, to the detriment of the cells, binds with an enzyme called Cytochrome C Oxidase in the mitochondria. The fundamental pathway of action by red light lies in the decoupling of this bond through a mild stress influence on these organelles. This process frees up the Cytochrome C oxidase to optimally produce ATP, the energy that powers all living cells.

The benefits of this are significant, but they don’t stop there; the release of Nitric Oxide is also very advantageous, as NO acts as a natural vasodilator, relaxing the walls of the blood vessels and allowing more blood to flow which in turn can help speed up healing and help reduce inflammation.

There are many cascading and beneficial spinoff effects that take place as a result of these core processes which is why red light therapy has been associated with so many positive health outcomes. 

Human cells are densely packed with mitochondria, and good cellular respiration is fundamental to good health. One medical hypothesis holds that the degradation in the quality of the mitochondria through the over-accumulation of free radicals, can actually speed up the aging process. This may be one of the reasons that the use of red and NIR wavelengths on human tissue are so closely tied to anti-aging benefits.