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Sections:
Introduction
Why use red light therapy and not just get more sunlight?
How does red light therapy work?
Introduction
Just like we need water and air humans need light. Light is a 'nutrient' to the human body and we all know the importance of getting Vitamin D from sunlight and UV light, however, there are a range of wavelengths that don't just feel good on our skin, they have a biological benefit within our bodies.
Unfortunately, we live in a world where most people spend too much time indoors not getting enough of the bioactive light spectrum (parts of the light that are essential for us to survive).
This is where red light therapy vs sunlight comes in. Now, this term can be misleading as it's not always just red light, but often includes other wavelengths from the near infrared (NIR) spectrum too. Scientists call it photobiomodulation (PBM), which essentially means, ‘changing biology with light’ and is a term that covers all light therapy treatments.
The term red light therapy is used as a simplified term and can mean a device using red light wavelengths for skin health or a device that impacts more than just skin health by emitting a range of NIR wavelengths as well as the red ones. So, if you’re looking for deeper benefits than just skin health, it's important to ensure the device you are using has both red and NIR wavelengths.
Red and NIR light wavelengths are used to stimulate, heal, regenerate and protect tissue that has either been injured or is degenerating. NIR is part of the invisible light spectrum and can only be seen with night vision googles, so most light therapy devices that use NIR combine red so that light is visible to the person using it.
For the purposes of this article, I’ll use the term red light therapy, meaning both red and NIR light wavelengths.
Infrared saunas also utilise light - a different wavelength called far infrared light, which produces heat, penetrates the tissues and increases your core temperature making the body sweat. It does this without heating the air around you as much as in traditional saunas making infrared saunas a lot more tolerable and effective than traditional ones. The effect mimics exercise in the body producing a range of benefits including increased circulation, nutrient delivery to the tissues, lowered blood pressure, improved heart health, release of endorphins leading to reduced stress and improved mood, an increased metabolism and more.
Why use Red Light Therapy vs Sunlight?
Getting more sunlight is great and I recommend it for helping with sleep, mood, illness recovery and more, but if you have an injury, chronic illness, chronic pain, want to boost your mood, improve energy, improve brain health, enhance your sports or exercise performance or enhance muscle recovery after exercise, then light therapy goes deeper and has a greater impact.
Red light therapy uses a more concentrated form of the beneficial wavelengths of light that we get from the sun with a very low risk of side effects and no harmful UV rays.
Sunlight isn't as direct or intensive and the beneficial wavelengths within sunlight are filtered too much by the time they reach the body to penetrate as deep and have the same impact as concentrated light therapy. Light is also not absorbed by the skin with sunscreen so you might be out in the sun but not getting the benefits, including vitamin D, if you are wearing sunscreen.
How does Red Light Therapy work?
Red light therapy devices emit specific concentrated wavelengths of light that are picked up by light sensors in our cells. There are a few different mechanisms being researched currently, however in simple terms, the light stimulates our mitochondria to produce more energy and increases growth factors that enhance healing.
Mitochondrial energy production is in every cell in the body, when this process is more efficient, the improvements to cellular processes and cellular health benefit the entire body.
Diseases in the body are a result of a lack of healing or the body's inability to heal and red light therapy or PBM works to stimulate healing at a cellular level. In addition just like good diet and exercise can have a preventative effect on our health, light can also play this role.
Red light therapy can have a positive impact on the skin, connective tissue (tendons and ligaments), bone, the brain, cellular growth and repair, cellular functioning, the gut, gut-brain axis and the nervous system. This can lead to reduced inflammation, reduced pain, improved healing, improved sleep (through increased mitochondrial derived melatonin (1)), improved mood and better muscle performance and enhanced muscle recovery from exercise.
Conclusion
In today's fast-paced world, many of us spend too much time indoors, missing out on the bioactive light spectrum essential for optimal health. While sunlight remains a vital part of a healthy lifestyle, red light therapy takes it a step further by delivering targeted wavelengths that go deeper, offering profound benefits with a very low risk of side effects. Whether you're managing chronic pain, looking to boost energy, recovering from an injury or wanting to support skin health red light therapy is a powerful tool to add to your wellness routine.
By stimulating mitochondrial energy production, red and near infrared light can enhance healing, reduce inflammation, and improve overall well-being, from skin health to brain function and muscle recovery.
Coming Soon
If you’re curious to learn more about how red light therapy can help specific conditions or want guidance on choosing the right device, explore my next blogs:
"Red Light Therapy: Devices, Wavelengths, and Practical Tips for Recovery"
"Exploring the Red and Near-Infrared Wavelengths in Red Light Therapy"
We will discuss:
Getting started with red light therapy
How I used Red Light Therapy for ME/CFS and EDS
Different Red Light Therapy Devices
Understanding Wavelengths and Light Intensity
Exploring wavelengths for different conditions
Exclusive Discounts for Trusted Red Light Therapy Brands in NZ and Australia
Want to try it?
Book a session at our Glen Eden or Henderson Wellness room. Read more here
Looking to buy a red light therapy device?
For those ready to invest in a quality device, check out my discounts for top-ranked companies, Block Blue Light and Rojo, and start experiencing the benefits of red light therapy for yourself.
References:
Russel J Reiter, Ramaswamy Sharma, Debora Aparecida Pires de Campos Zuccari, Luiz Gustavo de Almeida Chuffa, Walter Manucha & Carmen Rodriguez (2021) Melatonin Synthesis in and Uptake By Mitochondria: Implications for Diseased Cells With Dysfunctional Mitochondria, Future Medicinal Chemistry, 13:4, 335-339, DOI: 10.4155/ fmc-2020-0326 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.4155/fmc-2020-0326
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