Red Light Therapy Research

Red Light TherapyHealthMitochondriaCellular HealthAnti-AgingBeauty & Skin

May 28

Written by: Kiyoki Rykman

I never thought that the topic of “light” would interest me so much. It’s something that we use every day outside and every day and night inside, but we never really stop to think about how light affects us.

Doctors talk about how UVA and UVB rays from the sun are damaging to our skin and how it can cause melanoma (skin cancer) and that we need to wear sunscreen to protect ourselves from this damaging radiation. What doctors don’t talk about is the importance of the varied light spectrum that we do absorb from the sun and how this spectrum charges us and heals our cells. Doctors also don’t talk about how artificial light (you know, the fluorescent lights that we’re sitting under as we work at our desks or shop under at the store) negatively impact our brains and our circadian rhythms, thus disrupting our sleep patterns and hormone levels.

See, the colors of the rainbow of light are called the visible electromagnetic radiation spectrum. What this means is that each color has a certain wavelength that can be measured in nanometers (nm). Each wavelength (nm) touches our organic cells and penetrates (or is absorbed) into our cells and tissues at different depths. Generally, the higher the wavelength, the deeper the penetration into the body’s tissues. Near infrared and far infrared wavelengths are 740+nm and are not visible to our eyes, but we feel the warmth of the wavelength, which is the warmth we feel from the sun and it is how we’re able to have infrared saunas, like the one in our office.

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I began researching all things Red Light Therapy (RLT) in October of 2023 and it took me down a rabbit-hole of learning. I learned about how LED RLT was originally developed by NASA and has been used successfully for medical purposes for many decades, since the 1980s. I learned about light spectrum and how living organisms absorb and generate energy from the different wavelengths of the rainbow of light (this idea is similar to how plants photosynthesize). I learned about how the majority of modern humans are light deficient in certain colors of this light spectrum because we live our lives primarily indoors. I learned about how the majority of humans are over-dosing on blue and white light spectrums. I learned how being deficient in the full light spectrum is actually hindering our body’s ability to properly recover from and combat harmful UVA & UVB rays. Most importantly, I learned how we can harness the cellular-igniting abilities of the red light wavelengths and apply them to our bodies to heal so many different physiological problems. After scouring over dozens upon dozens of clinical trials, I was shocked by the staggering findings.

So how does it work on our bodies?

RLT works by enhancing cellular energy production. he red light photons are absorbed by the mitochondria, the powerhouse of the cell. This stimulation leads to the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). ATP is the primary source of energy for cellular activities. By increasing ATP production, RLT helps to optimize cellular function, promote tissue repair, and support overall health. RLT also increases levels of nitric oxide in the blood, which then increases blood circulation to better nourish your body’s cells with oxygen and nutrients. RLT also helps to create exclusion zone (EZ) water inside the cells, which keeps the cells well hydrated.

Because RLT and infrared light are working at a biochemical level, targeting the mitochondria within our cells, it is able to benefit our bodies in so many ways: softer skin, reducing inflammation of skin, increasing blood and lymph circulation, increasing collagen and elastin in our skin, decreasing inflammation in our muscles and joints, healing injuries and wounds to tissues faster, reduces tension in muscles, improves hair follicle density, increases bone density, improves retinal eye repair, balances hormone levels, improves healthy gut bacteria levels, improves neural growth in the nervous system, and more.

Are there any side effects?

Red light therapy is extremely safe and it is rather difficult to "overdose" on this type of light. But as with any type of biological treatment, there are some potential negative side effects. And while the possibility is there, negative side effects are relatively infrequent. Reported symptoms include nausea, fatigue and exacerbation of pain 1 - 2 days after treatment.

A good “rule-of-thumb” for use this type of light for treating an area or the whole body is this:

Start with shorter durations of doses and then gradually add more time and you become accustomed to absorbing the wavelengths.
Don’t treat the same area or whole body twice in one day.

Is RLT safe for everyone to use?

Currently, there is no data to verify one way or another as to whether RLT can be harmful for pregnant women. However, women are constantly exposed to sunlight -- which has both red and NIR wavelengths -- during pregnancy. But due to the fact that these two wavelengths are being emitted in concentrated doses, there may be some unexpected effects. Consult with a medical doctor for their professional opinion before administering RLT treatments.

Are there different treatment protocols for treating different parts of the body?

The short answer is yes, but it’s a bit more complicated than that. Each device with have its own specifications and light energy emission strength and your body’s distance from the device and duration under the device’s light will vary based upon that device’s specifications. To be the most effective, choose a device from a company who is transparent with each of their device’s specifications. A transparent company will most likely recommend a treatment protocol for their device strengths. A typical dose in the range of 0.1J/cm² to 6J/cm² (Joules per centimeter squared) is optimal for cells, with less doing nothing and much more cancelling out the benefits.

You’d take your dose amount x device strength (mW/cm² -milliwatts per centimeter squared-) = your treatment duration.

Are all RLT devices and companies the same quality?

Absolutely not! Believe me on this one, I’ve spent weeks worth of time researching the science behind RLT technology and I assure you that most of the devices on the market are manufactured with cheap parts and are not medical device quality. First of all, if you find a product from a company that does not have updated 3rd party lab testing, move on. 3rd party lab testing and transparent lab results are essential for knowing the quality of the LED blubs, the strength of the bulbs, the proper nanometer wavelength, and the amount of EMF radiation (if any). Without the 3rd party lab testing, consider the device a waste of your hard-earned money.

We have researched and trust these companies: