INFORMATION ABOUT RED-LIGHT THERAPY
UNDERSTANDING RED LIGHT WAVELENGTHS
Sunlight includes a component of red light; it is this light wavelength that contributes to the enhanced sense of well-being we experience after a few hours outdoors. LED light therapy devices, such as those offered by Red Light Therapy, harness the regenerative healing red light wavelengths, without the more problematic UVA and UVB light rays that can cause skin cancer and premature aging. LED light therapy, therefore, is the therapeutic science of utilizing red and infrared light wavelengths to assist with the treatment of health conditions, and promote general well-being.
WHAT EXACTLY IS LIGHT THERAPY?
Light therapy is among the earliest recorded healing modalities. Solar therapy was first used by the Egyptians, and forms of light therapy were also practiced by the ancient Greeks, Chinese and Indians. There’s no question that light exerts biological effects: in fact, the body needs light to be healthy. Clinical studies are now establishing how different wavelengths of light affect the body at a cellular level, the conditions that can be successfully treated using light therapy, and the optimal conditions needed to absorb the benefits of light-based treatments. All light falls along a spectrum of wavelengths. Red and infrared light that falls within the wavelength range of 650-850 nanometers (nm) is extremely beneficial, and often referred to as the “therapeutic window”. These wavelengths of light are bioactive in humans, which mean they have a biological effect on the body like antibiotics or vitamins and affect the function of our cells. Red light emits wavelengths between 620- 700 nanometers (nm). All red light wavelengths are effective and offer health benefits, although certain wavelengths are more powerful than others–particularly those that fall between 630-680 nanometers (nm). Visible red light within this range can penetrate deep into the skin, offering rejuvenating and balancing outcomes for a range of health conditions.
WHAT EXACTLY IS LIGHT THERAPY?
During a LED light therapy treatment, chromophores within our cellular mitochondria absorb red and infrared light photons, and convert them into energy. Mitochondria are the powerhouses of cells, responsible for making adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the cell’s form of energy, and enhancing the consumption of oxygen. Once this red light energy has been absorbed by the body, it is then used by the cells to build new proteins such as collagen and elastin, and to assist with cellular regeneration. Red light gives cells a helping hand, ensuring mitochondria reaches its potential by providing it with a full tank of fuel which results in optimal performance for the organism. You could compare the process to photosynthesis, where plants absorb sunlight and convert it into complex molecules. In LED light therapy, we absorb the energy of the red light photons to enhance our cellular potential, promote oxygen utilization within the cell, and generate ATP, or cellular fuel. There’s nothing mystical about it–the process by which red light transforms bodily tissue at a cellular level has been scientifically proven. Improving the performance of mitochondria in the body improves the body’s overall performance and health.