Light is powerful. Natural light has been shown to boost immune function (hello, vitamin D!), help jaundiced babies recover, improve the symptoms of skin conditions like psoriasis, and even accelerate healing in the body.
While, inevitably, wearing sunscreen outside during the warmer months is important, there are tons of upsides to natural light rays. During the winter months, it’s undeniably harder to get adequate sunlight. However, there are various options available to help you counteract this darker season. So, in this article, we wanted to take a moment to explore the power of red light therapy. Is it worth it? How can it improve your health?
What is Red Light Therapy?
Red Light Therapy (RLT) is a treatment option that concentrates red light over areas of your body. RLT is often called Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT), Photobiomodulation (PBM), or Near Infrared Light (NIR). It is similar to infrared light except that you can see it.
The different colours of visible light each have a different effect on your body. Red light devices are readily available for purchase online, which can help you gain their beneficial effects.
The energy from the red light penetrates your cells and boosts the mitochondria (the “powerhouses” of your cells). This increases your cells’ ability to function optimally and produce energy, which supports healing, relieves pain, and reduces inflammation.
Red Light Therapy is also completely safe—There’s no UV exposure that can damage your skin. It is non-invasive, as there aren’t any uncomfortable procedures or side effects. It is also quite a pleasant experience; With a slight warm sensation on your skin, you can relax and enjoy your red light sauna experience!
5 Benefits of Red Light Therapy
The medical world is waiting for more extensive research on Red Light Therapy. In the meantime, there is enough clinical trial evidence to support the use of RLT in a growing number of applications. These are the benefits of RLT that are really exciting!
- Promotes Skin Health (and Slows Down Aging!)
Cells with more energy are healthier cells. Healthy skin cells increase your skin’s ability to restore and replace damaged cells. In this way, RLT is an amazing option for patients suffering from inflammatory skin conditions like acne, psoriasis, or pigmentation.
Red light also stimulates collagen production in the skin. Collagen plays a major role in the strength and structure of the skin. It also supports rejuvenation and repair. And so, RLT is an effective option for treating skin tissue damaged by scarring, UV exposure, or aging.
- Stimulates Hair Growth
RLT stimulates the growth and health of hair follicles. This is fantastic news for people affected by thinning hair or baldness (60-70% of the adult population). Exposure to red light increases the number of active hair follicles. It also prolongs the growth phase of each follicle. Simply put, RLT leads to a fuller and thicker head of hair!
- Reduces Inflammation
RLT reduces inflammation on a cellular level. It balances out the chemistry of each cell, potentially reversing the damage caused by stress. This lowers the inflammation of the tissue as a whole.
RLT has the incredible power to treat inflammation of the joints, traumatic injuries, and the spine. It also provides relief for patients suffering from inflammatory conditions like arthritis!
- Combats Pain
Red Light Therapy reduces pain. While many patients find pain relief in medicine, some conditions don’t respond well to traditional pain management. RLT improves pain in patients suffering from fibromyalgia—a condition that is difficult to treat and often characterised by unexplained pain.
- Helps You Sleep
If you’ve witnessed the stunning red glow of a sunrise or sunset, you’ve seen red light in all its glory. This exposure to red light at the beginning and end of the day balances out your body’s natural sleep pattern or circadian rhythm. Modern lifestyles often don’t benefit from natural exposure to sunlight, but RLT can help restore your natural sleep patterns and enhance the quality of your sleep (meaning you’ll have more energy to go about your day!).
Is Red Light Therapy Right for You?
Red Light Therapy provides many benefits. It is non-invasive, has no side effects, and in most instances, is definitely worth a try! There are some RLT lamps that you can use at home in the evening or morning hours (as previously mentioned, this can easily be purchased online!). Some RLT lamps we recommend include Red Light Rising and Somni Light Therapy, both of which can be purchased online.
RLT can also be a great complementary technique to your regular chiropractic care and wellness regime.
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