Humans are powered by light and are comprised of energy. While nutrition and exercise play a role in our well-being and health, light plays a key role in our optimal functioning. New and groundbreaking research is uncovering new insights into how our cells work, and evidence points to the power of light.
Through technological advances in science, it has been discovered that our body operates like a battery. The wavelengths of light provide us with energy, and our overall health determines our ability to receive and maintain the energy of light. And that’s where red light therapy comes in .
What is Red Light Therapy
Science has shown that certain wavelengths interact with our body in ways that are advantageous to us in different ways.
Red light therapy devices, such as phototherapy masks , shine red and near-infrared light onto the skin to stimulate the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) within the mitochondria. Damaged cells repair more quickly and new cells are created more quickly when ATP is stimulated. But we’ll discuss this in more depth later.
Red light therapy involves red and infrared wavelengths that penetrate the layers of the skin and enter cells directly. Red wavelengths boost collagen and elastin, improving cellular communication. It penetrates the superficial layers to help aid a variety of skin conditions .
Near-infrared wavelengths boost blood flow and tissue oxygenation, promote healing, and raise mitochondrial activity. Near-infrared wavelengths penetrate deep into the body.
Charge your body from the inside
At the heart of your body’s healing abilities are mitochondria. Mitochondria play an important role in your internal organs and tissues, including the liver, skin, heart, and muscles. It is responsible for the energy supply of the body through ATP (adenosine triphosphate) .
Working together, they provide our bodies with energy and maintain the circulation and growth of cells. That’s why you often hear mitochondria referred to as “the powerhouse of the cell.”
Here’s how mitochondria are affected by red light.
- LED light wavelengths between 600-800 nanometers (red) and 810-850 nanometers (infrared) penetrate the skin and enter cells through the red light therapy device.
- Light enters the cell’s mitochondria, where it is absorbed by chromophores including EZ water and the protein cytochrome c oxidase (CCO), resulting in stimulating activity.
- Subsequently, three molecules were affected.Nitric oxide, reactive oxygen species, and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) (NO).
Interestingly, our body weight is made up of 70% water, and 99% of our body’s molecules are also made up of water, making it a powerful component of red light therapy.
Research by Professor Gerald Pollock of the University of Washington proves that the water adjacent to cells is structural water, also known as EZ water. This special water creates a charge separation that acts as positive and negative poles in the body — similar to a battery .
What does “red light therapy” mean?
Red light therapy has been discussed; but, what does it truly contain? Typically, “red light therapy” refers to natural light therapy, which uses LEDs or cold lasers to provide natural sunlight in red and near-infrared wavelengths .
While you might think that red light therapy includes all colors of light, it doesn’t. This term does not include blue or white light, and it is not equivalent to full spectrum light. Red light therapy does not rely on heat, distinguishing it from other light-based treatments such as infrared saunas and thermal therapy.
Red light therapy is also known as RLT, photobiomodulation (PBM), light therapy, Low-level laser therapy, LED light therapy, infrared light therapy, or low-level light therapy (LLLT).
The origins of modern red light therapy
Clearly, red light therapy provides a multi-layered treatment for the body, making it a popular natural and holistic choice for professionals and consumers alike, but where did it come from?
Light therapy technology isn’t new; it’s been around for decades since NASA experimented with red light therapy during the 1980s and 1990s. Over the past 10-20 years, red light therapy has made breakthroughs in LED lighting technology, allowing the production of safe and affordable clinical and home devices.
In 2016, Kaiyan Medical became the first leading manufacturer of US FDA-approved and MDASAP- approved red light therapy devices.