How does it work?
Red light therapy delivers low-energy red and near-infrared (NIR) light waves to the body through efficient LED bulbs. Red light waves penetrate the superficial layers of the skin, and the longer wavelength NIR light targets deeper tissues like nerves, muscles, tendons, and bone.
What is it doing?
Red light boosts energy production in human cells by stimulating photoreceptor proteins. It encourages our mitochondria to break down nitric oxide and efficiently generate more Adenosine triphosphate (ATP). ATP are the body's energy molecules; it is the cell's energy currency. Optimal ATP production supports health and repair by enabling the cells to perform efficiently, allowing the body to heal.
Red light therapy, like exercise and Wim Hof Breathing techniques, creates a state of hormesis. This is a low-dose, short-term form of stress within the body cells, that is good for the body. Hormesis helps to boost protein synthesis and enzyme activation and helps strengthen your anti-inflammatory and antioxidant defences. It also increases blood flow, improving nutrient and oxygen delivery throughout the body.
What are the benefits of Red Light Therapy?
Pain and inflammation
This treatment helps to increase blood flow, encourages antioxidant activity and lowers inflammatory markers in the body. Studies have found red light therapy can help:
- Joint pain
- Back pain
- Neck pain
- Fibromyalgia
- Tendon injuries
- Inflammation
Wound healing
Speeds up wound healing by promoting more oxygen and nutrients to reach the areas and by boosting circulation, this allows the treatment to be of benefit for those recovering post surgery. Red light therapy also reduces tissue inflammation around a wound and encourages the formation of new blood vessels, as well as helping to improve collagen levels.
Headaches and migraines
The anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving and circulation-boosting effects can help reduce the frequency and severity of headaches and migraines.
Thyroid function
A 2013 study found that NIR light therapy improved thyroid function and reduced autoimmune thyroid antibodies in people with Hashimoto's disease [Study: Höfling et al. (2013)]
Exercise and performance recovery
It can help improve muscle gains, physical performance, and recovery. Before a workout, it stimulates ATP production and increases muscle energy, performance, and time to exhaustion. It can also warm up joints and muscles to reduce the chance of injury. After physical endurance, it can be used to improve blood circulation and oxygenation in muscle tissue to prevent delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and speed up muscle repair and growth.
Eczema and Psoriasis
A 2010 study on treatment-resistant psoriasis sufferers found that two 20-minute red light therapy sessions resulted in a 60 - 100% reduction in psoriasis. Red light therapy can help heal eczema and Psoriasis suffers by reducing skin inflammation and speeding up wound healing. [study: Ablon. (2010)]
Skin and health appearance
By encouraging collagen production, red light therapy firms up the skin, reduces fine lines, wrinkles and sagging and generally improves your appearance.
Arthritis and joint health
Red light therapy reduces inflammation, helps to regenerate cartilage and boosts collagen synthesis which helps to reduce joint pain, swelling and joint degradation. It has been found to help degenerative osteoarthritis and inflammatory rheumatoid arthritis. [study: Wunsch & Karsten. (2014)]
Bone healing
Red light therapy improves cellular energy production, circulation, blood vessel formation and collagen synthesis to speed up bone repair.
Eye Health
Studies show low-level red light therapy has been found to improve vision in people with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) [study: Koev et al. (2018)]
Brain Health
This treatment has been shown to be good for learning, memory, reaction times and a positive mood.
Anti-ageing
By targeting mitochondrial function and boosting energy production, red light therapy can slow down ageing and associated issues.
Fatigue
Red light therapy can boost energy and stamina and increase the production of the key cellular energy molecule ATP, which all helps with general well-being and available sleep quality.
What can be expected in a Red Light Therapy treatment?
You can book a specific red light therapy treatment. The treatment will be tailored to the results you are looking for and the area of the body you would like to be treated. You may have to remove clothing to allow for the best results to be achieved, so please wear loose-fitting or easily adjustable clothing.
You will relax on a treatment plinth and the red-light device will be set to the correct level, position, and height for your specific treatment. Your practitioner will explain the optimum length of time you will need under the red light, they will answer any questions you have and then leave you to relax and enjoy your time under the red light.
Red light therapy can also be combined into other treatment modalities to increase results, treatments such as MSTR for scar tissue work, or in addition to a Bowen therapy session. Your practitioner for these treatments will likely propose the addition of red-light therapy but please make us aware of your interest in red-light therapy at the time of booking and we will advise if it can be used within a combined treatment.