In the last edition of the newsletter, I wrote about the health benefits of the whole body vibration platform. I have already had several readers let me know they are now enjoying their daily shaky break. This time I’ll give some background on another home therapy that is simple, relatively cheap to get started with, and packs several significant therapeutic benefits.
Red/Infrared Light Therapy
Red light sits at the lower end of the visible spectrum of light. The color of light is determined by its wavelength. The upper end of the red light spectrum, where red transitions to orange, is around 620 nanometers (nm). The lower end, where red light transitions to infrared light, is around 700nm. By using “upper” and “lower” here I’m simply equating shorter wavelengths with “upper” and longer wavelengths with “lower.”
Infrared light covers a very broad swath of the spectrum, starting with near-infrared light beginning the upper end of its spectrum at around 700nm, and stretching out into much longer wavelengths thorough mid-infrared light and on through far-infrared light, which tops out at about 1,000,000nm.
Keep in mind that as these numbers get larger and larger, it means that the wavelength – the distance between the peaks of two adjacent waves – is getting longer and longer. And for our purposes, what you need to know is that the longer the peak is between waves, the deeper it can penetrate through the skin and into the deeper parts of the body.
“Red light therapy” refers to simply shining light on the part of the body that is needing the therapy. Within the spectrum of red light, there is one particular wavelength that has been shown to have significant benefit: 660nm. Dozens of studies have documented a range of health benefits attributed with this wavelength, including accelerated wound healing, antimicrobial effects, pain relief, enhanced skin tone and collagen production, improved superficial skin circulation and immune activity, enhanced hair growth, and even improved memory and cognition, among other benefits. See, for example, Mechanisms and applications of the anti-inflammatory effects of photobiomodulation.
Red light at 660nm is great for what it does, but as mentioned it doesn’t penetrate as deeply into the body as does near-infrared (NIR) light. And just as with red light, NIR light has an optimal therapeutic wavelength: 850nm. Many of its benefits overlap with red light therapy, such as wound repair, pain relief, skin rejuvenation, and more. In addition, NIR therapy has been shown to benefit athletic performance and muscle recovery, recovery from bone injuries, improve joint pain, and even more robust evidence for treating neurodegenerative diseases, strokes, TBIs, and other cognitive issues. For a review of NIR’s neurological benefits, see, for example, Brain Photobiomodulation Therapy: a Narrative Review.
How do you implement the therapy? It’s very complicated:
- Step 1: purchase a red/NIR light
- Step 2: point it at yourself
OK, maybe a bit of detail would be helpful. There are three factors that come into play: 1) wavelength of light; 2) power of the light source; 3) duration of treatment.
Most available lights advertised for “red light therapy” produce both 660nm and 850nm, so that base is easy to cover. Read the product description and it should tell you. If it doesn’t, don’t buy it. Keep in mind that many other wavelengths in both the red and infrared spectrum have been found beneficial as well. Sunlight has them all and so is the optimal ‘red light therapy.’ Those two wavelengths are just two of the most extensively researched. Search your favorite online seller using the phrase “red light therapy” and you’ll find many options.
The power output of the light will be variable. There are many LED red lights for sale. I personally have three that I use regularly. This light, which has a relatively lower power output, I wear on a shoulder that gets painful at times. This light I use over my abdomen to benefit gut bacteria, over my thymus gland to stimulate immunity, over any skin abrasions or wounds, etc. Then for a much more powerful systemic therapeutic effect I have this light, which produces a broader spectrum of wavelengths and has much higher power output than other lights, so it penetrates deeper into the body. It has a greater potential for enhancing cellular energy production due to its higher power and wavelength spectrum.
I’m not suggesting those lights are the best in their class, and I make no money from their sale. I’m just letting you know which lights I purchased for which use of the therapy as a place to perhaps start your shopping if you are interested.
In studies published on red light therapy the treatment sessions usually last 10-20 minutes, with superficial treatments generally landing on the shorter end and treatment targeted at deeper tissue such as bones and brains landing on the longer end of that scale.
The therapy is not without its precautions: avoid looking directly into the light (it won’t blind you if you glance at it, just be sure to close your eyes if treating your face), don’t use it during pregnancy, some people have photosensitizing diseases and so should avoid, don’t use over implanted devices or tattoos (which can overheat), and it should not be used directly over cancer except under my guidance and in the context of photodynamic therapy.
Red/infrared light therapy can be a stand-alone piece of your daily wellness routine. There is a benefit in it for virtually everyone. It can also be used more intensively to address conditions like chronic fatigue, cancer, active infections, or others. If you would like a more personalized plan for how to utilize this therapy for your own health, schedule with me via http://gregnigh.com/schedule or email your consultation request to my assistant Lisa at drnigh_info@gregnigh.com.
If you mention seeing this newsletter when you schedule any new patient or follow up consultation for any reason, you’ll get 10% off your visit.
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