From a skeptic to a believer.
I was surprised the first time I tried RLT. The trainer told me that I would feel warmth, though it wasn’t coming from the bulbs. At first I was skeptical. I thought they were just hot lights. I turned out to be very wrong. The lights themselves do not get hot against the skin. The warmth comes from your body itself as the red light causes changes in your mitochondria at the cellular level under the skin. After experiencing it, I decided to get one for myself.
For a long time now, scientists have known that there is a link between red and infrared light and healing the body. Even though there have been many studies, many scientists still aren’t convinced that there is causation between red light and healing. This post will go over some of the information about red light therapy (RLT) and let you decide for yourself.
What is RLT?
Red light therapy is based on the principle that red and infrared light penetrate the surface of the skin and have a positive impact on the cells that live there, providing more ATP in the cells’ mitochondria. Therefore, the cells have more energy and can therefore heal themselves and other cells close by. This principle of infrared light penetration is also used with satellite photos in order to “see” just beneath the surface of the Earth.
What are the health benefits of RLT?
At the moment there’s some evidence to suggest that RLT may have the following benefits:
- Promotes wound healing and tissue repair
- Improves hair growth in people with androgenic alopecia
- Help for the short term treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome
- Stimulates healing of slow-healing wounds
- Reduces psoriasis lesions
- Aids with short-term relief of pain and morning stiffness in people with rheumatoid arthritis
- Reduces some of the side-effects of cancer treatments
- Improves skin complexion and builds collagen to diminish wrinkles
- Helps to mend sun damage
- Prevents recurring cold sores
- Improve the health of joints
- Helps diminish scars
- Relieves pain and inflammation1
What does RLT not do?
For every study that touts the benefits of RLT, there is another that seems to debunk it. The following come from studies set out to deny the efficacy of RLT. There is no evidence RLT:
- Treats depression, seasonal affective disorder, or postpartum depression
- Activates the lymphatic system to help detoxify the body
- Boosts the immune system
- Reduces cellulite
- Aids in weight loss
- Treats back or neck pain
- Fights periodontists and dental infections
- Cures acne
- Treats cancer2
Are there any side-effects to RLT?
RLT is considered completely safe. There have been reports of people who have been mildly burned but that was when they fell asleep on the device. You can’t overdo it but you do need to monitor the proximity to your eyes.
Where can I get a RLT device?
If you decide that RLT is something you want to try out and pursue further, you can find a number of different types online. Some are flat and hang on the wall, others are in a bulb with a clamp, and the full body machines are the most effective, though they’re also the most expensive.
1, 2 – https://www.healthline.com/health/red-light-therapy
The Wellness System