The power of light has been known since mankind first started walking on two feet. The ability of the sun to lift a mood and make you feel happy has been part of anecdotal knowledge passed down through the ages. Red light therapy takes this knowledge and fine tunes it into a workable treatment for a number of ailments that is rapidly gaining support across the world.
The basis of red light therapy is based on the work of Dr Nils Finsen who first formalized light therapy for the treatment of depression and other mood disorders at the turn of the 20th century. He went on to win the Nobel Prize in Physiology for his work. Light influences the body in a number of ways, from the simple production of vitamin D, activation of ATP (adenosine triphosphate), serotonin and a number of other chemicals such as collagen.
Using light at a specific frequency triggers a reaction within the body to stimulate receptors in the brain. Different types of light stimulate different reactions, and it’s this that formulates the basis for light therapy. In the case of red light therapy, the light is, obviously, red, and designed to stimulate the production of ATP in the mitochondria beneath the skin. By applying the light directly to the skin, the body reacts and the mitochondria releases energy which triggers cell production.
For example, for headaches, the red light therapy is applied directly to the forehead or affected area and relief is felt after a short period of time. This treatment can also address poor circulation by relaxing blood vessels and allowing more blood to pass through. It’s also shown positive results in treating acne, nervous tics, depression and seasonal affected disorder (SAD). There are patients who also attest to the treatment addressing sexual dysfunction too, but there isn’t enough evidence yet to substantiate that claim.
Like many complementary healing techniques, red light therapy has its detractors. These come mainly from the medical and scientific communities who naturally dislike something that cannot be proven using existing scientific method. That doesn’t take away from the validity of the treatment, as there are far too many people who have tried it and felt positive effects from it.
Complementary medicine is one of those fields that we either don’t have the tools to fully understand or are simply outside the realms of science. That shouldn’t put anyone off, as there are plenty of other everyday phenomenon that science cannot explain either but still benefit mankind. If you’re thinking of undergoing red light therapy for any reason, the best advice is to do your research and ensure you use a reliable practitioner.
Despite there being no scientific evidence to prove red light therapy works, there are many testimonials attesting to the effectiveness of the treatment. Whether it works as advertised or creates a “placebo effect” within the body, the results speak for themselves. In the end, if you’re ill and something makes you better without side-effects, it’s got to be good.
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