Red Light Therapy - It's really Something Special
What if there is something that could reverse at the cellular level the cause of many diseases and conditions known to man? Something that is based more on light and energy than drugs and surgery. Something that has thousands of research studies across dozens of different conditions and applications. Something that can not only tackle wrinkles, cellulite and pain, but also many of the more serious modern chronic health problems. And for people that are already healthy, something that can provide your body with more energy, better athletic and mental performance! And better yet, something that has no known side effects, is non-invasive, non-toxic and can actually help your body to heal itself! This might sound too good to be true but red light therapy is THAT "something".
Red light therapy - which is also known as Low Level Light Therapy (LLLT), Photobiomodulation (PBM) and other monikers - is not a heat therapy; the effect is more like photosynthesis in plants in that it excites electrons to help create energy. Red light therapy uses these specific wavelengths of red and near-infrared light to penetrate the skin and stimulate the cells, tissues, and organs beneath. This stimulation triggers a series of metabolic and biochemical processes that create cellular energy, reduces inflammation and promotes actual healing and regeneration. These fundamental mechanisms of red light therapy give rise to well over 100 research-proven benefits covering just about A-Z of nearly every health problem that exists (we'll explore all these benefits in chapter 9).
Preventative, natural and holistic therapies like red light therapy are needed now more than ever. Despite the U.S. spending twice as much on healthcare as any other high income country, our nation performs near or at the bottom of just about all measures of health and health care. For example, the U.S. has one of the lowest lifespans (only 77 years compared to 80 year average of other high income nations), double the average rate of obesity of other high income nations, and more likely than any of high-income country to have multiple chronic conditions. Also since 2015, "avoidable deaths" have been on the rise in the U.S. and the U.S. leads the high income countries by a LARGE margin [1]. Avoidable mortality refers to deaths that are preventable and treatable. Preventable deaths can be avoided through effective public health measures and through primary prevention, such as nutritional diet and exercise.
Clearly our 4.8 trillion dollar medical system (which reached historic highs last year in 2023), is failing because it is based on a "Band-Aid" approach to chronic disease management. Here in the U.S. it is more about disease-care, then it is actual health care. The other problem is that modern medicine is still rooted in billiard ball thermodynamics and outdated newtonian or mechanistic/reductionistic physics. We need a shift away from disease treatment to prevention and health promotion. We also need a shift from looking at the body using outdated physics to looking at the body and its energetic biofield (see chapter 3) with more of a quantum and energetic perspective. We are so much more than flesh and bones, we are beings of light, electricity, magnetism and more. We know science can detect our body's electric currents with EKGs, EEGs, EMGs, etc, but did you know modern science can detect our energy field (called the biofield) up to 5-10 feet in space AND using sensitive photomulipliers modern science can detect that we do indeed emit light (called biophotons). These scientifically based subtle energy fields are the basis of acupuncture (which has over 10,000 research studies), Reiki, Tai Chi, Chi Kung, and the gamut of energy medicine devices and practices.
Energy medicine modalities and modern understandings of the human biofield are bridging the gap between modern physics and modern understandings of biology which is a glimpse of the future of medicine - which is HERE TODAY! While mainstream medicine is not quite there (yet), the tide is turning as more and more health practitioners are making a shift to more holistic and preventative practices which includes red light therapy.
Along with diet , exercise, good hydration, sunshine, good sleep etc, energy medicine devices and modalities like red light therapy don't just suppress symptoms but actually help to support the body's intrinsic or innate healing capacity so true healing can occur. And better yet, they can be used in advance to prevent disease altogether! My vision is that in the coming decades healthcare will shift - because it has to - away from treating diseases (which is clearly failing in the U.S. especially) TO promoting optimal health. These new research-proven energy medicine devices include red light therapy and laser therapy, PEMF therapy, microcurrent therapy, vibration therapy/ultrasound therapies, EWOT/oxygen/ozone therapy, sauna therapy, cold plunges, etc, etc. are all at the forefront of the shift from disease care to true holistic health care!
In some ancient cultures it is said that the patients paid their doctors ONLY while they were healthy; but if they got sick, they did not have to pay. In our modern world the reverse is true, we only pay our doctors and medicine system machine when we are sick - which is why it is a sickness industry. Since we vote with our dollars, we should look to support holistic doctors and practitioners so we can all together make a shift to better health care. A vision of the future of medicine is that doctors will move away from the failing sickness paradigm and become more health oriented. Hopefully in the not too distant future, natural healing and energy medicine products, devices and practices will become the norm as doctors and hospitals become more holistically oriented.
In this book we are going to take a deep dive into perhaps the most promising of all these energy medicine devices which is full body red light panels and beds. One can envision that red light therapy beds will be a cornerstone treatment in wellness clinics across the country. In fact, it already is beginning to happen! We have talked to hundreds of holistically oriented health providers and this very much seems to be the case more. There is still a long way to go, but our sincere wish is the book helps to awaken the collective consciousness to the wondrous and research-proven healing power of red and near infrared light therapy.
And this is not just an opinion, there are over 10,000 published research papers (and over 1400 randomized control trial studies - the gold standard in research) that bear testimony to the therapeutic effects of red light therapy, offering potential benefits for a comprehensive range of conditions. Moreover, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared RLT for various conditions including acne, muscular and joint discomfort, arthritis, muscle spasms, and diminished local blood circulation, to mention a few. Furthermore, studies undertaken by NASA have validated the use of red light LEDs for promoting wound healing and tissue regeneration.
Now the reason full body red light beds will be a "must" at every wellness clinic (versus smaller pads and panels) is that they are easy to use, more time efficient, people feel results almost instantly; and red light beds are incredibly relaxing and low maintenance. Plus the ease of use allows a patient or client can self-serve by just pushing a button and getting in. Along with not being as enjoyable, smaller red light therapy pads and panels are very limited in the area of application and many times have irradiance values (the power) that are too weak to be deeply therapeutic. Even panels that have a good irradiance numbers, you have to do longer sessions to get both front and back (and for smaller panels, left and right and upper and lower body). When you shift to a full body red light bed (or a full body panel setup), the results will be noticeably better. The difference is profound in the amount of energy you feel and how much it will help you to sleep better. These full body capsules of light provide comprehensive full body coverage by surrounding the body with red and near-infrared light which facilitates an unparalleled, thorough and efficient red light experience. We are thoroughly convinced that full body red light beds represent the most innovative, comfortable and maximally effective devices, specifically designed for professional use in wellness centers, spas, and clinics (or for home use for those with the budget). The only downside is owing to their high-grade components and cutting-edge technology, these devices come with a significantly higher price tag, ranging from $30,000 to $150,000. But having tried the gamut of red light therapy products, we absolutely think it is worth it!
But not all full body red light therapy beds are equal, you have to make sure get the right wavelengths, right irradiance (with the right dose), an even distribution of light, and of course quality build (beware of cheap Chinese made beds). In chapters 10-13 of this book we will look at all these essential elements that make a red light therapy bed or panel therapeutic (or not). It is essential that the wavelengths are in the proven biological active ranges, and it is also essential that you have enough power or irradiance (but not too much). There is sadly a lot of deceptive marketing out there - especially around bogus irradiance numbers - so one of the goals of this book is to teach and educate you on the real science of red light therapy and what to look for, so you won't be fooled by charlatans.
Important Note for This Book:
For simplicity, in this book we will use the terms "red light therapy" and sometimes "red and near infrared light therapy". Even though photobiomodulation (PBM) is the current accepted research term used by the library of medicine since 2015 , the authors' feel the simplicity and descriptive use of the term "red light therapy" warrants being used, but know it is the authors' intent to use all these terms synonymously. So without further ado, let's begin this wonderful journey into the world of red light therapy beginning with succinct and "light" history of using light to heal the body!
[1] Munira Z. Gunja, Evan D. Gumas, Reginald D. Williams II, "U.S. Health Care from a Global Perspective, 2022: Accelerating Spending, Worsening Outcomes," Commonwealthfund.org, Jan 2023. https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/issue-briefs/2023/jan/us-health-care-global-perspective-2022
What if there is something that could reverse at the cellular level the cause of many diseases and conditions known to man? Something that is based more on light and energy than drugs and surgery. Something that has thousands of research studies across dozens of different conditions and applications. Something that can not only tackle wrinkles, cellulite and pain, but also many of the more serious modern chronic health problems. And for people that are already healthy, something that can provide your body with more energy, better athletic and mental performance! And better yet, something that has no known side effects, is non-invasive, non-toxic and can actually help your body to heal itself! This might sound too good to be true but red light therapy is THAT "something".
Red light therapy - which is also known as Low Level Light Therapy (LLLT), Photobiomodulation (PBM) and other monikers - is not a heat therapy; the effect is more like photosynthesis in plants in that it excites electrons to help create energy. Red light therapy uses these specific wavelengths of red and near-infrared light to penetrate the skin and stimulate the cells, tissues, and organs beneath. This stimulation triggers a series of metabolic and biochemical processes that create cellular energy, reduces inflammation and promotes actual healing and regeneration. These fundamental mechanisms of red light therapy give rise to well over 100 research-proven benefits covering just about A-Z of nearly every health problem that exists (we'll explore all these benefits in chapter 9).
Preventative, natural and holistic therapies like red light therapy are needed now more than ever. Despite the U.S. spending twice as much on healthcare as any other high income country, our nation performs near or at the bottom of just about all measures of health and health care. For example, the U.S. has one of the lowest lifespans (only 77 years compared to 80 year average of other high income nations), double the average rate of obesity of other high income nations, and more likely than any of high-income country to have multiple chronic conditions. Also since 2015, "avoidable deaths" have been on the rise in the U.S. and the U.S. leads the high income countries by a LARGE margin [1]. Avoidable mortality refers to deaths that are preventable and treatable. Preventable deaths can be avoided through effective public health measures and through primary prevention, such as nutritional diet and exercise.
Clearly our 4.8 trillion dollar medical system (which reached historic highs last year in 2023), is failing because it is based on a "Band-Aid" approach to chronic disease management. Here in the U.S. it is more about disease-care, then it is actual health care. The other problem is that modern medicine is still rooted in billiard ball thermodynamics and outdated newtonian or mechanistic/reductionistic physics. We need a shift away from disease treatment to prevention and health promotion. We also need a shift from looking at the body using outdated physics to looking at the body and its energetic biofield (see chapter 3) with more of a quantum and energetic perspective. We are so much more than flesh and bones, we are beings of light, electricity, magnetism and more. We know science can detect our body's electric currents with EKGs, EEGs, EMGs, etc, but did you know modern science can detect our energy field (called the biofield) up to 5-10 feet in space AND using sensitive photomulipliers modern science can detect that we do indeed emit light (called biophotons). These scientifically based subtle energy fields are the basis of acupuncture (which has over 10,000 research studies), Reiki, Tai Chi, Chi Kung, and the gamut of energy medicine devices and practices.
Energy medicine modalities and modern understandings of the human biofield are bridging the gap between modern physics and modern understandings of biology which is a glimpse of the future of medicine - which is HERE TODAY! While mainstream medicine is not quite there (yet), the tide is turning as more and more health practitioners are making a shift to more holistic and preventative practices which includes red light therapy.
Along with diet , exercise, good hydration, sunshine, good sleep etc, energy medicine devices and modalities like red light therapy don't just suppress symptoms but actually help to support the body's intrinsic or innate healing capacity so true healing can occur. And better yet, they can be used in advance to prevent disease altogether! My vision is that in the coming decades healthcare will shift - because it has to - away from treating diseases (which is clearly failing in the U.S. especially) TO promoting optimal health. These new research-proven energy medicine devices include red light therapy and laser therapy, PEMF therapy, microcurrent therapy, vibration therapy/ultrasound therapies, EWOT/oxygen/ozone therapy, sauna therapy, cold plunges, etc, etc. are all at the forefront of the shift from disease care to true holistic health care!
In some ancient cultures it is said that the patients paid their doctors ONLY while they were healthy; but if they got sick, they did not have to pay. In our modern world the reverse is true, we only pay our doctors and medicine system machine when we are sick - which is why it is a sickness industry. Since we vote with our dollars, we should look to support holistic doctors and practitioners so we can all together make a shift to better health care. A vision of the future of medicine is that doctors will move away from the failing sickness paradigm and become more health oriented. Hopefully in the not too distant future, natural healing and energy medicine products, devices and practices will become the norm as doctors and hospitals become more holistically oriented.
In this book we are going to take a deep dive into perhaps the most promising of all these energy medicine devices which is full body red light panels and beds. One can envision that red light therapy beds will be a cornerstone treatment in wellness clinics across the country. In fact, it already is beginning to happen! We have talked to hundreds of holistically oriented health providers and this very much seems to be the case more. There is still a long way to go, but our sincere wish is the book helps to awaken the collective consciousness to the wondrous and research-proven healing power of red and near infrared light therapy.
And this is not just an opinion, there are over 10,000 published research papers (and over 1400 randomized control trial studies - the gold standard in research) that bear testimony to the therapeutic effects of red light therapy, offering potential benefits for a comprehensive range of conditions. Moreover, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared RLT for various conditions including acne, muscular and joint discomfort, arthritis, muscle spasms, and diminished local blood circulation, to mention a few. Furthermore, studies undertaken by NASA have validated the use of red light LEDs for promoting wound healing and tissue regeneration.
Now the reason full body red light beds will be a "must" at every wellness clinic (versus smaller pads and panels) is that they are easy to use, more time efficient, people feel results almost instantly; and red light beds are incredibly relaxing and low maintenance. Plus the ease of use allows a patient or client can self-serve by just pushing a button and getting in. Along with not being as enjoyable, smaller red light therapy pads and panels are very limited in the area of application and many times have irradiance values (the power) that are too weak to be deeply therapeutic. Even panels that have a good irradiance numbers, you have to do longer sessions to get both front and back (and for smaller panels, left and right and upper and lower body). When you shift to a full body red light bed (or a full body panel setup), the results will be noticeably better. The difference is profound in the amount of energy you feel and how much it will help you to sleep better. These full body capsules of light provide comprehensive full body coverage by surrounding the body with red and near-infrared light which facilitates an unparalleled, thorough and efficient red light experience. We are thoroughly convinced that full body red light beds represent the most innovative, comfortable and maximally effective devices, specifically designed for professional use in wellness centers, spas, and clinics (or for home use for those with the budget). The only downside is owing to their high-grade components and cutting-edge technology, these devices come with a significantly higher price tag, ranging from $30,000 to $150,000. But having tried the gamut of red light therapy products, we absolutely think it is worth it!
But not all full body red light therapy beds are equal, you have to make sure get the right wavelengths, right irradiance (with the right dose), an even distribution of light, and of course quality build (beware of cheap Chinese made beds). In chapters 10-13 of this book we will look at all these essential elements that make a red light therapy bed or panel therapeutic (or not). It is essential that the wavelengths are in the proven biological active ranges, and it is also essential that you have enough power or irradiance (but not too much). There is sadly a lot of deceptive marketing out there - especially around bogus irradiance numbers - so one of the goals of this book is to teach and educate you on the real science of red light therapy and what to look for, so you won't be fooled by charlatans.
Important Note for This Book:
For simplicity, in this book we will use the terms "red light therapy" and sometimes "red and near infrared light therapy". Even though photobiomodulation (PBM) is the current accepted research term used by the library of medicine since 2015 , the authors' feel the simplicity and descriptive use of the term "red light therapy" warrants being used, but know it is the authors' intent to use all these terms synonymously. So without further ado, let's begin this wonderful journey into the world of red light therapy beginning with succinct and "light" history of using light to heal the body!
[1] Munira Z. Gunja, Evan D. Gumas, Reginald D. Williams II, "U.S. Health Care from a Global Perspective, 2022: Accelerating Spending, Worsening Outcomes," Commonwealthfund.org, Jan 2023. https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/issue-briefs/2023/jan/us-health-care-global-perspective-2022