
Dosage - The Third Important Parameter in Red light therapy.
In the previous two chapters, we took an immersive dive (with Nature and research as our guide) into the most useful and effective wavelengths for red light therapy and ideal intensity or irradiance we need to ensure the optimal result. Still, several essential questions remain: How long should we spend on each session? How many times a week should engage? How many total sessions do we need to achieve these goals? These questions lead us to the third and final main parameter of red and near infrared light therapy - Dosage.
Along with irradiance (and wavelength), our treatment time is critically important to arrive at the proper dosage! Even if we have the perfect wavelengths and the proper irradiance, indulging in red light therapy for too short or too long a time may yield no results – or worse, inhibitory or adverse effects. As we'll see, it is also critical that we have the ideal irradiance along with the proper amount of time to get a therapeutically beneficial dose.
The "Big Three" Summarized: Wavelength vs Irradiance vs Dosage
1) Wavelength is the medicine or active ingredient (different wavelengths are multi-light-mins)
2) Irradiance is the intensity or brightness of the light measured usually in mW/cm^2
3) Dosage is how long (the time duration) we engage in a red light session (i.e.. 15 minutes) factoring in the irradiance. Dosage is also related to how many times a week, and how many total sessions we do. Let's take a closer look at how we calculate dosage and then we'll start researching the best dosage recommendations for full body red light therapy!
In the previous two chapters, we took an immersive dive (with Nature and research as our guide) into the most useful and effective wavelengths for red light therapy and ideal intensity or irradiance we need to ensure the optimal result. Still, several essential questions remain: How long should we spend on each session? How many times a week should engage? How many total sessions do we need to achieve these goals? These questions lead us to the third and final main parameter of red and near infrared light therapy - Dosage.
Along with irradiance (and wavelength), our treatment time is critically important to arrive at the proper dosage! Even if we have the perfect wavelengths and the proper irradiance, indulging in red light therapy for too short or too long a time may yield no results – or worse, inhibitory or adverse effects. As we'll see, it is also critical that we have the ideal irradiance along with the proper amount of time to get a therapeutically beneficial dose.
The "Big Three" Summarized: Wavelength vs Irradiance vs Dosage
1) Wavelength is the medicine or active ingredient (different wavelengths are multi-light-mins)
2) Irradiance is the intensity or brightness of the light measured usually in mW/cm^2
3) Dosage is how long (the time duration) we engage in a red light session (i.e.. 15 minutes) factoring in the irradiance. Dosage is also related to how many times a week, and how many total sessions we do. Let's take a closer look at how we calculate dosage and then we'll start researching the best dosage recommendations for full body red light therapy!

Dosage = Irradiance x Time
Dosage is what we call the energy density (or fluence), otherwise known as the total energy applied per unit area - usually given in research literature as J/cm^2. We calculate dosage or fluence or energy density by simply multiplying the irradiance by the treatment time. This energy density is usually what researchers report. There are two simple formulas we can use to calculate the dose (or treatment time).
1) If we know the irradiance in mW/cm^2 and the time of the session in seconds, we can calculate the dosage:
Dose (J/cm^2) = Irradiance (mW/cm^2) ÷ 1000 * Time (Seconds). Consider it the magic formula for optimal health!
2) Those of us who want to get a target dosage with a particular irradiance can calculate how long the session time would need to be: Session Time (seconds) = 1000* [Dose (J/cm^2) ÷ Irradiance (mW/cm^2).
Not a math whiz? No worries - simply use the online dosage calculators at the link here:
https://www.spectraredlight.com/red-light-dose-calculator/
Here is an example of how we work with the above formula. Say we want to see what the dosage is using a bed that has a certified irradiance of 34 mW/cm^2 and we do a session for 1000 seconds (16.6 minutes). Using our calculator, we arrive at a dosage of 34 J/cm^2. Notice if we use 1000 seconds (16.6 minutes), we have the same number for BOTH irradiance and dosage, making it an easy way to approximate dosage in our head, as treatment times are typically 15-20 minutes. To get precise numbers for treatment times other than 1000 seconds, we can use the formula or online calculator above for exact J/cm^2.
Dosage is what we call the energy density (or fluence), otherwise known as the total energy applied per unit area - usually given in research literature as J/cm^2. We calculate dosage or fluence or energy density by simply multiplying the irradiance by the treatment time. This energy density is usually what researchers report. There are two simple formulas we can use to calculate the dose (or treatment time).
1) If we know the irradiance in mW/cm^2 and the time of the session in seconds, we can calculate the dosage:
Dose (J/cm^2) = Irradiance (mW/cm^2) ÷ 1000 * Time (Seconds). Consider it the magic formula for optimal health!
2) Those of us who want to get a target dosage with a particular irradiance can calculate how long the session time would need to be: Session Time (seconds) = 1000* [Dose (J/cm^2) ÷ Irradiance (mW/cm^2).
Not a math whiz? No worries - simply use the online dosage calculators at the link here:
https://www.spectraredlight.com/red-light-dose-calculator/
Here is an example of how we work with the above formula. Say we want to see what the dosage is using a bed that has a certified irradiance of 34 mW/cm^2 and we do a session for 1000 seconds (16.6 minutes). Using our calculator, we arrive at a dosage of 34 J/cm^2. Notice if we use 1000 seconds (16.6 minutes), we have the same number for BOTH irradiance and dosage, making it an easy way to approximate dosage in our head, as treatment times are typically 15-20 minutes. To get precise numbers for treatment times other than 1000 seconds, we can use the formula or online calculator above for exact J/cm^2.

Dosage Window
For full body red light therapy to be effective, the irradiation parameters (wavelength, irradiance, and dosage) must fall within certain windows, or ranges. We saw the ideal wavelength windows to activate cytochrome c oxidase to be 600-680 and 800-860nm (and for water as a chromophore, typically 900-1100nm). We also encountered an ideal "sweet spot" irradiance between 30-35 mW/cm^2 (though 16-40 mW/cm^2 is also an acceptable range to use).
Similarly, there is an ideal dosage window which we will explore next using research from the 10 full body red light bed studies. If the wrong irradiation parameters are used or applied for the incorrect irradiation time, treatment will not be effective. If the irradiance is too low and/or the time too short, we will feel no significant effect. Alternately, if the irradiance is too high and/or the treatment time overly long, the benefit is lost and we might start experiencing inhibitory effects. [1-6]. Unfortunately, nearly all red light bed companies and EVEN researchers (yes, even so-called trustworthy researchers!) fail to accurately measure and report these parameters - especially irradiance - which results in predictably unreliable dosage recommendations. We cannot obtain accurate dosage numbers without accurate irradiance measurements from a calibrated spectroradiometer (or a third party lab).
For full body red light therapy to be effective, the irradiation parameters (wavelength, irradiance, and dosage) must fall within certain windows, or ranges. We saw the ideal wavelength windows to activate cytochrome c oxidase to be 600-680 and 800-860nm (and for water as a chromophore, typically 900-1100nm). We also encountered an ideal "sweet spot" irradiance between 30-35 mW/cm^2 (though 16-40 mW/cm^2 is also an acceptable range to use).
Similarly, there is an ideal dosage window which we will explore next using research from the 10 full body red light bed studies. If the wrong irradiation parameters are used or applied for the incorrect irradiation time, treatment will not be effective. If the irradiance is too low and/or the time too short, we will feel no significant effect. Alternately, if the irradiance is too high and/or the treatment time overly long, the benefit is lost and we might start experiencing inhibitory effects. [1-6]. Unfortunately, nearly all red light bed companies and EVEN researchers (yes, even so-called trustworthy researchers!) fail to accurately measure and report these parameters - especially irradiance - which results in predictably unreliable dosage recommendations. We cannot obtain accurate dosage numbers without accurate irradiance measurements from a calibrated spectroradiometer (or a third party lab).

The 5-50 Rule Part 2 and the Red Light Studies Revisited
If we carefully review all 10 red light bed studies from the previous chapter, throw out the outlier* from the Joov study #10 that also yielded no results we find this list of dosages used in the studies all in J/cm^2:
25, 33.6, 33.6, 33.6, 23.5, 33.6 33.35, 30, 23.49. The average 29,96 J/cm^2 or about 30 J/cm^2. This recommended dosage is based on a comprehensive list of all the ACTUAL full body red light bed and panel studies available at the time of this writing, NOT LASERS! In our opinion, this is most reliable research guided dosage. If we had a red light therapy bed with an irradiance of, say 34 mW/cm^2, using our online dosage calculator, we can arrive at the treatment time we need to get this dose of 30 J/cm^2 - approximately 15 minutes! If a bed has a lower irradiance of say 25 mW/cm^2, we will need 20 minutes to get the same dose. Heading in the other direction, if a bed has a higher irradiance of, say, 50 mW/cm^2, we only need 10 minutes to get the same dosage. While it sounds appealing to be at 100 mW/cm^2 for five minutes (to get the same dosage), we will unfortunately be overheating ourselves and creating oxidative stress on the eyes and whole body (more on this later). For now, let's further explore the ideal dosage we want to aim for.
*Note: an outlier is a data point more than 3 standard deviations from the mean/average. With dosages, the mean average was 29.96 J/cm^2 and the sample standard deviation 4.64 J/cm^2. So any value outside of 16.06 J/cm^2 - 43.88 J/cm^2 is an outlier which 6.9 J/cm^2 clearly is! Actually it is about 5 standard deviations outside which is an indication this study was not set up well (the session time was WAY too short!).
Other research on Dosage (the 5-50 J/cm^2 dosage rule)
Michael Hamblin, a leading expert in red light therapy, says that doses as low as 5 J/cm2 can be effective, but he recommends staying under 50 J/cm2 . That means we want our dose to be between 5-50 J/cm2 ideally [7]. Transcranial photobiomodulation typically uses relatively low fluences/dosages of 5-50 J/cm2 [8]. Using a dosage that is too high is the biological equivalent to OVERTRAINING!! That is, we get too most oxidative stress, which can cause inflammation and tissue damage – NOT HEALING!! A good analogy to understand all this is cooking a turkey.
If we carefully review all 10 red light bed studies from the previous chapter, throw out the outlier* from the Joov study #10 that also yielded no results we find this list of dosages used in the studies all in J/cm^2:
25, 33.6, 33.6, 33.6, 23.5, 33.6 33.35, 30, 23.49. The average 29,96 J/cm^2 or about 30 J/cm^2. This recommended dosage is based on a comprehensive list of all the ACTUAL full body red light bed and panel studies available at the time of this writing, NOT LASERS! In our opinion, this is most reliable research guided dosage. If we had a red light therapy bed with an irradiance of, say 34 mW/cm^2, using our online dosage calculator, we can arrive at the treatment time we need to get this dose of 30 J/cm^2 - approximately 15 minutes! If a bed has a lower irradiance of say 25 mW/cm^2, we will need 20 minutes to get the same dose. Heading in the other direction, if a bed has a higher irradiance of, say, 50 mW/cm^2, we only need 10 minutes to get the same dosage. While it sounds appealing to be at 100 mW/cm^2 for five minutes (to get the same dosage), we will unfortunately be overheating ourselves and creating oxidative stress on the eyes and whole body (more on this later). For now, let's further explore the ideal dosage we want to aim for.
*Note: an outlier is a data point more than 3 standard deviations from the mean/average. With dosages, the mean average was 29.96 J/cm^2 and the sample standard deviation 4.64 J/cm^2. So any value outside of 16.06 J/cm^2 - 43.88 J/cm^2 is an outlier which 6.9 J/cm^2 clearly is! Actually it is about 5 standard deviations outside which is an indication this study was not set up well (the session time was WAY too short!).
Other research on Dosage (the 5-50 J/cm^2 dosage rule)
Michael Hamblin, a leading expert in red light therapy, says that doses as low as 5 J/cm2 can be effective, but he recommends staying under 50 J/cm2 . That means we want our dose to be between 5-50 J/cm2 ideally [7]. Transcranial photobiomodulation typically uses relatively low fluences/dosages of 5-50 J/cm2 [8]. Using a dosage that is too high is the biological equivalent to OVERTRAINING!! That is, we get too most oxidative stress, which can cause inflammation and tissue damage – NOT HEALING!! A good analogy to understand all this is cooking a turkey.

Dosage with Thanksgiving Cooking
The problem with the simple dosage numbers expressed in J/cm^2 is that we can use a very low irradiance for a long time OR a very high irradiance for a short period and essentially receive the same dose! BUT - if the irradiance is too low, we will not get any benefit regardless of how long our session is. If the irradiance is too high, we risk the adverse effects we explored in the previous chapter.
Cooking turkey is the perfect analogy to describe this dosage dilemma. If we understand the basic principles of cooking, we can grasp the concept of dosage within the realm of red light therapy. Everyone knows that to cook something in the oven like a huge turkey, we need to understand the basics about heat intensity and time. Red light therapy is a great deal like cooking except it is LIGHT intensity (mW/cm^2) and time. When we’re cooking a big meal for our family, no one tells us to cook a turkey for 100 J/cm^2. They talk instead about the right temperature and how long we leave it in the oven. We also don't multiply the numbers together in cooking.
Taking a bite out of the turkey example, we simply need to know what temperature to heat the oven to and how many hours it takes to cook the turkey to our liking. The “dosage” to cook a turkey would be an oven temperature of 350F and then to cook it for 4 hours. We could also cook it at 325F for 4-1/4 hours or at 375 for 3-3/4 hours. This multitude of options yields the same effective "dose". But what about cooking a turkey at 700F for only 1 hour? KIDS, DON’T TRY THIS AT HOME! The poor turkey would be burned on the outside and not fully cooked on the inside. If we cooked a turkey under 200 F for 12 hours, it would never fully cook and we could even possibly get salmonella, EVEN THOUGH these are all (approximately) equivalent "doses" in J/cm^2. The bottom line is, there is a temperature window for cooking a turkey and THEN a corresponding time window depending on the temperature we set the oven at. For a turkey, we need a minimum temperature of 250F and a max of 525F. My studies in the art and science of Thanksgiving inform me that we can cook a turkey at 525 for two hours but ONLY if we have the constant presence of broth in the pan, so we have to keep opening the oven to check. (WEAR YOUR MITTS, PLEASE!) The turkey will be burnt or undercooked at any temperatures outside this range of 250-525F.
As we saw in the previous chapter, the analogy with red light therapy is that there is an irradiance window from around 20 mW/cm^2 to 50 mW/cm^2. If we are too far outside this range, we will either not get enough light penetration (like the oven being not hot enough) or we will overheat our skin and tissue, reducing penetration depth and increasing oxidative stress (akin to overheating the oven and burning the turkey). We clearly need BOTH the correct irradiance AND time to bathe our quadrillions of mitochondria until they are nice and "golden brown" with robust, healthy energy. Fun fact: Mitochondria appear brown under a microscope because they are the "light absorbing" organelles in the cell, making this extended analogy truly golden.
The problem with the simple dosage numbers expressed in J/cm^2 is that we can use a very low irradiance for a long time OR a very high irradiance for a short period and essentially receive the same dose! BUT - if the irradiance is too low, we will not get any benefit regardless of how long our session is. If the irradiance is too high, we risk the adverse effects we explored in the previous chapter.
Cooking turkey is the perfect analogy to describe this dosage dilemma. If we understand the basic principles of cooking, we can grasp the concept of dosage within the realm of red light therapy. Everyone knows that to cook something in the oven like a huge turkey, we need to understand the basics about heat intensity and time. Red light therapy is a great deal like cooking except it is LIGHT intensity (mW/cm^2) and time. When we’re cooking a big meal for our family, no one tells us to cook a turkey for 100 J/cm^2. They talk instead about the right temperature and how long we leave it in the oven. We also don't multiply the numbers together in cooking.
Taking a bite out of the turkey example, we simply need to know what temperature to heat the oven to and how many hours it takes to cook the turkey to our liking. The “dosage” to cook a turkey would be an oven temperature of 350F and then to cook it for 4 hours. We could also cook it at 325F for 4-1/4 hours or at 375 for 3-3/4 hours. This multitude of options yields the same effective "dose". But what about cooking a turkey at 700F for only 1 hour? KIDS, DON’T TRY THIS AT HOME! The poor turkey would be burned on the outside and not fully cooked on the inside. If we cooked a turkey under 200 F for 12 hours, it would never fully cook and we could even possibly get salmonella, EVEN THOUGH these are all (approximately) equivalent "doses" in J/cm^2. The bottom line is, there is a temperature window for cooking a turkey and THEN a corresponding time window depending on the temperature we set the oven at. For a turkey, we need a minimum temperature of 250F and a max of 525F. My studies in the art and science of Thanksgiving inform me that we can cook a turkey at 525 for two hours but ONLY if we have the constant presence of broth in the pan, so we have to keep opening the oven to check. (WEAR YOUR MITTS, PLEASE!) The turkey will be burnt or undercooked at any temperatures outside this range of 250-525F.
As we saw in the previous chapter, the analogy with red light therapy is that there is an irradiance window from around 20 mW/cm^2 to 50 mW/cm^2. If we are too far outside this range, we will either not get enough light penetration (like the oven being not hot enough) or we will overheat our skin and tissue, reducing penetration depth and increasing oxidative stress (akin to overheating the oven and burning the turkey). We clearly need BOTH the correct irradiance AND time to bathe our quadrillions of mitochondria until they are nice and "golden brown" with robust, healthy energy. Fun fact: Mitochondria appear brown under a microscope because they are the "light absorbing" organelles in the cell, making this extended analogy truly golden.

The “biphasic dose response”
While we find the turkey analogy instructive, researchers describe the optimization of dosing more precisely with what we call the biphasic dose response curve. The “biphasic dose response” describes a situation where there is an optimum value of the “dose” of red light therapy, usually defined by the energy density (J/cm2) [9,10]. Time and again, we see proof that when we increase the dose of a red light therapy session, a maximum response is reached at some value. If we increase the dose beyond that maximal value, the response diminishes and eventually disappears. It’s even possible that it produces negative or inhibitory effects at very high fluences (J/cm^2). The inhibitory effects manifest as excessive generation of reactive oxygen species, unhealthy nitric oxide (iNOS), cytotoxic pathways activation, and decreased nF-kB activity [10], all of which cause damage to the cells. [11]
We sometimes call this biphasic dose response the inverted U-shaped dose effect because when we graph the dose (in J/cm^2) versus biological effect, it looks like an upside down "U". We can see from this graph a peak biological response at 30 J/cm^2 based on our 11 red light bed research studies.
While we find the turkey analogy instructive, researchers describe the optimization of dosing more precisely with what we call the biphasic dose response curve. The “biphasic dose response” describes a situation where there is an optimum value of the “dose” of red light therapy, usually defined by the energy density (J/cm2) [9,10]. Time and again, we see proof that when we increase the dose of a red light therapy session, a maximum response is reached at some value. If we increase the dose beyond that maximal value, the response diminishes and eventually disappears. It’s even possible that it produces negative or inhibitory effects at very high fluences (J/cm^2). The inhibitory effects manifest as excessive generation of reactive oxygen species, unhealthy nitric oxide (iNOS), cytotoxic pathways activation, and decreased nF-kB activity [10], all of which cause damage to the cells. [11]
We sometimes call this biphasic dose response the inverted U-shaped dose effect because when we graph the dose (in J/cm^2) versus biological effect, it looks like an upside down "U". We can see from this graph a peak biological response at 30 J/cm^2 based on our 11 red light bed research studies.

A Closer Look at the Inverted "U"
This graph offers highly instructive information on this biphasic dose response curve. When dosages are too low, we see "no effect". As we increase the dosage to a critical threshold, we get a positive healing or stimulation. Yet if we continue to increase it, at a certain point we lose the beneficial effect and eventually it even becomes inhibitory, causing severe cell damage. Even so-called experts don’t agree on the exact numbers that constitute an optimal dose. Yet if we consider the average and standard deviation of the 11 effective full body red light bed studies, we get a reasonably accurate idea of a range of dosages that have ACTUAL RESEARCH to back it up. Rounding to whole numbers, the average dosage is 30 J/cm^2 with a sample standard deviation of 6 J/cm^2. This gives an approximate therapeutic range of 24 J/cm^2 to 36 J/cm^2 as an optimal therapeutic window for healthy stimulation, with a peak at 30 J/cm^2. While these stats are by no means definitive, they’re based on the ONLY full body red light bed and LED studies published at the time of writing this book. They are also in full alignment with the recommendations of top researchers.
To re-emphasize, we need to not only use the right dosage range, but also not use irradiances that are too low or too high. For example, we can get 30 J/cm^2 by using a red light therapy bed with an irradiance of 100 mW/cm^2 for only five minutes. But this is like cooking a turkey at 700F for an hour – the ultimate ruined Thanksgiving dinner! We don’t want that! We end up overheating the body (like the turkey) which, as we saw in the previous chapter, reduces penetration and increases oxidative stress and the potential for serious cell damage - literally burning the mitochondria with oxidative stress. We need BOTH the right irradiance window (16-40 mW/cm^2) AND the right dosage window (24-36 J/cm^2). In my opinion, refining this concept further, the ideal range based on research, nature and the 11 red light bed studies is a full body bed with a certified irradiance of 30-35 mW/cm^2 and a therapeutic dose as close to 30 J/cm^2 as possible. This leads to a red light session time of about 14-16 minutes. We base this recommendation on a comprehensive survey of all the SUCCESSFUL full body red light bed studies! Let this sink in!
This graph offers highly instructive information on this biphasic dose response curve. When dosages are too low, we see "no effect". As we increase the dosage to a critical threshold, we get a positive healing or stimulation. Yet if we continue to increase it, at a certain point we lose the beneficial effect and eventually it even becomes inhibitory, causing severe cell damage. Even so-called experts don’t agree on the exact numbers that constitute an optimal dose. Yet if we consider the average and standard deviation of the 11 effective full body red light bed studies, we get a reasonably accurate idea of a range of dosages that have ACTUAL RESEARCH to back it up. Rounding to whole numbers, the average dosage is 30 J/cm^2 with a sample standard deviation of 6 J/cm^2. This gives an approximate therapeutic range of 24 J/cm^2 to 36 J/cm^2 as an optimal therapeutic window for healthy stimulation, with a peak at 30 J/cm^2. While these stats are by no means definitive, they’re based on the ONLY full body red light bed and LED studies published at the time of writing this book. They are also in full alignment with the recommendations of top researchers.
To re-emphasize, we need to not only use the right dosage range, but also not use irradiances that are too low or too high. For example, we can get 30 J/cm^2 by using a red light therapy bed with an irradiance of 100 mW/cm^2 for only five minutes. But this is like cooking a turkey at 700F for an hour – the ultimate ruined Thanksgiving dinner! We don’t want that! We end up overheating the body (like the turkey) which, as we saw in the previous chapter, reduces penetration and increases oxidative stress and the potential for serious cell damage - literally burning the mitochondria with oxidative stress. We need BOTH the right irradiance window (16-40 mW/cm^2) AND the right dosage window (24-36 J/cm^2). In my opinion, refining this concept further, the ideal range based on research, nature and the 11 red light bed studies is a full body bed with a certified irradiance of 30-35 mW/cm^2 and a therapeutic dose as close to 30 J/cm^2 as possible. This leads to a red light session time of about 14-16 minutes. We base this recommendation on a comprehensive survey of all the SUCCESSFUL full body red light bed studies! Let this sink in!

Bringing it all together - Cumulative Dosing
Consider a pebble falling to the bottom of a pond. Even when it stops, the ripples of waves on the surface keep spreading gently. Similarly in red light therapy, after we complete a session, our benefits continue coursing through our system! Studies show that three to six hours after a session, we reach a peak of ATP response - something to keep in mind if we want to increase athletic performance. We know from Chapter 9 that beneficial signaling pathways can continue to "ripple" for many days after a session. This leads us to another very important consideration in red light therapy, cumulative dosing.
Because the benefits keep spreading their body love for many hours or even days, it should be clear that if we do multiple sessions every day, we will start to experience a cumulative effect. This may be so powerful that even a beneficial dose of 30 J/cm^2 taken too often (perhaps even every day) can lead to a cumulative inhibitory effect. The doses would start to stack on top of each other, as shown in the figure above.
Consider this quote from a well-respected paper by D. Hawkins on this cumulative dosing effect: "The dose from one treatment lasts some time and what 'remains' of the dose is added to the dose of the next treatment. Adequate time between doses is essential to allow the cells time to respond to the initial dose and will avoid the situation where the accumulated dose eventually ends up above the bio-stimulating range or even in the bioinhibitory range, with consequently poorer results." [12]
So take note! When we repeat sessions too closely together, the benefits can start stacking and we may initially feel amazing - but if we keep doing daily sessions or sessions timed too closely together, we may start feeling those ugly inhibitory effects. There are biphasic responses to both a single dose and cumulative doses. Consulting again with our ten successful full body red light LED studies, it seemed that a common weekly dosage was three times a week, or roughly every other day. Only one of the studies involved a daily session. Based on the average dosages used in all the known actual full body red light bed studies, we should keep our weekly cumulative dosage to around 80-100 J/cm^2.
For example, if we had a red light bed with a certified irradiance of 34 mW/cm^2 (which we know is optimal), and engaged in a 15 minute session, using our dosage calculator, we see an optimal dosage of 30 J/cm^2. But if we NOW factor in cumulative dosing, and make it a goal to get 80-100 J/cm^2 total per week, then we would ONLY need three sessions a week, or one roughly every other day. Since red light therapy is an exercise mimetic (mimics exercise at the cellular level), this is like taking a day off between intensive workouts to allow our body to recover and get stronger. Likewise, if we do only seven minutes a day every day, we can ALSO reach this target cumulative dose. Because there is currently no definitive right or wrong answer to this “question,” we need more studies on this topic and a few heaping tablespoons of trial and error. We think it is best to engage three times a week (30 J/cm^2) for several reasons. First, this is what the most successful full body red light studies ACTUALLY did to yield research proven results. Second, because red light beds are so pricey, many people get sessions at professional clinics, so three times a week for say 15 minutes is more convenient than going in daily for 7 minutes.
Also, let’s not make the mistake of increasing the dose if we initially got great benefits and then things start plateauing (or possibly declining). Actually we should be doing exactly the opposite. Unfortunately, human nature is always about doing more, when in this case, clearly LESS IS MORE!!
Consider a pebble falling to the bottom of a pond. Even when it stops, the ripples of waves on the surface keep spreading gently. Similarly in red light therapy, after we complete a session, our benefits continue coursing through our system! Studies show that three to six hours after a session, we reach a peak of ATP response - something to keep in mind if we want to increase athletic performance. We know from Chapter 9 that beneficial signaling pathways can continue to "ripple" for many days after a session. This leads us to another very important consideration in red light therapy, cumulative dosing.
Because the benefits keep spreading their body love for many hours or even days, it should be clear that if we do multiple sessions every day, we will start to experience a cumulative effect. This may be so powerful that even a beneficial dose of 30 J/cm^2 taken too often (perhaps even every day) can lead to a cumulative inhibitory effect. The doses would start to stack on top of each other, as shown in the figure above.
Consider this quote from a well-respected paper by D. Hawkins on this cumulative dosing effect: "The dose from one treatment lasts some time and what 'remains' of the dose is added to the dose of the next treatment. Adequate time between doses is essential to allow the cells time to respond to the initial dose and will avoid the situation where the accumulated dose eventually ends up above the bio-stimulating range or even in the bioinhibitory range, with consequently poorer results." [12]
So take note! When we repeat sessions too closely together, the benefits can start stacking and we may initially feel amazing - but if we keep doing daily sessions or sessions timed too closely together, we may start feeling those ugly inhibitory effects. There are biphasic responses to both a single dose and cumulative doses. Consulting again with our ten successful full body red light LED studies, it seemed that a common weekly dosage was three times a week, or roughly every other day. Only one of the studies involved a daily session. Based on the average dosages used in all the known actual full body red light bed studies, we should keep our weekly cumulative dosage to around 80-100 J/cm^2.
For example, if we had a red light bed with a certified irradiance of 34 mW/cm^2 (which we know is optimal), and engaged in a 15 minute session, using our dosage calculator, we see an optimal dosage of 30 J/cm^2. But if we NOW factor in cumulative dosing, and make it a goal to get 80-100 J/cm^2 total per week, then we would ONLY need three sessions a week, or one roughly every other day. Since red light therapy is an exercise mimetic (mimics exercise at the cellular level), this is like taking a day off between intensive workouts to allow our body to recover and get stronger. Likewise, if we do only seven minutes a day every day, we can ALSO reach this target cumulative dose. Because there is currently no definitive right or wrong answer to this “question,” we need more studies on this topic and a few heaping tablespoons of trial and error. We think it is best to engage three times a week (30 J/cm^2) for several reasons. First, this is what the most successful full body red light studies ACTUALLY did to yield research proven results. Second, because red light beds are so pricey, many people get sessions at professional clinics, so three times a week for say 15 minutes is more convenient than going in daily for 7 minutes.
Also, let’s not make the mistake of increasing the dose if we initially got great benefits and then things start plateauing (or possibly declining). Actually we should be doing exactly the opposite. Unfortunately, human nature is always about doing more, when in this case, clearly LESS IS MORE!!

Cumulative Dosing Part 2
Besides weekly cumulative dosing, most of the studies ran for only a month on average. In most of the full body red light bed studies, the subjects did three times a week for four weeks, equaling 12 total sessions. The therapeutic dose at the heart of the study was to last only a short period of time. With follow-ups, the benefits persisted for two weeks, three months and even six months later! For those interested in visiting a clinic, this is excellent, encouraging data to go by. Ideally, they would sell clients packages of 12 sessions to be done three times a week for four weeks, mimicking SUCCESSFUL research from five full body red light studies that did exactly this. Clients could then come once a week, once a month or even twice a month for maintenance. It’s illuminating to realize that users can achieve LONG LASTING results from as little as 12 sessions spread over four weeks!
Besides weekly cumulative dosing, most of the studies ran for only a month on average. In most of the full body red light bed studies, the subjects did three times a week for four weeks, equaling 12 total sessions. The therapeutic dose at the heart of the study was to last only a short period of time. With follow-ups, the benefits persisted for two weeks, three months and even six months later! For those interested in visiting a clinic, this is excellent, encouraging data to go by. Ideally, they would sell clients packages of 12 sessions to be done three times a week for four weeks, mimicking SUCCESSFUL research from five full body red light studies that did exactly this. Clients could then come once a week, once a month or even twice a month for maintenance. It’s illuminating to realize that users can achieve LONG LASTING results from as little as 12 sessions spread over four weeks!
Summary and Conclusion
Along with irradiance and wavelengths, the session time and cumulative dosages comprise a critically important parameter in achieving long term success in red and near infrared light therapy. To calculate the dosage or the time we need to get a target dosage, we need ACCURATE irradiance measurements. Ironically, most red light beds on the market have a LOT less irradiance than they claim because their deceptive companies use cheap solar meters. Using their overinflated irradiance numbers can lead users to under-dosing, with disappointing results. If we go by actual full body red light therapy research based on full body red light bed studies, we would ideally shoot for a dose of around 24-36 J/cm^2 and a session three times a week to keep the cumulative dose under 100 J/cm^2. To get a therapeutic dose, we want to keep our irradiance in the target therapeutic range (20-40 mW/cm^2) so as to not "overcook" our mitochondria (the turkey within!) and create oxidative stress. Remember, we can create cell damage with EITHER too much irradiance OR too much time, both of which can lead to an over-dose.
FOR CLINICS - Three Groups of People for Red Light Therapy
There is one more important consideration here and it's one that goes without saying - everybody is different. Even with the most perfect protocols in place, ultimately there is no "one size fits all" approach. Red light therapy expert Michael Hamblin has said there are generally three types of people, something that is worth considering for those who own a clinic and plan on working with many people:
1) Canaries in the coal mine
This first group are the ultrasensitive. These people are usually chemically sensitive and electrohypersensitive. They can be hyper-responsive and therefore you should start off slowly, with perhaps half the dose of the average person. They may not feel good afterwards, not get enough sleep, feel over energized, etc. Use a questionnaire to identify these types and give them a lot less light.
2) Average Joes and Janes
The second group is the largest, which is the average person. These people would most likely be fine with the irradiance and dosage recommendations we shared in this chapter and the last.
3) The proverbial 'Blocks of Wood'
The final group is another small group – the non- responders. You can give them as much light as you like and it will have no effect at all. They are literally like blocks of wood. It is important to note that there is no treatment that works for everybody, including red light therapy. While I feel they are benefiting even if they fail to feel anything, these people may conclude it is not working for them and give up quickly.
While the recommendations in these last two chapters are centered around extensive research studies, because everyone is so different, there needs to be some trial and error to discover what works best and for whom. In the next chapter, we are going to put everything together and go through a detailed buyers guide. This buyers guide will help us see through all the marketing hype and be armed with the crucial questions we need to ask ANY red light bed or full body LED manufacturer.
References Chapter 12
[1] Boonswang, N.A., et al., 2012. A new treatment protocol using photobiomodulation and muscle/bone/joint recovery techniques having a dramatic effect on a stroke patient’s recovery: a new weapon for clinicians. BMJ Case Rep. 2012.
[2] Cassano, P., et al., 2018. Transcranial photobiomodulation for the treatment of major depressive disorder. The ELATED-2 Pilot Trial. Photomed. Laser Surg.
[3] Disner, S.G., Beevers, C.G., Gonzalez-Lima, F., 2016. Transcranial laser stimulation as neuroenhancement for attention bias modification in adults with elevated depression symptoms. Brain Stimul. 9 (5), 780787.
[4] Huang, Y.Y., et al., 2009. Biphasic dose response in low level light therapy. Dose Response 7 (4), 358383.
[5] Naeser, M.A., et al., 2016. Transcranial, red/near-infrared light-emitting diode therapy to improve cognition in chronic traumatic brain injury. Photomed. Laser Surg. 34 (12), 610626.
[6] Vargas, E., et al., 2017. Beneficial neurocognitive effects of transcranial laser in older adults. Lasers Med. Sci. 32 (5), 11531162.
[7] Hamblin, M, et al. (2018). Low-level light therapy: Photobiomodulation. Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE).
[8] Zhang, Q., Zhou, C., Hamblin, M.R., Wu, M.X., 2014. Low-level laser therapy effectively prevents secondary brain injury induced by immediate early responsive gene X-1 deficiency. J. Cereb. Blood Flow Metab. 34 (8), 13911401
[9] Hamblin MR. Mechanisms and applications of the anti-inflammatory effects of photobiomodulation. AIMS Biophys. 2017;4(3):337-361
[10] Huang YY, Chen AC, Carroll JD, et al. Biphasic dose response in low level light therapy. Dose Response. 2009;7:358–383
[11] Huang, Y.Y., Sharma, S.K., Carroll, J., Hamblin, M.R., 2011. Biphasic dose response in low level light therapy an update. Dose Response 9 (4),
602618.
[12] Hawkins D, Abrahamse H. Effect of multiple exposures of low-level laser therapy on the cellular responses of wounded human skin fibroblasts. Photomed Laser Surg. 2006 Dec;24(6):705-14.
*****END CHAPTER HERE ******
Along with irradiance and wavelengths, the session time and cumulative dosages comprise a critically important parameter in achieving long term success in red and near infrared light therapy. To calculate the dosage or the time we need to get a target dosage, we need ACCURATE irradiance measurements. Ironically, most red light beds on the market have a LOT less irradiance than they claim because their deceptive companies use cheap solar meters. Using their overinflated irradiance numbers can lead users to under-dosing, with disappointing results. If we go by actual full body red light therapy research based on full body red light bed studies, we would ideally shoot for a dose of around 24-36 J/cm^2 and a session three times a week to keep the cumulative dose under 100 J/cm^2. To get a therapeutic dose, we want to keep our irradiance in the target therapeutic range (20-40 mW/cm^2) so as to not "overcook" our mitochondria (the turkey within!) and create oxidative stress. Remember, we can create cell damage with EITHER too much irradiance OR too much time, both of which can lead to an over-dose.
FOR CLINICS - Three Groups of People for Red Light Therapy
There is one more important consideration here and it's one that goes without saying - everybody is different. Even with the most perfect protocols in place, ultimately there is no "one size fits all" approach. Red light therapy expert Michael Hamblin has said there are generally three types of people, something that is worth considering for those who own a clinic and plan on working with many people:
1) Canaries in the coal mine
This first group are the ultrasensitive. These people are usually chemically sensitive and electrohypersensitive. They can be hyper-responsive and therefore you should start off slowly, with perhaps half the dose of the average person. They may not feel good afterwards, not get enough sleep, feel over energized, etc. Use a questionnaire to identify these types and give them a lot less light.
2) Average Joes and Janes
The second group is the largest, which is the average person. These people would most likely be fine with the irradiance and dosage recommendations we shared in this chapter and the last.
3) The proverbial 'Blocks of Wood'
The final group is another small group – the non- responders. You can give them as much light as you like and it will have no effect at all. They are literally like blocks of wood. It is important to note that there is no treatment that works for everybody, including red light therapy. While I feel they are benefiting even if they fail to feel anything, these people may conclude it is not working for them and give up quickly.
While the recommendations in these last two chapters are centered around extensive research studies, because everyone is so different, there needs to be some trial and error to discover what works best and for whom. In the next chapter, we are going to put everything together and go through a detailed buyers guide. This buyers guide will help us see through all the marketing hype and be armed with the crucial questions we need to ask ANY red light bed or full body LED manufacturer.
References Chapter 12
[1] Boonswang, N.A., et al., 2012. A new treatment protocol using photobiomodulation and muscle/bone/joint recovery techniques having a dramatic effect on a stroke patient’s recovery: a new weapon for clinicians. BMJ Case Rep. 2012.
[2] Cassano, P., et al., 2018. Transcranial photobiomodulation for the treatment of major depressive disorder. The ELATED-2 Pilot Trial. Photomed. Laser Surg.
[3] Disner, S.G., Beevers, C.G., Gonzalez-Lima, F., 2016. Transcranial laser stimulation as neuroenhancement for attention bias modification in adults with elevated depression symptoms. Brain Stimul. 9 (5), 780787.
[4] Huang, Y.Y., et al., 2009. Biphasic dose response in low level light therapy. Dose Response 7 (4), 358383.
[5] Naeser, M.A., et al., 2016. Transcranial, red/near-infrared light-emitting diode therapy to improve cognition in chronic traumatic brain injury. Photomed. Laser Surg. 34 (12), 610626.
[6] Vargas, E., et al., 2017. Beneficial neurocognitive effects of transcranial laser in older adults. Lasers Med. Sci. 32 (5), 11531162.
[7] Hamblin, M, et al. (2018). Low-level light therapy: Photobiomodulation. Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE).
[8] Zhang, Q., Zhou, C., Hamblin, M.R., Wu, M.X., 2014. Low-level laser therapy effectively prevents secondary brain injury induced by immediate early responsive gene X-1 deficiency. J. Cereb. Blood Flow Metab. 34 (8), 13911401
[9] Hamblin MR. Mechanisms and applications of the anti-inflammatory effects of photobiomodulation. AIMS Biophys. 2017;4(3):337-361
[10] Huang YY, Chen AC, Carroll JD, et al. Biphasic dose response in low level light therapy. Dose Response. 2009;7:358–383
[11] Huang, Y.Y., Sharma, S.K., Carroll, J., Hamblin, M.R., 2011. Biphasic dose response in low level light therapy an update. Dose Response 9 (4),
602618.
[12] Hawkins D, Abrahamse H. Effect of multiple exposures of low-level laser therapy on the cellular responses of wounded human skin fibroblasts. Photomed Laser Surg. 2006 Dec;24(6):705-14.
*****END CHAPTER HERE ******

Singing In the Rain with Proper Dosage
Dosage is the total energy or energy density applied to a person or organism during a red light therapy treatment session or series of sessions. We can also think of it as the total number of photons or total energy applied by a red light therapy panel or bed in the span of time we do a session. Thinking of photons like raindrops, and irradiance as the intensity of the falling rain, the dosage would be analogous to how "wet" we get which is how hard it is raining (irradiance) multiplied by how long we stand out in the rain (time of session). It should be clear that how "wet" we get depends on both how hard the rain is falling AND how long we stand in the downpour. While this is a nice metaphor, light is pure energy, not raindrops, so how can we precisely quantify the idea of dosage in red light therapy?
Dosage is the total energy or energy density applied to a person or organism during a red light therapy treatment session or series of sessions. We can also think of it as the total number of photons or total energy applied by a red light therapy panel or bed in the span of time we do a session. Thinking of photons like raindrops, and irradiance as the intensity of the falling rain, the dosage would be analogous to how "wet" we get which is how hard it is raining (irradiance) multiplied by how long we stand out in the rain (time of session). It should be clear that how "wet" we get depends on both how hard the rain is falling AND how long we stand in the downpour. While this is a nice metaphor, light is pure energy, not raindrops, so how can we precisely quantify the idea of dosage in red light therapy?
Successful Studies
Irradiance = (28+ 28 + 28 + 28 + 28 + 28 + 32.8 + 16.6)/
= 27 mW/cm^2 Average
Dose = (33.6 + 33.6 + 33.6 + 23.5 + 33.6 + 33.25 + 30)/7
= 31.6 J/cm^2 Average
All studies including those with with no result
Irradiance = (28 + 28 + 28 + 28 + 28 + 28 + 32.8 + 16.6 + 13.05 + 46.17)/10
= 27.66 mW/cm^2 Average
Dose = (25 + 33.6 + 33.6 + 33.6 + 23.5 + 33.6 + 33.25 + 30 + 23.49 + 6.9)/10
= 27.65 J/cm^2 Average
Novothor study 1
Ghigiarelli JJ, Fulop AM, Burke AA, Ferrara AJ, Sell KM, Gonzalez AM, Pelton LM, Zimmerman JA, Coke SG, Marshall DG. The Effects of Whole-Body Photobiomodulation Light-Bed Therapy on Creatine Kinase and Salivary Interleukin-6 in a Sample of Trained Males: A Randomized, Crossover Study. Front Sports Act Living. 2020 Apr 29;2:48
TIME: 15 minutes
Dosage: 25 J/cm^2
Irradiance 28 mW/cm^2
No improvement
----
Novothor Study 2
Navarro-Ledesma S, Carroll J, González-Muñoz A, Pruimboom L, Burton P. Changes in Circadian Variations in Blood Pressure, Pain Pressure Threshold and the Elasticity of Tissue after a Whole-Body Photobiomodulation Treatment in Patients with Fibromyalgia: A Tripled-Blinded Randomized Clinical Trial. Biomedicines. 2022 Oct 23;10(11):2678.
Whole-body PBM decreases pain and improves the quality of life in those suffering from FM. Furthermore, psychological factors such as kinesiophobia and self-efficacy are also improved.
6 month Followup
Navarro-Ledesma S, Carroll JD, González-Muñoz A, Burton P. Outcomes of whole-body photobiomodulation on pain, quality of life, leisure physical activity, pain catastrophizing, kinesiophobia, and self-efficacy: a prospective randomized triple-blinded clinical trial with 6 months of follow-up. Front Neurosci. 2024 Jan 31;18:1264821.
Both 3x a week for four weeks
Dosage: 33.6 J/cm^2
Note: Incorrect Dose listed
----
Novothor Study - Feasibility
Fitzmaurice B, Heneghan NR, Rayen A, Soundy A. Whole-body photobiomodulation therapy for chronic pain: a protocol for a feasibility trial. BMJ Open. 2022 Jun 29;12(6):e060058.
Both 3x a week for six weeks
Session 1=6 min.
Session 2=12 min.
Sessions 3–18=20 min.
Timescale: 3 treatments/week for 6 weeks.
Dosage: 33.6 J/cm^2
***Feasibility - Actual Study 3**
Fitzmaurice BC, Heneghan NR, Rayen ATA, Grenfell RL, Soundy AA. Whole-Body Photobiomodulation Therapy for Fibromyalgia: A Feasibility Trial. Behav Sci (Basel). 2023 Aug 29;13(9):717.
Session 1=6 min.
Session 2=12 min.
Sessions 3–18=20 min.
Timescale: 3 treatments/week for 6 weeks.
Irradiance 28 mW/cm^2
Time 20 Minutes
Dose 33.6 J/cm^2
19 people completed the trial with improvements in many symptoms of Fibromyalgia.
---
Novothor Study 4
Rentz LE, Bryner RW, Ramadan J, Rezai A, Galster SM. Full-Body Photobiomodulation Therapy Is Associated with Reduced Sleep Durations and Augmented Cardiorespiratory Indicators of Recovery. Sports (Basel). 2022 Jul 31;10(8):119.
On days the the PBMT was used, there was 40 minutes reduced sleep, reduced heart rate while sleeping, and increased HRV during sleep.
Irradiance 28
20 minutes = 33.6 J/cm^2
2x a week
----
Novothor Study 5
Bowen R, Arany PR. Use of either transcranial or whole-body photobiomodulation treatments improves COVID-19 brain fog. J Biophotonics. 2023 Aug;16(8):e202200391.
14 minutes
28 mW/cm^2
Dose 23.5 J/cm^2
Participants showed improvement in their symptoms, performing slightly better than a separate group that used a transcranial PBM helmet.
----
Novothor Study 6
Forsey JD, Merrigan JJ, Stone JD, Stephenson MD, Ramadan J, Galster SM, Bryner RW, Hagen JA. Whole-body photobiomodulation improves post-exercise recovery but does not affect performance or physiological response during maximal anaerobic cycling. Lasers Med Sci. 2023 Apr 26;38(1):111
However, wbPBM elicited the ability to work at a higher heart rate throughout testing and seemed to enhance recovery through improved HRV the following morning.
Irradiance 28 mW/cm^2
Time 20 minutes before
Dose per session 33.6 J/cm^2
------
Non Novothor
Study 7
Wunsch A, Matuschka K. A controlled trial to determine the efficacy of red and near-infrared light treatment in patient satisfaction, reduction of fine lines, wrinkles, skin roughness, and intradermal collagen density increase. Photomed Laser Surg. 2014;32(2):93-100.
Group 1: 42.8mW/cm^2 for 20 min and 51.4 J/cm^2 dose.
Group 2: 54.8mW/cm^2 for 15 min and 49.3 J/cm^2 dose.
Group 3: 10.3mW/cm^2 for 25 min and 15.5 J/cm^2 dose.
Group 4: 23.4mW/cm^2 for 12 min and 16.8 J/cm^2 dose.
All groups seemed to show a similar improvement in skin features.
Treatments were twice a week for 30 total treatments (15 week study).
Average Irradiance = 32.8 mW/cm^2
Average Dose = 33.25
----
Study 8
658nm Red LED light therapy for 30 min and 30 J/cm^2
Calculated intensity is 16.6 mW/cm^2.
Used to improve sleep and athletic recovery for 14 consecutive days including athletic training.
Zhao J, Tian Y, Nie J, Xu J, Liu D. Red light and the sleep quality and endurance performance of Chinese female basketball players. J Athl Train. 2012;47(6):673-678.
----
Study 9 - Lightstim
Z. Marcinkevics, Dz. Briljonoks, H. Kronberga, and J. Spigulis "LED-bed therapy of cardiovascular disorders: a volunteer study", Proc. SPIE 11221, Mechanisms of Photobiomodulation Therapy XV, 112210R (11 March 2020);
In a recent online PBM summit, it is revealed that LightStim emits 13.05 mW/cm^2. [4]
This means we can calculate the dose of 23.49 J/cm^2 for 30 minutes.
No effects EXCEPT reduced blood pressure suspected from thermal emissions
---
Study 10 - NO EFFECT - JOOV
Zagatto AM, Dutra YM, Lira FS, Antunes BM, Faustini JB, Malta ES, Lopes VHF, de Poli RAB, Brisola GMP, Dos Santos GV, Rodrigues FM, Ferraresi C. Full Body Photobiomodulation Therapy to Induce Faster Muscle Recovery in Water Polo Athletes: Preliminary Results. Photobiomodul Photomed Laser Surg. 2020 Dec;38(12):766-772
Treatment time was only 5 minuites (2.5 min front and back).
Intensity was 46.17 mW/cm^2 and dose was 6.9 J/cm^2.
----
Irradiance = (28+ 28 + 28 + 28 + 28 + 28 + 32.8 + 16.6)/
= 27 mW/cm^2 Average
Dose = (33.6 + 33.6 + 33.6 + 23.5 + 33.6 + 33.25 + 30)/7
= 31.6 J/cm^2 Average
All studies including those with with no result
Irradiance = (28 + 28 + 28 + 28 + 28 + 28 + 32.8 + 16.6 + 13.05 + 46.17)/10
= 27.66 mW/cm^2 Average
Dose = (25 + 33.6 + 33.6 + 33.6 + 23.5 + 33.6 + 33.25 + 30 + 23.49 + 6.9)/10
= 27.65 J/cm^2 Average
Novothor study 1
Ghigiarelli JJ, Fulop AM, Burke AA, Ferrara AJ, Sell KM, Gonzalez AM, Pelton LM, Zimmerman JA, Coke SG, Marshall DG. The Effects of Whole-Body Photobiomodulation Light-Bed Therapy on Creatine Kinase and Salivary Interleukin-6 in a Sample of Trained Males: A Randomized, Crossover Study. Front Sports Act Living. 2020 Apr 29;2:48
TIME: 15 minutes
Dosage: 25 J/cm^2
Irradiance 28 mW/cm^2
No improvement
----
Novothor Study 2
Navarro-Ledesma S, Carroll J, González-Muñoz A, Pruimboom L, Burton P. Changes in Circadian Variations in Blood Pressure, Pain Pressure Threshold and the Elasticity of Tissue after a Whole-Body Photobiomodulation Treatment in Patients with Fibromyalgia: A Tripled-Blinded Randomized Clinical Trial. Biomedicines. 2022 Oct 23;10(11):2678.
Whole-body PBM decreases pain and improves the quality of life in those suffering from FM. Furthermore, psychological factors such as kinesiophobia and self-efficacy are also improved.
6 month Followup
Navarro-Ledesma S, Carroll JD, González-Muñoz A, Burton P. Outcomes of whole-body photobiomodulation on pain, quality of life, leisure physical activity, pain catastrophizing, kinesiophobia, and self-efficacy: a prospective randomized triple-blinded clinical trial with 6 months of follow-up. Front Neurosci. 2024 Jan 31;18:1264821.
Both 3x a week for four weeks
Dosage: 33.6 J/cm^2
Note: Incorrect Dose listed
----
Novothor Study - Feasibility
Fitzmaurice B, Heneghan NR, Rayen A, Soundy A. Whole-body photobiomodulation therapy for chronic pain: a protocol for a feasibility trial. BMJ Open. 2022 Jun 29;12(6):e060058.
Both 3x a week for six weeks
Session 1=6 min.
Session 2=12 min.
Sessions 3–18=20 min.
Timescale: 3 treatments/week for 6 weeks.
Dosage: 33.6 J/cm^2
***Feasibility - Actual Study 3**
Fitzmaurice BC, Heneghan NR, Rayen ATA, Grenfell RL, Soundy AA. Whole-Body Photobiomodulation Therapy for Fibromyalgia: A Feasibility Trial. Behav Sci (Basel). 2023 Aug 29;13(9):717.
Session 1=6 min.
Session 2=12 min.
Sessions 3–18=20 min.
Timescale: 3 treatments/week for 6 weeks.
Irradiance 28 mW/cm^2
Time 20 Minutes
Dose 33.6 J/cm^2
19 people completed the trial with improvements in many symptoms of Fibromyalgia.
---
Novothor Study 4
Rentz LE, Bryner RW, Ramadan J, Rezai A, Galster SM. Full-Body Photobiomodulation Therapy Is Associated with Reduced Sleep Durations and Augmented Cardiorespiratory Indicators of Recovery. Sports (Basel). 2022 Jul 31;10(8):119.
On days the the PBMT was used, there was 40 minutes reduced sleep, reduced heart rate while sleeping, and increased HRV during sleep.
Irradiance 28
20 minutes = 33.6 J/cm^2
2x a week
----
Novothor Study 5
Bowen R, Arany PR. Use of either transcranial or whole-body photobiomodulation treatments improves COVID-19 brain fog. J Biophotonics. 2023 Aug;16(8):e202200391.
14 minutes
28 mW/cm^2
Dose 23.5 J/cm^2
Participants showed improvement in their symptoms, performing slightly better than a separate group that used a transcranial PBM helmet.
----
Novothor Study 6
Forsey JD, Merrigan JJ, Stone JD, Stephenson MD, Ramadan J, Galster SM, Bryner RW, Hagen JA. Whole-body photobiomodulation improves post-exercise recovery but does not affect performance or physiological response during maximal anaerobic cycling. Lasers Med Sci. 2023 Apr 26;38(1):111
However, wbPBM elicited the ability to work at a higher heart rate throughout testing and seemed to enhance recovery through improved HRV the following morning.
Irradiance 28 mW/cm^2
Time 20 minutes before
Dose per session 33.6 J/cm^2
------
Non Novothor
Study 7
Wunsch A, Matuschka K. A controlled trial to determine the efficacy of red and near-infrared light treatment in patient satisfaction, reduction of fine lines, wrinkles, skin roughness, and intradermal collagen density increase. Photomed Laser Surg. 2014;32(2):93-100.
Group 1: 42.8mW/cm^2 for 20 min and 51.4 J/cm^2 dose.
Group 2: 54.8mW/cm^2 for 15 min and 49.3 J/cm^2 dose.
Group 3: 10.3mW/cm^2 for 25 min and 15.5 J/cm^2 dose.
Group 4: 23.4mW/cm^2 for 12 min and 16.8 J/cm^2 dose.
All groups seemed to show a similar improvement in skin features.
Treatments were twice a week for 30 total treatments (15 week study).
Average Irradiance = 32.8 mW/cm^2
Average Dose = 33.25
----
Study 8
658nm Red LED light therapy for 30 min and 30 J/cm^2
Calculated intensity is 16.6 mW/cm^2.
Used to improve sleep and athletic recovery for 14 consecutive days including athletic training.
Zhao J, Tian Y, Nie J, Xu J, Liu D. Red light and the sleep quality and endurance performance of Chinese female basketball players. J Athl Train. 2012;47(6):673-678.
----
Study 9 - Lightstim
Z. Marcinkevics, Dz. Briljonoks, H. Kronberga, and J. Spigulis "LED-bed therapy of cardiovascular disorders: a volunteer study", Proc. SPIE 11221, Mechanisms of Photobiomodulation Therapy XV, 112210R (11 March 2020);
In a recent online PBM summit, it is revealed that LightStim emits 13.05 mW/cm^2. [4]
This means we can calculate the dose of 23.49 J/cm^2 for 30 minutes.
No effects EXCEPT reduced blood pressure suspected from thermal emissions
---
Study 10 - NO EFFECT - JOOV
Zagatto AM, Dutra YM, Lira FS, Antunes BM, Faustini JB, Malta ES, Lopes VHF, de Poli RAB, Brisola GMP, Dos Santos GV, Rodrigues FM, Ferraresi C. Full Body Photobiomodulation Therapy to Induce Faster Muscle Recovery in Water Polo Athletes: Preliminary Results. Photobiomodul Photomed Laser Surg. 2020 Dec;38(12):766-772
Treatment time was only 5 minuites (2.5 min front and back).
Intensity was 46.17 mW/cm^2 and dose was 6.9 J/cm^2.
----
******END OF CHAPTER*****
NO MORE EDITING OR ILLUSTRATIONS PAST THIS POINT
NO MORE EDITING OR ILLUSTRATIONS PAST THIS POINT
This also explains why people we talk to that use overpowered beds (which are have gotten amazing short term results, but then plateau and decline much faster when they continue. Sadly, people often make impulse buys based on a single positive, feel-good session and end up getting an overpowered red light therapy bed that will ultimately do them more harm than good in the long run. Buyers tip (if you do not have a spectroradiometer): If you’re sweating, or the bed feels hot, it is most definitely overpowered (>45-50mW/cm^2) and has too much irradiance. Even if we get a great result from that one session, sorry to report, research is NOT on our side. Should we continue, we would create inhibitory effects very quickly! Even good beds can become a little warm, but we should NOT feel hot and we most definitely should NOT be SWEATING!

5) The Goldilocks Principle in Red Light Therapy
To simplify the Hormesis effect and the biphasic dose response curve refer to this image here. Looking at this curve, you can think of the optimal level of any modality as a goldilocks zone of “just right”. Not enough has no effect, and too much is harmful.
A good example of hormesis is exercise. In the right optimal amount, research has shown that it confers longevity and lengthens our telomeres. In excess, it will hurt us by causing high cortisol levels and generating ROS to deplete our stem cells and cause us to use anaerobic energy production which does not suit our biochemistry long term. Marathon runners are a good case in point of over-exercising and experience accelerated aging as a result.
Although the Biphasic dose response or Hormesis might sound strange at first, there are many examples we all know where this occurs. One example is physical exercise. In moderatation, exercise is linked with many health benefits including life extension. But if you over-train you can cause yourself harm. We have all heard about marathon runners dropping dead from a heart attack, or female athletes over-exercising themselves into losing their menstrual cycle and fertility. And there is an actual condition called “overtraining syndrome” which is associated with athletes who overdo it resulting in "plateauing" or stalled progress, fatigue, depression, headaches, lack of sleep, weakened immunity and many other related symptoms.
And not only exercise, Below are some charts showing more examples of hormesis, a lot of which might be common sense, but understand that the Hormesis effect is one of the scientific principles behind these effects. Either too little or too much can be deleterious.
To simplify the Hormesis effect and the biphasic dose response curve refer to this image here. Looking at this curve, you can think of the optimal level of any modality as a goldilocks zone of “just right”. Not enough has no effect, and too much is harmful.
A good example of hormesis is exercise. In the right optimal amount, research has shown that it confers longevity and lengthens our telomeres. In excess, it will hurt us by causing high cortisol levels and generating ROS to deplete our stem cells and cause us to use anaerobic energy production which does not suit our biochemistry long term. Marathon runners are a good case in point of over-exercising and experience accelerated aging as a result.
Although the Biphasic dose response or Hormesis might sound strange at first, there are many examples we all know where this occurs. One example is physical exercise. In moderatation, exercise is linked with many health benefits including life extension. But if you over-train you can cause yourself harm. We have all heard about marathon runners dropping dead from a heart attack, or female athletes over-exercising themselves into losing their menstrual cycle and fertility. And there is an actual condition called “overtraining syndrome” which is associated with athletes who overdo it resulting in "plateauing" or stalled progress, fatigue, depression, headaches, lack of sleep, weakened immunity and many other related symptoms.
And not only exercise, Below are some charts showing more examples of hormesis, a lot of which might be common sense, but understand that the Hormesis effect is one of the scientific principles behind these effects. Either too little or too much can be deleterious.

A single exposure can have an effect three hours later, and can have an impact for 5-7 days. They did the red light therapy 45 minutes before taking the as to allow the cellular effects to build up.
Powner MB, Jeffery G. Light stimulation of mitochondria reduces blood glucose levels. J Biophotonics. 2024 May;17(5):e202300521.
Maybe Add in as ASIDE
RLT reduces blood glucose levels by increasing OXPHOS
Increase ATP 20% retina to >50% in brain.
Effect
A 670 nm PBM has been demonstrated to improve mitochondrial membrane potential and increase ATP production via elevated oxidative phosphorylation. This has been shown to translate into improved CNS function. This is preserved across species from fly to human [1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 31, 32]. A 670 nm PBM impact is marked in tissues with high metabolic demand and in those that have declined through age or disease. Its widespread positive influence likely rests on the large energy demand made by membrane pumps particularly in the CNS.
Increases in ATP following 670 nm PBM in mice range from ~20% in the retina to >50% in the brain [5]. In whole flies, it is ~30% [13]. Because increased ATP production needs to be fueled by glucose and oxygen, we established the hypothesis that 670 nm PBM may have the ability to reduce blood glucose. The data presented here are consistent with this hypothesis.
Powner MB, Jeffery G. Light stimulation of mitochondria reduces blood glucose levels. J Biophotonics. 2024 May;17(5):e202300521.
Maybe Add in as ASIDE
RLT reduces blood glucose levels by increasing OXPHOS
Increase ATP 20% retina to >50% in brain.
Effect
A 670 nm PBM has been demonstrated to improve mitochondrial membrane potential and increase ATP production via elevated oxidative phosphorylation. This has been shown to translate into improved CNS function. This is preserved across species from fly to human [1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 31, 32]. A 670 nm PBM impact is marked in tissues with high metabolic demand and in those that have declined through age or disease. Its widespread positive influence likely rests on the large energy demand made by membrane pumps particularly in the CNS.
Increases in ATP following 670 nm PBM in mice range from ~20% in the retina to >50% in the brain [5]. In whole flies, it is ~30% [13]. Because increased ATP production needs to be fueled by glucose and oxygen, we established the hypothesis that 670 nm PBM may have the ability to reduce blood glucose. The data presented here are consistent with this hypothesis.

Also from this same paper are the following quotes: "A biphasic dose response has been frequently observed where low levels of light have a much better effect on stimulating and repairing tissues than higher levels of light." [7] So lower doses have often been found to have better responses and notice how that's kind of the opposite of what most marketing experts will tell you so let's look at another quote from that same study: "The natural assumption that is frequently made is, that if a small dose of red or near-infrared light produces a significant therapeutic effect, then a larger dose should produce an even more beneficial effect. This natural assumption is frequently not the case." [7]
I really like that the study is specifically addressing our natural human biases to assume that more is better or bigger is better when that's clearly not the case in the clinical studies. The experts here are discouraging us from these mistaken notions of "more is better" when really we should be thinking in terms of a "less is more" mentality.
[7] Huang YY, Sharma SK, Carroll J, Hamblin MR. Biphasic dose response in low level light therapy - an update. Dose Response. 2011;9(4):602-18.
Note: This is as called the hormesis effect which is a term used by toxicologists to refer to a biphasic dose response to an environmental agent characterized by a low dose stimulation or beneficial effect and a high dose inhibitory or toxic effect.
I really like that the study is specifically addressing our natural human biases to assume that more is better or bigger is better when that's clearly not the case in the clinical studies. The experts here are discouraging us from these mistaken notions of "more is better" when really we should be thinking in terms of a "less is more" mentality.
[7] Huang YY, Sharma SK, Carroll J, Hamblin MR. Biphasic dose response in low level light therapy - an update. Dose Response. 2011;9(4):602-18.
Note: This is as called the hormesis effect which is a term used by toxicologists to refer to a biphasic dose response to an environmental agent characterized by a low dose stimulation or beneficial effect and a high dose inhibitory or toxic effect.

Watch out for Marketing Gimmicks - The Body can only Absorb so Much Light (guided by Nature).
Now an ideal dose for a full body light bed based on the average dose used in TEN full body red light studies is around 30J/cm^2. So you would need 20 minutes, NOT 10 to get an idea dose. That means if you were a clinic you could do 24 sessions a day, NOT 48!!! (based on a 8 hour day). However we have to be mindful not to overcook the turkey, which means we cannot for example, think that 96 J/cm^2 will give us this ideal dose in 5 minutes. Even though the calculator says it would, this is akin to burning the turkey on the outside while it is frozen in the middle, a VERY fitting metaphor considering that irradiance increases tissue heating and REDUCES penetration depth!!
It is our view Red Light Therapy is best described as three separate sets of parameters;
Now an ideal dose for a full body light bed based on the average dose used in TEN full body red light studies is around 30J/cm^2. So you would need 20 minutes, NOT 10 to get an idea dose. That means if you were a clinic you could do 24 sessions a day, NOT 48!!! (based on a 8 hour day). However we have to be mindful not to overcook the turkey, which means we cannot for example, think that 96 J/cm^2 will give us this ideal dose in 5 minutes. Even though the calculator says it would, this is akin to burning the turkey on the outside while it is frozen in the middle, a VERY fitting metaphor considering that irradiance increases tissue heating and REDUCES penetration depth!!
It is our view Red Light Therapy is best described as three separate sets of parameters;
- The medicine (irradiance/Intensity)
- The dose (exposure time)
- Weekly Dose
- total number of sessions
Electrosmog Caution Revisted
Beds with more EMF might further limit results and require less treatment time to avoid overexposure to EMF. So my theory is people that overdose are not only overdosing with light but also EMF as most beds (except for spectra red light) do not take the necessary precautions to eliminate EMF,

Dose Rate Effects
Energy density (J/cm2) is often used as an important descriptor of red light therapy dosing, but this number alone neglects the fact that energy has two components, power and time [Energy (J) = Power (W) × Time (s)]. It has been demonstrated that there is not necessarily reciprocity between them; in other words, if the power doubled and the time is halved then the same energy is delivered but a different biological response is often observed.
Huang YY, Chen AC, Carroll JD, Hamblin MR. Biphasic dose response in low level light therapy. Dose Response. 2009 Sep 1;7(4):358-83.
Energy density (J/cm2) is often used as an important descriptor of red light therapy dosing, but this number alone neglects the fact that energy has two components, power and time [Energy (J) = Power (W) × Time (s)]. It has been demonstrated that there is not necessarily reciprocity between them; in other words, if the power doubled and the time is halved then the same energy is delivered but a different biological response is often observed.
Huang YY, Chen AC, Carroll JD, Hamblin MR. Biphasic dose response in low level light therapy. Dose Response. 2009 Sep 1;7(4):358-83.
The Six Main Keys to Red Light Therapy
There are 5 key aspects to create optimal therapeutic effects from red light therapy which we will explore in this and coming chapters. The
I. Delivery of a Clinically Beneficial Dose
1) Medicine - The first is the Irradiation Parameters or "the medicine" which is related to the specific light source used. This is user independent because it is hard wired into the device.
2) Dose - The second aspect is how the light is administered which is the "dose" and is user controlled.
3) Assimilation - Third we have the penetration depth into the tissues - how well it is assimilated into the body.
II. Chromophores - The Great Connector
4) Absorption - Fourth we have how the light is actually absorbed in the cells via little antenna called chromophores
III. Mechanisms and Benefits
5) Methods of Action / Mechanisms
6) Benefits and Healing
Work in From Caroll
6 things with whole body panels
1) Right wavelengths for penetration (wavelength window)
2) Overcoming reflection
3) Right irradiance (right intensity for maximum effect)
CCO absorbs based on tissue optics and resonance absorption bands but biological
effect depends also on the Number of photons
4) Even distribution of light... baking verses cooking a steak
End up with hot spots
Introduce Quantum Body and New Science
Energy APPLIED - Application (science of applied red light with correct area, intensity and frequency spectra
**Chromophores** - For this to work, again like antennas, the broadcasting light energy must match resonance absorption spectra of the Chromopores and water (mainly) WITH enough intensity to reach them.
Energy RECEIVED - Absorption and Transduction - Mechanisms of healing benefits of the applied effective treatment (more energy, better circulation, reduced inflammation, increased stem cells, etc.
Reciprocity.
There are 5 key aspects to create optimal therapeutic effects from red light therapy which we will explore in this and coming chapters. The
I. Delivery of a Clinically Beneficial Dose
1) Medicine - The first is the Irradiation Parameters or "the medicine" which is related to the specific light source used. This is user independent because it is hard wired into the device.
2) Dose - The second aspect is how the light is administered which is the "dose" and is user controlled.
3) Assimilation - Third we have the penetration depth into the tissues - how well it is assimilated into the body.
II. Chromophores - The Great Connector
4) Absorption - Fourth we have how the light is actually absorbed in the cells via little antenna called chromophores
III. Mechanisms and Benefits
5) Methods of Action / Mechanisms
6) Benefits and Healing
Work in From Caroll
6 things with whole body panels
1) Right wavelengths for penetration (wavelength window)
2) Overcoming reflection
3) Right irradiance (right intensity for maximum effect)
CCO absorbs based on tissue optics and resonance absorption bands but biological
effect depends also on the Number of photons
4) Even distribution of light... baking verses cooking a steak
End up with hot spots
Introduce Quantum Body and New Science
Energy APPLIED - Application (science of applied red light with correct area, intensity and frequency spectra
**Chromophores** - For this to work, again like antennas, the broadcasting light energy must match resonance absorption spectra of the Chromopores and water (mainly) WITH enough intensity to reach them.
Energy RECEIVED - Absorption and Transduction - Mechanisms of healing benefits of the applied effective treatment (more energy, better circulation, reduced inflammation, increased stem cells, etc.
Reciprocity.
Irradiation Parameters and Dose
1. Wavelength - color expressed in nm
2. Power (radiant flux) - power expressed in Watts usually mW bc RLT uses smaller amounts of power
3. Spot Size - expressed in cm^2
4. Irradiance (power density) - Power / spot size = mW/cm^2
5. Pulse Regime = pulses
6. Treatment Time
7. Energy = power x time = Total Joules
8. Fluence = irradiance x time = Joules / cm^2
Dose Calculator
Power Watts ____
Beam Spot Size ____
Power Density ______
Energy density (Fluence) _______
Time in seconds ________
Power density (Irradiance) ________
The 5-50 rule for Dosage and Irradiance
Theoretically, we could just focus what we call the dose.
Theoretically, we could just focus what we call the dose.
B. 5- 50 Rule Irradiance
To drive this point home there is an excellent article on the ThorLaser website echos this same scenario and concern. They state that administering the same "dosage" in J/cm^2 at very different intensities will certainly illicit a very different clinical results!
"Dosage" is a difficult subject. Why ?
4 things you should know about PBM laser beam measurement and dosage
James Carroll - THOR lasers. https://www.thorlaser.com/Dosage.htm
The 5/50 Rule for Dosage and Irradiance is just a general guideline and principle to emphasize that you need both the right dosage and irradiance to get optimal benefits. Exactly what is best is not settled and recommendations vary considerably in literature, but there is one clue for irradiance, which is looking to Nature!
Size and Total Optical Power!
One of the reasons I recommend a full body panel or bed is that you can EFFECTIVELY cover the whole body without power loss or reflection issues.
One of the reasons I recommend a full body panel or bed is that you can EFFECTIVELY cover the whole body without power loss or reflection issues.

TOTAL POWER AND AREA MATTERS! Case for Whole Body Light Beds
Based on a couple studies I found the average area of a male is around 1.8 square meters (think a meter stick squared) or 18,000 centimeters square and for the average women that would be around 1.6 meters squared or 16,000 centimeters squared. If the irradiance of the bed was say 10 mW/cm^2, that would get a total power reaching the skin and body of 180,000 Watts for men or 160,000 Watts for women! The power goes up exponential because area is length SQUARED. For example a 20 by 20 centimeter small pad would be only 400 centimeters squared and with the SAME irradiance of 10 mW/cm^2, you would only received 4000 Watts compared to 160,000 or 180,000 Watts! Lasers are even worse even though they can be more powerful the beam area is usually only a couple centimeters squared! But lasers have their place with say local issue and laser acupuncture etc, but even the best lasers are no comparison a good full body light bed.
Stated another way, Total Optical Power is a measure of the total number of photons that hit your body per second (when using a full body light bed). Calculating optical power arbitrarily with a small panel is misleading because all that matters is how much light hits your skin. Only a whole body light bed or panel can give you a uniform irradiance from which you can fairly accurately estimate the total optical power that your body receives! Statisically speaking when you shower your body with a full body treatment of RLT using a full body panel or bed, you are increasing the odds of more photons penetrating DEEPER and giving your body enhanced SYSTEMIC benefits that as we showed even effect the brain (ie, shining a light on the leg, benefits the brain!).
And remember we talked about the systemic benefits of whole body treatment. Many studies like the study in Australia using remote photobiomodulation of the brain, where they are shining the light on the body (legs and back) clearly benefits the brain, no question about it, so there is a systemic component to this.
**Biesebeek, J, Nijkam M., Bokkers B., Wijnhoven S.: General Fact Sheet : General default parameters for estimating consumer exposure - Updated version 2014. National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM)
Based on a couple studies I found the average area of a male is around 1.8 square meters (think a meter stick squared) or 18,000 centimeters square and for the average women that would be around 1.6 meters squared or 16,000 centimeters squared. If the irradiance of the bed was say 10 mW/cm^2, that would get a total power reaching the skin and body of 180,000 Watts for men or 160,000 Watts for women! The power goes up exponential because area is length SQUARED. For example a 20 by 20 centimeter small pad would be only 400 centimeters squared and with the SAME irradiance of 10 mW/cm^2, you would only received 4000 Watts compared to 160,000 or 180,000 Watts! Lasers are even worse even though they can be more powerful the beam area is usually only a couple centimeters squared! But lasers have their place with say local issue and laser acupuncture etc, but even the best lasers are no comparison a good full body light bed.
Stated another way, Total Optical Power is a measure of the total number of photons that hit your body per second (when using a full body light bed). Calculating optical power arbitrarily with a small panel is misleading because all that matters is how much light hits your skin. Only a whole body light bed or panel can give you a uniform irradiance from which you can fairly accurately estimate the total optical power that your body receives! Statisically speaking when you shower your body with a full body treatment of RLT using a full body panel or bed, you are increasing the odds of more photons penetrating DEEPER and giving your body enhanced SYSTEMIC benefits that as we showed even effect the brain (ie, shining a light on the leg, benefits the brain!).
And remember we talked about the systemic benefits of whole body treatment. Many studies like the study in Australia using remote photobiomodulation of the brain, where they are shining the light on the body (legs and back) clearly benefits the brain, no question about it, so there is a systemic component to this.
**Biesebeek, J, Nijkam M., Bokkers B., Wijnhoven S.: General Fact Sheet : General default parameters for estimating consumer exposure - Updated version 2014. National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM)
Proximity - Close Contact versus Panels at a Distance
As we showed in chapter 9, you ideally want a device that is close to the skin. Local applicators and whole body light beds should be as close as possible to the skin to avoid reflection loss. This is NOT talked about enough in the red light community and I may get some pushback saying this but using red light panels 6 inches away is NOT as good as using red light pads and beds in close contact. One added advantage of a red light bed is that while the top part may not be right against the skin, BUT light is coming from all directions some companies have internal reflective glass and surfaces that retain the photons (something you cannot do with panels or do very poorly). Also why I would not recommend the red light "rooms" because the light sources are do distant. Again this is a big problem in the industry not talking about the reflection losses outlined in chapter 9! So when doing your red light treatment try to invest in a device that is either a whole body bed or panel you can be close to OR for local treatment only get the best quality flexible pads and ideally push them into the skin with a little pressure. Most Lasers recommend this as well.
As we showed in chapter 9, you ideally want a device that is close to the skin. Local applicators and whole body light beds should be as close as possible to the skin to avoid reflection loss. This is NOT talked about enough in the red light community and I may get some pushback saying this but using red light panels 6 inches away is NOT as good as using red light pads and beds in close contact. One added advantage of a red light bed is that while the top part may not be right against the skin, BUT light is coming from all directions some companies have internal reflective glass and surfaces that retain the photons (something you cannot do with panels or do very poorly). Also why I would not recommend the red light "rooms" because the light sources are do distant. Again this is a big problem in the industry not talking about the reflection losses outlined in chapter 9! So when doing your red light treatment try to invest in a device that is either a whole body bed or panel you can be close to OR for local treatment only get the best quality flexible pads and ideally push them into the skin with a little pressure. Most Lasers recommend this as well.

AREA MATTERS
Good evidence from Margaret Naeser that the area of treatment with PBM on the brain is important!
Study in Australia remote photobiomodulation of the brain, where they are shining the light on the body (legs and back) (head covered with aluminum foil)... Shining the light on the body clearly benefits the brain, no question about it, so there is a systemic component to this.
Dosing and devices
The total energy is the most important thing.
Whole body, 10-20 mW/cm^2
10 mW over 1.6-1.8 square meters
18,000 square centimeters men
16,000 square centimeters women
For simplicity lets use a person with 2 m^2 of area.
If Irradiance of the bed is 10 mW/cm^2
That would be 200,000 millwatts or
200 joules per sec (200 Watts)
12,000 joules a minute
120,000 joules in 10 minutes,
Michael Hamblin recommends at least a few thousand joules of energy from a PBM treatment for a localized treatment.
10-20 joules per cm^2.
Tiny beam on a square mm with laser is ridiculous.
Face mask 500 cm^2
10 Joules/cm^2 (total energy in session)
5000 Joules
Want at least a few thousand
Hard to find in humans, biphasic mainly in animals.
10 minutes Novothor 120,000 joules
1 hour in the sun = 1,000,000 joules
Focused laser lucky to have 1 cm^2 squared
10 joules/cm^2
LEDs same dose... but area huge amount bigger.
Irradiance more important for localized treatment.
Good Example: Flashlight against hand more light than if you hold it away.
**Biesebeek, J, Nijkam M., Bokkers B., Wijnhoven S.: General Fact Sheet : General default parameters for estimating consumer exposure - Updated version 2014. National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM)
Good evidence from Margaret Naeser that the area of treatment with PBM on the brain is important!
Study in Australia remote photobiomodulation of the brain, where they are shining the light on the body (legs and back) (head covered with aluminum foil)... Shining the light on the body clearly benefits the brain, no question about it, so there is a systemic component to this.
Dosing and devices
The total energy is the most important thing.
Whole body, 10-20 mW/cm^2
10 mW over 1.6-1.8 square meters
18,000 square centimeters men
16,000 square centimeters women
For simplicity lets use a person with 2 m^2 of area.
If Irradiance of the bed is 10 mW/cm^2
That would be 200,000 millwatts or
200 joules per sec (200 Watts)
12,000 joules a minute
120,000 joules in 10 minutes,
Michael Hamblin recommends at least a few thousand joules of energy from a PBM treatment for a localized treatment.
10-20 joules per cm^2.
Tiny beam on a square mm with laser is ridiculous.
Face mask 500 cm^2
10 Joules/cm^2 (total energy in session)
5000 Joules
Want at least a few thousand
Hard to find in humans, biphasic mainly in animals.
10 minutes Novothor 120,000 joules
1 hour in the sun = 1,000,000 joules
Focused laser lucky to have 1 cm^2 squared
10 joules/cm^2
LEDs same dose... but area huge amount bigger.
Irradiance more important for localized treatment.
Good Example: Flashlight against hand more light than if you hold it away.
**Biesebeek, J, Nijkam M., Bokkers B., Wijnhoven S.: General Fact Sheet : General default parameters for estimating consumer exposure - Updated version 2014. National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM)
How Many Watts do we need?
The intensity, sometimes called the Power Density, Irradiance, and units of mW/cm^2 tends to be very important. This is what is most often reported in the clinical science when talking about dose. Typically the effective range is between 5mW/cm^2 to 50mW/cm^2 in most panels.
Of course, more intensity does not always mean better results, and sometimes using lower power lights for longer time is more practical. Lower intensities might be used in products that are used with skin contact, where higher intensities are used for panels that are further away to counteract the reflection losses. Eventually, much intensity will start to cause heating or eye concerns.
The intensity, sometimes called the Power Density, Irradiance, and units of mW/cm^2 tends to be very important. This is what is most often reported in the clinical science when talking about dose. Typically the effective range is between 5mW/cm^2 to 50mW/cm^2 in most panels.
Of course, more intensity does not always mean better results, and sometimes using lower power lights for longer time is more practical. Lower intensities might be used in products that are used with skin contact, where higher intensities are used for panels that are further away to counteract the reflection losses. Eventually, much intensity will start to cause heating or eye concerns.
Case for Twice a day (Optional)
If LED treatment once or twice a day as described above is neuroprotective, would repeated treatment each day bring about further improvement? This question was addressed in an experiment in which primary cortical neurons were exposed to 300 μM KCN for 24 hours, and LED treatment (670 nm; 4 J/cm2 and 50 mW/cm2 for 80 seconds each time) was given once, twice, three, or four times spaced evenly apart during the first 8 hours to sister cultures (Liang et al., 2008). Reactive oxygen species (ROS) in these neurons were monitored by changes in the intensity of CM-H2DCFDA (5-[and -6] chloromethyl-20, 7-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate acetyl ester). As shown in Fig. 3.5, KCN induced a significant increase in ROS formation within a 24-hour period. LED given once during that time was not effective in overcoming the effect of KCN. Remarkably, PBM given twice during the 24-hour period resulted in the lowest ROS formation, when compared with three or four times of treatment (Liang et al., 2008).
Twice a day of PBM also induced incremental cellular ATP content in normal cortical neurons by 2.63-, 3.08-, and 4.08-fold after 1, 3, and 5 days of treatment, respectively (P , .001 for all when compared to controls).
Thus, under the paradigms tested, PBM twice a day appears to be the most effective strategy. It also indicates that the Goldilocks rule applies.
**Liang, H.L., Whelan, H.T., Eells, J.T., Wong-Riley, M.T.T., 2008. Near-infrared light via light-emitting diode treatment is therapeutic against rotenone- and MPP1-induced neurotoxicity. Neuroscience 153, 963974.
If LED treatment once or twice a day as described above is neuroprotective, would repeated treatment each day bring about further improvement? This question was addressed in an experiment in which primary cortical neurons were exposed to 300 μM KCN for 24 hours, and LED treatment (670 nm; 4 J/cm2 and 50 mW/cm2 for 80 seconds each time) was given once, twice, three, or four times spaced evenly apart during the first 8 hours to sister cultures (Liang et al., 2008). Reactive oxygen species (ROS) in these neurons were monitored by changes in the intensity of CM-H2DCFDA (5-[and -6] chloromethyl-20, 7-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate acetyl ester). As shown in Fig. 3.5, KCN induced a significant increase in ROS formation within a 24-hour period. LED given once during that time was not effective in overcoming the effect of KCN. Remarkably, PBM given twice during the 24-hour period resulted in the lowest ROS formation, when compared with three or four times of treatment (Liang et al., 2008).
Twice a day of PBM also induced incremental cellular ATP content in normal cortical neurons by 2.63-, 3.08-, and 4.08-fold after 1, 3, and 5 days of treatment, respectively (P , .001 for all when compared to controls).
Thus, under the paradigms tested, PBM twice a day appears to be the most effective strategy. It also indicates that the Goldilocks rule applies.
**Liang, H.L., Whelan, H.T., Eells, J.T., Wong-Riley, M.T.T., 2008. Near-infrared light via light-emitting diode treatment is therapeutic against rotenone- and MPP1-induced neurotoxicity. Neuroscience 153, 963974.

LINEAR (Newtonian Reductionism) THINKING IN CONVENTIONAL MEDICINE & High Intensity PEMF
The idea that you take a drug, medicine or PEMF therapy session and a simple linear sequence of events in the body will happen is a serious flaw with standard allopathic dosimetry. Not only that but consumers additionally have the mistaken notion that if I take one pill, two must be twice as good. If I get a good result for a low intensity PEMF device, a high intensity will give me a commensurately better result. This faulty thinking stems from an outdated mechanistic and reductionist view of the human body. In reductionism, the whole is simply a sum of the parts, each one acting independently and linearly on its own,
like an automobile! It presents the organism as a junkyard of molecular nuts and bolts subject to mechanistic principles of
● lock and key,
● push and pull,
● random collision
● linear causation
● equilibrium thermodynamics
... and so on.
But we know from modern science, chaos theory, quantum biology and modern systems theory that the human body is FAR from linear, FAR from equilibrium and FAR from being Mechanistic.
The idea that you take a drug, medicine or PEMF therapy session and a simple linear sequence of events in the body will happen is a serious flaw with standard allopathic dosimetry. Not only that but consumers additionally have the mistaken notion that if I take one pill, two must be twice as good. If I get a good result for a low intensity PEMF device, a high intensity will give me a commensurately better result. This faulty thinking stems from an outdated mechanistic and reductionist view of the human body. In reductionism, the whole is simply a sum of the parts, each one acting independently and linearly on its own,
like an automobile! It presents the organism as a junkyard of molecular nuts and bolts subject to mechanistic principles of
● lock and key,
● push and pull,
● random collision
● linear causation
● equilibrium thermodynamics
... and so on.
But we know from modern science, chaos theory, quantum biology and modern systems theory that the human body is FAR from linear, FAR from equilibrium and FAR from being Mechanistic.

NONLINEAR (Systems Theory) THINKING IN HOLISTIC MEDICINE, HOMEOPATHY, & Low Intensity PEMF (everything is connected to everything).
When exploring dosimetry in this Lesson and why More is Not better, there are four key scientific ideas that radically different living organisms from nonliving things and this is especially relevant in higher mammals which of course includes humans. These ideas are based on the FACT that the human organism is highly nonlinear, highly electromagnetic and photonic, an open system that is far from equilibrium, and exhibits quantum properties and more. Here they are:
We will explore five Key Topics in this lesson that will really prove the point of the nonlinear
nature of the human body and why more is not better and less is MORE. I like to call this Subtle Energy Medicine because these gentle and subtle approaches have remarkably powerful effects! While forceful approaches have weak and often harmful effects. And note that these fundamental ideas in this lesson apply to all of energy medicine and natural healing, NOT just PEMF. Use this reasoning when exploring ANY healing modality! The 5 topics are:
1. Hormesis and Dose Response (upside down U)
2. Homeopathy, Sensitivity and Amplification
3. Too much can have counterproductive effects
4. Research Corroborates
5. Physics and Biophysics Supports Lead into key is resonance with chromophores and water.
When exploring dosimetry in this Lesson and why More is Not better, there are four key scientific ideas that radically different living organisms from nonliving things and this is especially relevant in higher mammals which of course includes humans. These ideas are based on the FACT that the human organism is highly nonlinear, highly electromagnetic and photonic, an open system that is far from equilibrium, and exhibits quantum properties and more. Here they are:
- Living organisms have extreme sensitivity to environment cues, signals and energies.
- Living Organisms have an extraordinary efficiency and rapidity of energy transduction.
- Living Organisms have a holo-fractal-graphic biofield, exhibiting self-similarity and long-range order and coordination via biophotons and quantum entanglement.
- Living Organisms are imbued with consciousness and higher dimensional aspects beyond the physical realm.
We will explore five Key Topics in this lesson that will really prove the point of the nonlinear
nature of the human body and why more is not better and less is MORE. I like to call this Subtle Energy Medicine because these gentle and subtle approaches have remarkably powerful effects! While forceful approaches have weak and often harmful effects. And note that these fundamental ideas in this lesson apply to all of energy medicine and natural healing, NOT just PEMF. Use this reasoning when exploring ANY healing modality! The 5 topics are:
1. Hormesis and Dose Response (upside down U)
2. Homeopathy, Sensitivity and Amplification
3. Too much can have counterproductive effects
4. Research Corroborates
5. Physics and Biophysics Supports Lead into key is resonance with chromophores and water.

Example of Extreme Sensitivity of the Human Body
One of the hallmarks of living systems is that it is exquisitely sensitive to specific weak signals.
Human eyes are capable of detecting a single photon — the tiniest possible speck of light — new research suggests.
The result, published July 19 in Nature Communications, may settle the debate on the ultimate limit of the sensitivity of the human visual system, a puzzle scientists have pondered for decades. Scientists are now anticipating possibilities for using the human eye to test quantum mechanics with single photons.
Picture
The Incoming photon results in a nervous system impulse coming out the opposite side of rod and cone cells, the energy of which is AT LEAST a million times that contained in the original photon!!
This is one of the best examples for showing that you DO NOT need high intensity inputs because the body has amazing non-localized amplification networks that are to this day not well understood except by unsatisfactory "molecular cascade" reactions, which are no sufficient to explain the speed and rapidity with which the human body can amplify and transmit signals.
One of the hallmarks of living systems is that it is exquisitely sensitive to specific weak signals.
Human eyes are capable of detecting a single photon — the tiniest possible speck of light — new research suggests.
The result, published July 19 in Nature Communications, may settle the debate on the ultimate limit of the sensitivity of the human visual system, a puzzle scientists have pondered for decades. Scientists are now anticipating possibilities for using the human eye to test quantum mechanics with single photons.
Picture
The Incoming photon results in a nervous system impulse coming out the opposite side of rod and cone cells, the energy of which is AT LEAST a million times that contained in the original photon!!
This is one of the best examples for showing that you DO NOT need high intensity inputs because the body has amazing non-localized amplification networks that are to this day not well understood except by unsatisfactory "molecular cascade" reactions, which are no sufficient to explain the speed and rapidity with which the human body can amplify and transmit signals.

The Hormesis Effect and Dose Response (upside down U)
Hormesis is a term used by toxicologists to refer to a biphasic dose response to an environmental agent characterized by a low dose stimulation or beneficial effect and a high dose inhibitory or toxic effect.
This plot below illustrates how hormetic compounds exhibit a characteristic biphasic or “inverted U” dose response curve, rather than an inhibitory effect which decreases linearly or at least continuously, but still remains inhibitory, as the dose becomes more dilute.
LNT model won’t work.
A linear dose response, the so-called LNT or “linear no-threshold” model is assumed in conventional toxicology. You can think of the LNT model along the lines of: if one pill is good, two must be better. If a lower intensity LASER or PEMF device is good, doubling the intensity would be twice as good. But it turns out that MOST of the time across all healing modalities, including in PEMF (and LASER research), hormesis is a better model than LNT, because remember the human body is NOT linear, it is HIGHLY nonlinear, so it should make sense that an LNT would work.
Hormesis is a term used by toxicologists to refer to a biphasic dose response to an environmental agent characterized by a low dose stimulation or beneficial effect and a high dose inhibitory or toxic effect.
This plot below illustrates how hormetic compounds exhibit a characteristic biphasic or “inverted U” dose response curve, rather than an inhibitory effect which decreases linearly or at least continuously, but still remains inhibitory, as the dose becomes more dilute.
LNT model won’t work.
A linear dose response, the so-called LNT or “linear no-threshold” model is assumed in conventional toxicology. You can think of the LNT model along the lines of: if one pill is good, two must be better. If a lower intensity LASER or PEMF device is good, doubling the intensity would be twice as good. But it turns out that MOST of the time across all healing modalities, including in PEMF (and LASER research), hormesis is a better model than LNT, because remember the human body is NOT linear, it is HIGHLY nonlinear, so it should make sense that an LNT would work.
You may remember the fairy tale, where Goldilocks enters the bear family’s house and tries the three bowls of porridge, one was too hot, one too cold while the third was just right and she was happy.
To simplify the Hormesis effect and the biphasic dose response curve for PBM/RLT, refer to this image here. Looking at this curve, you can think of the optimal level of any modality as a goldilocks zone of “just right.” Not enough has no effect, and too much is harmful.
A good example of hormesis is exercise. In the right optimal amount, research has shown that it confers longevity and lengthens our telomeres. In excess, it will hurt us by causing high cortisol levels and generating ROS to deplete our stem cells and cause us to use anaerobic energy production which does not suit our biochemistry long term. Marathon runners are a good case in point of over-exercising and experience accelerated aging as a result.
And exercise is a good example to highlight, because RLT is literally cellular exercise in that it causes the same or similar effects of movement of charges and fluids around the cells, like exercise does.
To simplify the Hormesis effect and the biphasic dose response curve for PBM/RLT, refer to this image here. Looking at this curve, you can think of the optimal level of any modality as a goldilocks zone of “just right.” Not enough has no effect, and too much is harmful.
A good example of hormesis is exercise. In the right optimal amount, research has shown that it confers longevity and lengthens our telomeres. In excess, it will hurt us by causing high cortisol levels and generating ROS to deplete our stem cells and cause us to use anaerobic energy production which does not suit our biochemistry long term. Marathon runners are a good case in point of over-exercising and experience accelerated aging as a result.
And exercise is a good example to highlight, because RLT is literally cellular exercise in that it causes the same or similar effects of movement of charges and fluids around the cells, like exercise does.
One important point that has been demonstrated by multiple studies in cell culture [1], animal models [2] and in clinical studies is the concept of a biphasic dose response when the outcome is compared with the total delivered light energy density (fluence). It has been found that there exists an optimal dose of light for any particular application, and doses lower than this optimum value, or more significantly, larger than the optimum value will have a diminished therapeutic outcome, or for high doses of light a negative outcome may even result. Evidence suggests that both energy density and power density are key biological parameters for the effectiveness of laser therapy, and they may both operate with thresholds (i.e., a lower and an upper threshold for both parameters between which laser therapy is effective, and outside of which laser therapy is too weak to have any effect or so intense that the tissue is inhibited) [3].
The reason why the technique is termed LOW-level is that the optimum levels of energy density delivered are low when compared to other forms of laser therapy as practiced for ablation, cutting, and thermally coagulating tissue. In general, the power densities used for LLLT are lower than those needed to produce heating of tissue, i.e., less than 100 mW/cm2, depending on wavelength and tissue type.
[1] A.N. Pereira, P. Eduardo Cde, E. Matson and M.M. Marques, Effect of low-power laser irradiation on cell growth and procollagen synthesis of cultured fibroblasts, Lasers Surg Med 31 (2002) 263-7.
[2] J.S. Kana, G. Hutschenreiter, D. Haina and W. Waidelich, Effect of low-power density laser radiation on healing of open skin wounds in rats, Arch Surg 116 (1981) 293-6.
[3] A.P. Sommer, A.L. Pinheiro, A.R. Mester, R.P. Franke and H.T. Whelan, Biostimulatory windows in low-intensity laser activation: lasers, scanners, and NASA's light-emitting diode array system, J Clin Laser Med Surg 19 (2001) 29-33.
The reason why the technique is termed LOW-level is that the optimum levels of energy density delivered are low when compared to other forms of laser therapy as practiced for ablation, cutting, and thermally coagulating tissue. In general, the power densities used for LLLT are lower than those needed to produce heating of tissue, i.e., less than 100 mW/cm2, depending on wavelength and tissue type.
[1] A.N. Pereira, P. Eduardo Cde, E. Matson and M.M. Marques, Effect of low-power laser irradiation on cell growth and procollagen synthesis of cultured fibroblasts, Lasers Surg Med 31 (2002) 263-7.
[2] J.S. Kana, G. Hutschenreiter, D. Haina and W. Waidelich, Effect of low-power density laser radiation on healing of open skin wounds in rats, Arch Surg 116 (1981) 293-6.
[3] A.P. Sommer, A.L. Pinheiro, A.R. Mester, R.P. Franke and H.T. Whelan, Biostimulatory windows in low-intensity laser activation: lasers, scanners, and NASA's light-emitting diode array system, J Clin Laser Med Surg 19 (2001) 29-33.
Cytochrome C Optics
This article reviews the current knowledge in photobiology and photomedicine about the influence of monochromatic, quasimonochromatic, and broad-band radiation of red-to-near infrared (IR-A) part on solar spectrum upon mammalian cells and human skin.
The role of cytochrome c oxidase as the photoacceptor and photosignal transducer is underlined and its photosensitivity at certain circumstances is discussed. The role of ATP as a critical signaling molecule is discussed
https://iubmb.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/iub.359
Karu TI, Pyatibrat LV, Kalendo GS, Esenaliev RO. Effects of monochromatic low-intensity light and laser irradiation on adhesion of HeLa cells in vitro. Lasers Surg Med. 1996;18(2):171-7
This article reviews the current knowledge in photobiology and photomedicine about the influence of monochromatic, quasimonochromatic, and broad-band radiation of red-to-near infrared (IR-A) part on solar spectrum upon mammalian cells and human skin.
The role of cytochrome c oxidase as the photoacceptor and photosignal transducer is underlined and its photosensitivity at certain circumstances is discussed. The role of ATP as a critical signaling molecule is discussed
https://iubmb.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/iub.359
Karu TI, Pyatibrat LV, Kalendo GS, Esenaliev RO. Effects of monochromatic low-intensity light and laser irradiation on adhesion of HeLa cells in vitro. Lasers Surg Med. 1996;18(2):171-7
HoursM-F: 10am - 10pm
Sat: 10am - 6pm |
Telephone1-941-928-0124
|
|