Red Light Therapy, does it work?

Red Light also known as Photonic Therapy is a safe, natural, non-invasive way to promote healing and control pain. This therapy has been proven to help animals as well as people. Our product emits a specialized 660nm red light which can be applied directly to the skin. This technology has been studied for over 40 years and produces fast relief and healing with minimal, if any, side effects.

Red and near-infrared light can penetrate tissue because they are not blocked by blood or water as much as other wavelengths. This wavelength is used in medical settings for burn treatment, wound healing, joint and muscle pain, sports injuries, etc., but the machines made available to medical professionals are considered to be cost prohibitive for the average person. Over the past several years, new technology allowed improved battery efficiency, increased voltages, and more light output to be packaged into a small affordable device.

Photonic therapy works because the body’s tissue can absorb this type of light at a cellular level, converting it to cellular energy (known as ATP). Many studies have shown that this energy accelerates activity in the mitochondria (the part of the cell that generates protein, collagen, and healing materials) as well as improving blood flow in the area being treated, speeding healing and minimizing pain.

The brain receives signals to release endorphins (natural pain killers) and serotonin into the body. This chain reaction:

Reduces pain and swelling
Increases lymphatic activity
Strengthens the immune system
Accelerates cell regeneration
Increases circulation
Relaxes muscles
Increases anti-viral properties
Encourages collagen production
Regulates serotonin levels
Acute/Chronic Injuries
Arthritis/Joint Pain
Back Pain
Behaviors: fear, aggression, anxiety, depression
Colic/digestion issues
Cough/Colds
Circulation
Edema
Viral infections
Muscle Strains & Soreness
Tendon/Ligament Injuries
Cuts and Open Wounds
Shock
Immune System Disorders
Scars

Please note - Research has shown no ill side effects from this type of therapy. There may be a feeling of relaxation, light warmth, skin tingling at the point of contact, and a sense of well-being. Dark skin may require slightly longer treatment times, since melanin blocks more of the light than with light skin.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.

History

The use of light as a therapy has been known and used for thousands of years. Wavelength dependent photo-biochemical reactions occur throughout nature and are involved in such things as vision, photosynthesis, tanning and Vitamin D metabolism. Red light emitting diodes (LEDs) are convenient sources of intense light at wavelengths that stimulate specific physiological functions.

Dr. Brian McLaren, a clinical scientist and veterinary surgeon, is considered to be one of the highest qualified veterinary acupuncturists in Australia with postgraduate qualifications in veterinary and human acupuncture. Dr. McLaren began researching light therapy in the early 1990’s and first published his research on red light therapy in 1996. Today, most methods using a hand-held red light therapy device are based on his work.

Scientists and physicians have continued the study and use of light based therapy for many practical applications, including expedited wound healing in zero gravity environments for astronauts. Harry Whelan, MD, Professor of Neurology, Pediatrics & Hyperbaric Medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin, was inducted into the NASA Space Technology Hall of Fame for his work into the recuperative powers of LED technology and its effects on cellular activity.

Light-emitting diodes (LED) originally developed for NASA plant growth experiments in space, showed promise for delivering light deep into tissues of the body to promote wound healing and human tissue growth. The military has also been seeing dramatically faster healing of wounds and musculoskeletal injuries of personnel in both submarine and battlefield settings with the use of LED light stimulation. According to the study “Effect of NASA Light-Emitting Diode Irradiation on Wound Healing” LED produced improvement of greater than 40% in musculoskeletal training injuries in Navy SEAL team members, and decreased wound healing time in crew members aboard a U.S. Naval submarine.

Safety

At this time, research has shown no side effects from this form of therapy, other than an occasional increase in discomfort for a short period of time after treating chronic conditions. This occurs as the body re-establishes new equilibrium points following treatment.