It's common to describe cancer as something you battle, because dealing with the disease feels truly like something you have to conquer. It's a moment in life that forever changes you and the lives around you. Apart from physical health, cancer affects your mental health equally. It brings in a wide range of emotions and feelings that a person has probably never had to deal with until that moment. Up until the condition, people deal with hardships, but not like this.
While getting used to intense medical treatments and significant lifestyle changes, these situational adjustments all fall heavy on the shoulders of those who are sick.
Luckily beating the beast is possible. Fighting off and beating cancer can be done.
The most common treatment and way of going against cancer is through chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is a form of therapy that works throughout the whole body, targeting the cells that divide equally fast during cancer. Certain chemotherapy drugs could lead to the damage of cells in your heart. Chemotherapy can also increase your odds of getting heart problems, such as weakening the muscle (cardiomyopathy) and general problems with your cardiac rhythm (arrhythmia).
It takes a long time for the body to heal and regenerate post-treatment, and sometimes an even longer time before people can feel like themselves again. Putting the body back in optimal health is crucial. This may be easier said than done, and maintaining the health of your immune system isn't something to take lightly.
The immune system gets stronger over time, but it has to stay strong; which is the bigger challenge and one that, if failed, struggles to return. It is possible to upkeep the immune system, and many are looking towards non-invasive therapeutic options in this realm. For cancer survivors, many struggle to determine what’s next in their help journey. For many, they are seeking out non-invasive and non-pharmaceutical treatments as they enter remission, which is where light therapy comes in.
The types of light therapy range from aiding in superficial skin problems and hair regrowth, to deeper cellular healing from within. The way that light therapy works is via our powerful cells. It targets and penetrates the cells, rejuvenating and provoking acceleration at the reproduction stage. Higher cell production equates to a faster rejuvenation of cells, which provides the body with stronger and healthier cells overall. The higher the cell count, the healthier the body, since light therapy helps with cellular healing via genetic material and ATP—the powerhouse of our entire system.
Light therapy and cancer may sound completely unrelated; however, you may want to rethink that; in addition to help stimulate healthy cell turnover, light therapy can also be a tremendous aid in sleep disorders. During sleep, our bodies are naturally healing and in the process of regeneration, however, cancer, and cancer treatments and medications, can lead to a very disrupted circadian rhythm.
Together, disturbance of circadian activity in adult or paediatric cancer patients has been associated with greater fatigue, poorer quality of life, impaired immune function, lower responsiveness to chemotherapy, earlier relapse, and higher risk of death than patients with robust (healthy) circadian activity rhythms.
Infrared light therapy has been studied for a while in cancer patients; one study, in particular, indicates that light therapy works on the corrupted genetic material that could kill cancer cells. In the study, circadian rhythms became more synchronized, and quality of life was better within the trial testing of light therapy's effect on cancer.
Light therapy has a multitude of benefits for cancer survivors, providing them a non-invasive, non-pharmaceutical treatment that works at the cellular level. It can repair and maintain health just by improving circadian rhythms that lead to a healthier body and stronger immune system. And this is crucially important since sleep is one of the most important elements in staying strong and healthy post-recovery.
Kayian's light therapy devices are MDASAP-certified and FDA-certified, and are perfect for in-clinic or at-home treatments. We offer you the opportunity to treat yourself, or your patients, by stepping out of the traditional medical options, a place where many often feel powerless. Supplementing light therapy in treatment and recovery has proven to be a life-changing, safe, and powerful modality. Contact our team for more information.
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a treatment that uses a drug, called a photosensitizer or photosensitizing agent, and a particular type of light. When photosensitizers are exposed to a specific wavelength of light, they produce a form of oxygen that kills nearby cells
Each photosensitizer is activated by light of a specific wavelength. This wavelength determines how far the light can travel into the body. Thus, doctors use specific photosensitizers and wavelengths of light to treat different areas of the body with PDT.
In the first step of PDT for cancer treatment, a photosensitizing agent is injected into the bloodstream. The agent is absorbed by cells worldwide but stays in cancer cells longer than it does in normal cells. Approximately 24 to 72 hours after injection, when most of the agent has left normal cells but remains in cancer cells, the tumor is exposed to light. The photosensitizer in the tumor absorbs the light and produces an active form of oxygen that destroys nearby cancer cells.
In addition to directly killing cancer cells, PDT appears to shrink or destroy tumors in two other ways. The photosensitizer can damage blood vessels in the tumor, thereby preventing cancer from receiving necessary nutrients. PDT also may activate the immune system to attack the tumor cells.
The light used for PDT can come from a laser or other sources. Laser light can be directed through fiber optic cables (thin fibers that transmit light) to deliver light to areas inside the body. For example, a fiber optic cable can be inserted through an endoscope (a thin, lighted tube used to look at tissues inside the body) into the lungs or esophagus to treat cancer in these organs. Other light sources include light-emitting diodes (LEDs), which may be used for surface tumors, such as skin cancer.
PDT is usually performed as an outpatient procedure. PDT may also be repeated and used with other therapies, such as surgery, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy.
Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) is a type of PDT in which a machine is used to collect the patient’s blood cells, treat them outside the body with a photosensitizing agent, expose them to light, and then return them to the patient. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved ECP to help lessen the severity of skin symptoms of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma that has not responded to other therapies. Studies are underway to determine if ECP may have some application for other blood cancers and help reduce rejection after transplants.
To date, the FDA has approved the photosensitizing agent called porfimer sodium, or Photofrin®, for use in PDT to treat or relieve the symptoms of esophageal cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. Porfimer sodium is approved to relieve esophageal cancer symptoms when cancer obstructs the esophagus or when cancer cannot be satisfactorily treated with laser therapy alone. Porfimer sodium is used to treat non-small cell lung cancer in patients for whom the usual treatments are not appropriate and relieve symptoms in patients with non-small cell lung cancer that obstruct the airways. In 2003, the FDA approved porfimer sodium to treat precancerous lesions in patients with Barrett esophagus, a condition that can lead to esophageal cancer.
The light needed to activate most photosensitizers cannot pass through more than about one-third of an inch of tissue. For this reason, PDT is usually used to treat tumors on or just under the skin or on the lining of internal organs or cavities. PDT is also less effective in treating large tumors because the light cannot pass far into these tumors. PDT is a local treatment and generally cannot treat cancer that has spread.
Porfimer sodium makes the skin and eyes sensitive to light for approximately 6 weeks after treatment. Thus, patients are advised to avoid direct sunlight and bright indoor light for at least 6 weeks.
Photosensitizers tend to build up in tumors, and the activating light is focused on the tumor. As a result, damage to healthy tissue is minimal. However, PDT can cause burns, swelling, pain, and scarring in nearby healthy tissue. Other side effects of PDT are related to the area that is treated. They can include coughing, trouble swallowing, stomach pain, painful breathing, or shortness of breath; these side effects are usually temporary.
Researchers continue to study ways to improve the effectiveness of PDT and expand it to other cancers. Clinical trials (research studies) are underway to evaluate PDT's use for cancers of the brain, skin, prostate, cervix, and peritoneal cavity (the space in the abdomen that contains the intestines, stomach, and liver). Other research is focused on the development of more powerful photosensitizers, more specifically target cancer cells, and are activated by light that can penetrate tissue and treat deep or large tumors. Researchers are also investigating ways to improve equipment and the activating light's delivery.
Researchers at NCI’s Center for Cancer Research have found that a technique called near-infrared immunotherapy for treating cancer has the potential to kill cancer cells in record time, essentially destroying them with the flick of a light switch. Scientists were not certain of the underlying mechanisms of this approach. Still, they succeeded in elucidating this technique in detail at the cellular and molecular level, gaining insights that could help scientists further boost the novel treatment's effectiveness. The laboratory and mouse findings, by Hisataka Kobayashi, M.D., Ph.D., Senior Investigator in the Molecular Imaging Program, and colleagues appeared November 6, 2018, in ACS Central Science.
Near-infrared immunology is an emerging technique for treating cancer that is already being studied in clinical trials. It involves identifying a protein called an antibody that recognizes and targets a specific type of cancer cell. The antibody is joined to a compound that’s sensitive to light and then administered to a patient. Within the body, the drug seeks out and attaches to only cancer cells, not healthy ones. Next, doctors apply a beam of infrared light to the cancer site, either externally or directly, using a fiber optic needle, which activates the drug and causes them to die. Research by Dr. Kobayashi and his colleagues reveals new details into how this cell death occurs.
To learn more about this phenomenon's molecular mechanisms, they studied the effects of a near-infrared immunotherapy agent called antibody-IR700 on a plate simulating human cancer cells in a petri dish using sophisticated microscopes. The researchers discovered that exposure to near-infrared light causes the immunotherapy agent to change its form from Y-shaped to globular dramatically. When it is embedded in a cancer cell's cell membrane, this warping causes scratches along the cell's protective casing. Once enough scratches occur, liquid bursts through the cell’s membrane, causing the cell to rupture in less than a minute following exposure to the light.
The researchers also studied this technique in a mouse with multiple tumors, applying different light intensity amounts to each tumor. They found that higher light intensity resulted in more cancer cells being eliminated. In mice, they detected the “leftovers” of the immunotherapy agent in the mouse’s urine just hours after near-infrared light was applied to the cancer site — a strong indication that the cancer cells were killed.
Dr. Kobayashi notes that this technique doesn’t just target cancer cells or boost the immune system to attack cancer cells — it does both. “All the cell’s proteins and even its DNA are exposed to the immune system. The immune system will recognize that [the proteins and DNA are] coming from the dying cell, and then the immune system will react only to the dying cancer cells,” he explains.
Near-infrared immunotherapy could be applied to any cancer if the right antibody is identified and used. In this study, the researchers analyzed the near-infrared immunotherapy agent IR-700, which is about to be tested in phase III clinical trials for head and neck cancer.
Although the concept of near-infrared immunotherapy is compelling, understanding why it works is critical for several reasons. Kobayashi explains, “Based on these new insights, we might be able to design a new, superior IR700 that would be improved in many respects, such as activation wavelength, stability, and cytotoxic efficacy.”
Destroying cancer cells without damaging normal cells nor compromising the host immune system is a significant benefit of NIR-PIT. Additionally, NIR-PIT induces ICD; that is, it initiates host immunity against targeted cancer cells. NIR-PIT-treated cancer cells release death signals, including calreticulin, ATP, and HMGB1, which can activate adjacent immature DCs even in tumor beds. These signals promote the maturation of immature DCs, which engulf cancer-specific antigens that are released from the ruptured tumor cell, and these mature DCs prime and educate naive T cells to become cancer-specific CD8+ T cells. Such newly primed cancer-specific CD8+ T cells proliferate and attack other cancer cells, resulting in an amplified host anti-tumor immune response. This consequential process could convert some non-immunogenic tumors into immunogenic tumors by recognizing massively released neo-antigens.
This anti-tumor immune activation occurs first in the treated tumor site. Eventually, it extends to other cancer sites because immune cells migrate throughout the body, resulting in a systemic immune response. Therefore, although NIR-PIT is a local therapy, the effect of NIR-PIT can be systemic and may affect distant metastatic sites. Indeed, some tumor-bearing mice and cancer patients achieve complete remission after a single therapy of cancer-cell-targeted NIR-PIT.
An important feature of host immune activation induced by NIR-PIT is that this therapy simultaneously activates the immune system against multiple antigens released from ruptured cancer cells. Most current targeted immunotherapies, including cancer vaccines or CAR-T therapies, identify a single target molecule to base the therapy. Having multiple clones of anti-tumor T cells, each responding to unique antigen, results in a more comprehensive response to tumors expressing a broad spectrum of cancer-specific neo-antigens.
NIR-PIT has demonstrated a profound immune response in humans. First-in-human Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical trials of NIR-PIT with cetuximab–IR700 targeting EGFR in patients with recurrent and advanced head and neck squamous cell cancer were completed in 2016 and late 2017, respectively. Several complete remissions and multiple significant partial remissions were reported in these studies. The results far exceeded those of pre-clinical models in immune-deficient host xenograft models. Once the models were transferred to syngeneic models, a robust immune response was demonstrated. There is considerable evidence that this same response is seen in humans.
"Metastatic breast cancer can be a devastating diagnosis with high rates of relapse and death, and there are currently no effective therapies,"
Nalinikanth Kotagiri, MD, Ph.D. says.
"Despite newer treatments, many patients still succumb to the disease. Major limitations include acquired resistance to therapies and serious side effects from treatment. Due to the widespread location of breast cancer cells, particularly in the bone marrow, which harbors the tumor cells as well as vital stem cells, the risk of toxicity is even higher with conventional therapies. Therefore, new therapeutic strategies that selectively destroy tumor cells, increase treatment efficacy, prevent relapse and reduce side effects by sparing the healthy stem cells are necessary."
This is why Nalinikanth Kotagiri, MD, Ph.D., assistant professor in the James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy and a cluster hire for the Cincinnati Cancer Center, is hoping to study ways ultraviolet light can activate light-sensitive drugs to treat this invasive breast cancer and provide that light at the end of the tunnel patients yearn for.
Kotagiri has been awarded the Department of Defense Breast Cancer Breakthrough Award—over $600,000 for three years—to try to do just that. His project will focus on light-mediated therapies, which could activate light-sensitive drugs to target only the cancerous cells.
"Therapies such as photodynamic therapy (PDT), involving light and a photosensitizing chemical substance, which used in conjunction with molecular oxygen can cause cell death, offer a high degree of control that is effectively used to manage cancer in early to advanced stages," he says. "It operates on a simple principle where a light-sensitive drug, which is otherwise nontoxic, introduced into certain tissues can cause cell death when activated by light. Despite the promise of PDT, it can't penetrate tissue deeply so its use is limited. Also, current light-sensitive drugs require oxygen to be effective, but many tumors, including breast tumors, have pockets of low oxygen or grow in regions where oxygen is either low or absent, which could prevent effective application of PDT in cancer treatment."
However, Kotagiri says recent work in the lab has led his team to a "two-pronged approach" in addressing these issues.
"We've been using ultraviolet (UV) light from radionuclides (radioactive nuclide or atom), which are already used to image tumors and tissues, and tried to solve oxygen dependence by using metal-based light-sensitive drugs for depth- and oxygen-independent PDT," he says. "By replacing the external light source, such as lasers and lamps, with light from radionuclides as an 'internal' light source, we've been able to better control therapy in the body.
"This could mean more effective therapies with minimal toxicity to vital organs and tissues. Since radionuclides are used in imaging and locating tumors, we can now simultaneously image and treat breast cancer metastasis using the same radionuclide."
Using animal models, researchers in Kotagiri's lab will test whether radionuclide light activation of tumor targeting, light-sensitive drugs will destroy metastatic cancer cells—including those that are resistant to traditional therapies.
"Since how we're killing the cells is not dependent on a certain molecular pathway, the technology could be applicable to treat a wide variety of breast cancers," he adds. "This has the potential to be a common image-guided treatment strategy to treat patients in early as well as advanced stages of the disease, and because of the safety of this treatment strategy, it could be effectively used alongside other treatments, like chemotherapy and immunotherapy, without the risk of additional side effects.
"This could tremendously benefit patients, as it could potentially improve therapeutic outcomes in addition to setting a precedent to tailor other FDA-approved light-sensitive drugs as radionuclide activated therapies, expanding the scope and range of the diseases these drugs currently treat. If proven beneficial, this treatment could be ready for a patient population in 5 to 10 years, since all the materials involved have already been used in humans—this could be an exciting breakthrough."
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04418856
Besides what Kotagiri said, severe fatigue, depression, sleep problems and cognitive impairment are the most commonly reported side effects of cancer treatment. These aversive side effects are hypothesized to be related to the disruption of circadian rhythms associated with cancer and its treatment. Exposure to Bright White Light (BWL) has been found to synchronize the circadian activity rhythms but research with cancer patients has been scarce. Therefore, the proposed randomized control trial (RCT) will test if systematic light exposure (sLE) will minimize overall levels of cancer-related fatigue (CRF), depression, sleep problems and cognitive impairment among breast cancer patients undergoing breast cancer treatment (i.e., surgery, chemotherapy). SLE incorporates the delivery of harmless UV-protected BWL or Dim White Light (DWL - standard comparison in light studies) delivered to patients by using special glasses for 30 minutes each morning, during their treatment.
Learn more about the how to improve your circadian rhythm and light therapy & breast feeding
According to the World Federation of Music Therapy, this term refers to the use of music and / or its elements (sound, rhythm, melody, harmony) with a patient or group of patients, in a process created to facilitate, promote communication , relationships, learning, movement, expression, organization, and other relevant therapeutic goals to meet physical, emotional, mental, social, and cognitive needs.
Music therapy aims to develop potential and / or restore the functions of the individual in such a way that he can achieve a better intra and / or interpersonal integration and consequently a better quality of life through prevention, rehabilitation and treatment.
Learn also more about sound healing and light therapy.
It was the Taipei Medical University that has developed a study that has given the following conclusion: listening to music at home reduces the severity of symptoms, the intensity of pain and the fatigue experienced by patients with breast cancer .
For the study, published in the “European Journal of Cancer Care,” 60 participants listened to music in five 30-minute sessions per week. After 6, 12 and 24 weeks, music therapy reduced the severity of symptoms, as well as the intensity of pain and fatigue. Furthermore, it instantly reduced physical and mental fatigue.
“The use of music can help the physical and psychological well-being of patients,” explained the study’s lead author, Kuei-Ru Chou. He has also recommended that home music interventions be given to breast cancer patients to reduce their negative thoughts associated with the disease.
From Medina Reeds we send a message of support to all patients who suffer from this disease and we invite everyone, patients and non-patients to apply music therapy on a day-to-day basis for all the wonderful benefits that music brings us.
References
Ref.“Hamburg, 1996, Clinical Practice Committee of the World Federation of Music Therapy”. nineteen ninety six.
As humans, we are made of energy and fueled by light. While nutrition and exercise play a role in our well-being and health, light plays a crucial role in us functioning optimally. New and groundbreaking research is unearthing a new understanding of how our cells function and the evidence points to the power of light.
Through technological advancements in science, it’s discovered that our bodies operate similar to a battery. Wavelengths of light give us power, while our overall health determines our ability to receive and maintain the energy from light. And this is where light therapy comes into the equation.
Science has proven that our bodies interact with specific wavelengths that benefit our bodies in various ways.
Red light therapy devices, such as light therapy masks, shine red and near-infrared light onto the skin, stimulating the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) within the mitochondria. By stimulating ATP, damaged cells heal, and new cells are produced faster than normal. But we’ll talk more about that in-depth a little later.
Red light therapy comprises both red light and infrared wavelengths, penetrating through the skin’s layers, right into the cells. Red light wavelengths boost collagen and elastin and improve cell communication. It penetrates superficially and helps aid various skin conditions.
Near-infrared wavelengths stimulate healing, increase mitochondrial function, and improve blood flow and tissue oxygenation. Near-infrared wavelengths penetrate deeply into the body.
At the core of your body’s healing capabilities are the mitochondria. The mitochondria play a vital role in your internal organs and tissue, including the liver, skin, heart, and muscles. It’s in charge of the body’s energy supply via ATP (adenosine triphosphate).
With both working together, they provide energy to our body and maintain the cell cycle and growth. This is why you’ll often hear the mitochondria referred to as the “powerhouse of the cell.”
Here's how the mitochondria is affected by red light:
Interestingly, our body weight is made of 70% water, with 99% of our bodies' molecules also made of water, making it a powerful component in red light therapy treatment.
Research by Prof Gerald Pollock of the University of Washington proved that water adjacent to a cell is structured water, also known as EZ water. This specific water forms a separation of charge, functioning in the body as positive and negative poles - similar to a battery.
While we’ve been talking about red light therapy, what does it actually mean? Typically, “red light therapy” refers to natural light treatments which deliver red and near-infrared wavelengths as natural sunlight using LEDs or cold lasers.
While you may think red light therapy includes all colors of light, it doesn’t. The term doesn’t include blue or white light, and it isn’t equivalent to full-spectrum light. Red light therapy doesn’t rely on heat, differentiating it from other light-based treatments such as infrared saunas and heat therapy.
Red light therapy is also known as RLT, photobiomodulation (PBM), phototherapy, LED therapy, LED light therapy, infrared therapy, low-level laser therapy, or low-level light therapy (LLLT).
As stated before, red light therapy works to heal the entire body and functions on multiple levels.
Red light therapy affects the body in multiple ways, including bodily systems:
Fascia
Fascia is the thin casing of connective tissue that surrounds virtually every organ, muscle, nerve fiber, blood vessel, and bone in place. While it performs as an internal structure for your body, the fascia also contains nerves, making it almost as sensitive as skin.
The fascia may look like a layer of tissue; however, it’s made up of interwoven layers of collagen and elastin fibers. The fascia is overlooked, yet over recent years, it has been the key to understanding how changes in one area of our body affect others. Red light therapy works to improve communication within the fascia network.
Gut-Brain Axis
The gut-brain axis connects the emotional and cognitive centers of the brain with peripheral intestinal functions. Recent research discovered the importance of gut microbiota concerning these interactions.
Red light therapy can positively influence mood and neuropsychological issues by the following:
Immune System
Red and near-infrared light penetrate through the skin into the cells, which results in low-dose metabolic stress that strengthens the cells’ anti-inflammatory and natural defense systems. In turn, the body becomes resilient to infections.
Safe and low exposure to red light therapy improves the body’s response to external viruses and bacteria. Red light therapy can influence the immune response in the following ways:
Circulatory System
Red light therapy is scientifically proven to increase the micro-circulation of blood and support the circulatory system as a whole by stimulating the development of new capillaries which carry oxygen throughout the body.
Proper oxygen supply and flow are essential for the proliferation of cells, protein synthesis, tissue restoration, inflammatory response, and angiogenesis. In addition, circulation is also responsible for waste elimination, specifically degenerated cells.
Nervous System
The nervous system includes the brain, spinal cord, neurons, and neural support cells, which is your body’s command center. It controls your movements, automatic responses, and other body systems such as digestion and breathing.
Red light therapy affects the nervous system in the following ways:
For all forms of nerve damage, red light therapy offers non-pharmaceutical treatment options.
Stem Cells
Red light therapy shows impressive results regarding stem cell growth, maximizing the potential of stem cell implantation for various medical needs. Therefore, red light therapy may show positive results after surgery to stimulate stem cells which repair tissues and organs.
In studies, red light therapy has proven to stimulate mesenchymal stem cells in bone marrow, enhancing their ability to reach the brain. This research shows the possibilities of using red light therapy to heal degenerative conditions, including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease, and dementia.
It’s clear red light therapy provides multilevel treatment to the body, becoming a popular natural and holistic option for both professionals and consumers, but where did it come from?
Light therapy technology isn’t new; it’s been around for decades as NASA experimented with red light therapy during the 1980s and 1990s. Over the past 10-20 years, red light therapy reached a breakthrough in LED lighting technology, allowing the production of safe and affordable clinical and at-home devices.
In 2016, Kaiyan Medical became the first leading manufacturer of red light therapy of affordable FDA-approved and MDASAP-approved light therapy devices.
We mentioned red light therapy being a holistic treatment option, but what does that mean. Holistic medicine is a full-body approach to healthcare. By focusing on the body, mind, and soul, the body receives the full support and care it needs to function optimally.
Principles of Holistic Medicine
Holistic medicine is based on the following principles:
The purpose of treatment is to identify the underlying cause of the disease, rather than treating only the symptoms.
While there are endless benefits the body receives from red light therapy, here are the six main benefits.
Photobiomodulation, in other words, red light therapy, has proven effective against carpal tunnel syndrome, mucositis, neck pain, menstrual cramps, temporomandibular joint pain, and neuropathic pain from amputation. It also significantly reduces the pain of hypersensitivity while improving sensorimotor function.
These improvements come after anti-inflammatory cells populate the injured area, providing long-lasting pain relief. In addition, it’s also been shown to provide effective relief by affecting the following:
Red light therapy has proven to be highly effective in rapidly treating wounds from burns, scars, bedsores, ulcers, surgery incisions, and diabetic neuropathy.
NASA strongly supports this claim as this technology was used in treating wounds. Red and near-infrared light proves effective in all four phases of the wound-healing process:
These processes are regulated by various factors connected via nitric oxide (NO) signaling release, adjusted by light energy.
An issue the body encounters when trying to heal a wound is low oxygen flow, and red light increases the flow of oxygen, speeding up the natural healing process. By reducing inflammation and increasing oxygenation of the wounded area, blood vessels can form, rapidly repairing the area, lessening pain and scarring.
By reducing pain, red light therapy eliminates the reliant on pharmaceutical painkillers during the healing process.
The human body receives energy on the cellular level, maintaining communication between organs and ensuring disease resistance.
A strong immune system works to protect the body from harmful bacteria and viruses at all times. With red light therapy, the body receives a boost of support as it releases nitric oxide and melatonin, two components involved in DNA repair and antimicrobial.
This process is called hormesis. Red and near-infrared wavelengths penetrate through the skin into the cells, causing mild metabolic stress, which stimulates cells to activate their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant response.
With the support of red light therapy, the body is better prepared to fight infections. Numerous studies have proven red light therapy to have the following effects on the immune system:
Inflammation in the body can be acute and topical (short-term, resulting from sprains, infections, and accidents) or chronic and general (long-term, caused by ongoing conditions).
Acute inflammation is a healthy bodily response; however, chronic and general inflammation can negatively impact long-term health.
As of today, the current treatment for inflammation is NSAID or steroid drugs, both having a detrimental effect on the healing process and long-term health. Red light therapy stimulates the body to activate its natural healing mechanism, reducing the health risks of long-term drug use.
Red light therapy decreases the number of inflammatory cells, increases fibroblast proliferation (cells that synthesize collagen and other matrix macromolecules), stimulates angiogenesis (creation of new blood vessels), and activates the body’s anti-inflammatory, antioxidant response.
The following conditions are connected with chronic and acute inflammation, all proving promising results with red light therapy treatment:
Red light therapy is extremely popular in competitive sports and performance. It offers natural and non-pharmaceutical treatment, which applies to many areas of the body.
Aside from the overwhelming benefits on overall health, red light therapy encourages muscles growth and repair by stimulating the production of ATP, which aids in faster recovery and better performance.
Red light therapy used before training prepares and strengthens the body while aiding muscle recovery after training.
Here are the scientifically documented effects of red light therapy:
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a form of depressions, impacting 5% of Americans, specifically during the winter when there’s less natural sunlight. SAD is also known as seasonal depression or winter blues.
Many people treat SAD symptoms via bright white light treatment, mimicking the sun’s light daily. However, researchers recommend natural light treatment, like red light therapy, to help with light deficiency. Over recent years, physicians recommend red light therapy alongside psychotherapy and medication.
While many people are using red light therapy devices for at-home treatment, red light therapy systems are found in many clinical and professional settings:
Skincare Professionals: Red light therapy is a popular skincare treatment among Hollywood celebrities, including Kourtney Kardashian, Julia Roberts, and Emma Stone. Leading skincare professionals like dermatologists and aestheticians use red light therapy to help promote collagen production, reduce wrinkles, and treat skin conditions.
Health Practitioners: Health practitioners from all specialties are incorporating red light therapy into their practice. Dentists use it to reduce inflammation, physicians for mental health conditions, and oncologists for cancer side effects.
Natural Health Experts: Leading voices in the health and wellness industry such as Dr. Sarah Ballantyne, Ben Greenfield, and Dave Asprey strongly support the use of red light therapy. Paleo and Keto health experts like Robb Wolf, Mark Sisson, Luke Story, and Dr. Anthony Gustin also support red light therapy.
Sports Medicine Pros: The National Sports Association of Sports Medicine (NASM) adopted red light therapy to treat sports injuries. Top trainers and doctors, including Dr. Troy Van Biezen and Dr. Ara Suppiah, use red light therapy to heal their athletes.
Elite Pro Athletes: Professional athletes worldwide, including NFL stars like Patrick Peterson, UFC champion Anthony Pettis, and gold medal gymnast Sanne Weavers use red light therapy to enhance performance and quicken recovery.
Fitness & Training: World-renown fitness trainers, including Lacey Stone and Jorge Cruise, use red light therapy to enhance athletic performance and muscle recovery.
Supportive Cancer Care: The Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) recommends the treatment of red light therapy for oral mucositis (OM), a common symptom of cancer treatment.
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