Red Light and Infrared Therapies for Physical Healing. Part 3: Conditions and Issues it Can Help With
Scientifically Backed Applications
In Part 1,
we covered my personal trials of red light therapy, and the benefits I have seen, including for hair regrowth, wound healing, anti-fungal and anti-allergy.
In Part 2,
we looked at the research behind how red light therapy works, and why it is so dose dependent: easy to overdo it, a little is good, but too much can be detrimental.
In this third part, we consider more health and wellness applications which have some research and science behind them.
The Applications
First, let us consider the science journal article “Mechanisms and applications of the anti-inflammatory effects of photobiomodulation*”, which reviews the research behind several applications. This is a very rich source of information, so I made some abridged notes from the article below.
*According to the authors, photobiomodulation (PBM) also known as low-level level laser therapy is the use of red and near-infrared light to stimulate healing, relieve pain, and reduce inflammation.
WOUND HEALING
Many papers have demonstrated the efficacy in stimulating wound healing [see Part 1 for my personal experience with this]. Clinical trials concerned with chronic non-healing wounds such as diabetic ulcers.
MUSCLES
One of the most robust application is its effects on muscles, can potentiate muscular performance especially when applied to the muscles 3 hours before exercise, can also make exercise-training regimens more effective, can also help to heal muscle injuries, not to mention reducing muscle pain and soreness after excessive exercise. Clinical results: increased the maximal load in exercise and reduced fatigue, decreased inflammatory markers and muscle atrophy. Protein synthesis and oxidative stress defence were increased.
PSORIASIS
Clinical results: clearance rates at the end of the follow-up period ranged from 60% to 100%. Satisfaction was universally very high.
ARTHIRITIS
Clinical results: both Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis have been successfully treated, good evidence for its effectiveness in RA, and some evidence in the case of OA. Most clinical studies have used pain scales and range of movement scores to test the effectiveness, rather than measures of inflammation which are difficult to carry out in human subjects.
HAIR LOSS
Clinical results: excellent treatment for hair loss in general. Regrowth of vellus hairs was achieved on more than 50% of the involved areas.
INFLAMMATORY PAIN
There have been many studies that have looked at the effects on pain in animals.
AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES
Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is the most commonly studied animal model of multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic autoimmune demyelinating disorder of the central nervous. Applications to animals show potential benefits.
ASTHMA
A study on animals concluded that the reduced lung inflammation and the positive effects on the airways were due to increased secretion of an anti-inflammatory cytokine, and reduction of mucus in the airway.
ABDOMINAL FAT
Experimental application to mice for obesity and type 2 diabetes showed significantly lower blood glucose levels 24 hours after the last session.
TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY
Use as a treatment for traumatic brain injury and other brain disorders including stroke, neurodegenerative diseases and even psychiatric disorders has increased markedly. It is thought that the actions of NIR light shone on the head and penetrating into the brain are multi-factorial, but one clear effect is the anti-inflammatory action of transcranial application. This was shown by a series of mouse experiments.
SPINAL CORD INJURY
Spinal cord injury is another promising area of central nervous system injury that could be benefited.
TENDON ISSUES
Clinical results: inflammatory marker concentrations significantly reduced, the pressure pain threshold increased significantly.
THYROID ISSUES
Clinical results: patients required a lower dosage of levothyroxin. In addition to improved thyroid function, reduced autoimmunity evidenced by lower thyroid peroxidase and thyroglobulin antibodies. Improved normal vascualrization in the thyroid parenchyma. Statistically significant increase in serum anti-imflammatory marker levels 30 days post-intervention. Safe in the long term and demonstrated lasting benefits.
DIABETES
Diabetes is mentioned above, and the review article “The Hypoglycemic Effect of Intravenous Laser Therapy in Diabetic Mellitus Type 2 Patients; A Systematic Review and Meta-analyses” looks further into this, and concludes:
“a safe and effective therapeutic modality for decreasing blood sugar level in diabetic type 2 patient”.
The article “Anodyne Therapy and Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy” suggests red light therapy also has secondary benefits for folks with diabetes, in terms of reducing pain and ulcers associated with the condition:
“We have treated over 400 patients with [Monochromatic infrared energy (MIRE)] and all but a handful have shown improvement in their symptoms including significantly reduced pain, improved sensation and improved balance. We have also used it on chronic diabetic ulcers with good success. It has been rewarding to see these patients improve and get their lives back to normal.”
COSMETIC: SKIN FEEL AND APPEARANCE
A clinical trial was reported on in the article “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”. According to the authors:
“…the data collected at baseline and after 30 sessions included blinded evaluations of clinical photography, ultrasonographic collagen density measurements, computerized digital profilometry, and an assessment of patient satisfaction; the treated subjects experienced significantly improved skin complexion and skin feeling, profilometrically assessed skin roughness, and ultrasonographically measured collagen density; the blinded clinical evaluation of photographs confirmed significant improvement in the intervention groups compared with the control,”
Interestingly, some of the participants were subjected red light only, while others were subjected to polychromatic light, including the red component, and they found very little difference between the two. This indicates it is indeed the red component of light which is having the main effect.
FASCIA AND COLLAGEN
Interestingly, the above article on skin cosmetic effects suggests that it has an effect on collagen. This is also mentioned in the blog post “What Is Red Light Therapy?”:
“red light therapy at certain wavelengths is thought to stimulate the productions of collagen and elastin fibers, as well as the creation of new capillaries; a greater number of capillaries within the skin will improve blood flow to the skin tissues and therefore the transportation of oxygen and nutrients to the cells, while the extra collagen and elastin will smooth and plump-out the skin”.
This action on collagen and elastin points to red light also having therapeutic application for all important fascia (connective tissue) health. See my article
for background information on fascia.
Indeed, according to Cleveland Clinic page on red light therapy
“… may work in skin health to stimulate collagen production, which gives skin its structure, strength and elasticity [and] increase fibroblast production, which makes collagen”,
The fibroblasts are the cells responsible re-writing the collagen weave of the fascia, including removing scar tissue and adhesions when properly stimulated.
NEURODEGENERATION: PARKINSON’S AND ALZHEIMER’S
There are currently a number of informal and citizen science trials of applying red light to the head and skull, using specially designed devices like the Neuronic one.
According to Neuronic:
“PBM directed to the brain is rapidly gaining interest among neuroscience researchers and the public for safe, reliable, noninvasive means of enhancing brain health and optimizing performance. Research has shown it helpful in treating Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease, COVID-related brain fog, and traumatic brain injury. Stimulates cellular growth and regeneration; increase cellular energy, survival and lifespan; improve brain blood flow and oxygenation; decreases oxidative stress and inflammation; protect brain cells against future; enhances whole brain network efficiency.”
CANDIDA
Red light has known anti-fungal effects. One application is for killing off candida infections. However, the effects on candida may be one reason why some folks are highly sensitive to red light, and can only tolerate it in very small amounts at first, because too much kills the candida off too quickly. Indeed, even if not applying it for this purpose, the red light therapy may be inadvertently killing off candida infections, which are heavily implicated in many chronic conditions. The rapid die off produces toxic chemicals, notably formaldehyde. This is why slow and steady is important in the application of red light therapy.
As "Dr Axe" says:
“Rapidly killing off candida in your body creates a metabolic reaction that releases over 70 different toxins into your body. Symptoms… include:”
impaired brain function;
headache;
fatigue;
dizziness;
intestinal distress including bloating, gas, constipation and nausea;
sweating and fever;
sinus infection;
skin breakouts (not limited to face);
typical flu-like symptoms.
MEDICAL DIAGNOSTICS
The fascinating TED talk “How we can use light to see deep inside our bodies and brains” discusses how red light has applications in medical diagnostic tools. The video clearly demonstrates that flesh is translucent to red light and shines right through the body. It even shows how it passes right through skull bone, and how blood absorbs the red light.
Types of Red Light Devices
Folks have been asking me for recommendations for specific devices. Unfortunately, apart from the devices I mention that I have tried in Part 1, which are mainly no longer available, or difficult to acquire, I don’t have personal experience of many devices, so cannot recommend anything. However, I did find the blog article “Best At Home Red LED Light Therapy Device Reviews 2023: Facial, Handheld & Full Body Devices” which recommends and reviews various therapeutic red light devices. At the least, it provides a picture of the range and types of devices that are out there.
In our new HOPE-shortcut Member’s Area, you can find a online resource “Gary’s Content”, where I am documenting and sharing all the things like this article, that I have researched, discovered and tried along the way of my own healing journey, in order to help others fast track their way to better health. The Member’s Area is also a way to support myself and my colleague, and fellow substacker,
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Gary - this is an outstanding synthesis of diverse source material. I have a 10-year-old DIY setup which uses a $15 clamp lamp and a $25 incandescent NIR bulb. Pro tip: when folks question me about the benefits of PBM, I reply "it's just sunshine WITHOUT the sunburn!" Reposted to Gab.
I've been using red light for years and find that it helps with pain and increases my feeling of wellbeing tremendously. Another thing that it can really help with is raising testosterone levels. It's easy to use that way and can potentially be much more effective than taking testosterone supplements.
https://mattcook.substack.com/p/raising-testosterone-using-red-light