If you have not yet heard of red-light therapy, don’t worry. Most people have not heard of it yet. I had no idea what it was until about two years ago when I attended the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. If you’re not familiar with this show, it is the largest consumer electronics show in the world and is held once a year. I knew the CES would be fascinating, but it really exceeded my expectations. It’s like being able to have a sneak peek into the future. It was mind-blowing with all the cutting-edge technology that’s coming our way fast.
While there, I saw about 12 to 15 different red-light therapy companies who were exhibiting. I had no clue what it was, so I just walked past their booths and did not stop to investigate. This show is so large I don’t think anyone can visit all the different company booths that are in attendance, even if you spend the entire week there, which I pretty much did.
While walking one of the exhibit floors, a gentleman at one of the red-light therapy companies invited me over. They had a huge booth with about a dozen tables filled with convention attendees sitting at them while a red light was pointing toward different parts of their bodies. He was the founder and owner of Just Light and was very gracious with his time. I loved that he was so passionate and knowledgeable about what they were doing.
He invited me to sit with him at one of the tables and asked me if I had any pain or soreness anywhere in my body. I told him I had been walking on the concrete floors of the various convention areas for days and my feet were a bit sore. He had me take off my shoes and then he pointed this device at my feet that looked like a lamp. It had dozens of very small red lights in it. He turned it on, and we started talking. He started telling me the entire story about red-light therapy, how it was invented, and all of the amazingly positive benefits of this technology. I was fascinated by it.
He pulled his iPhone out and started showing me practically endless pictures and testimonial videos of people who have revitalized their lives by using this form of therapy. It was very impressive. It almost seemed like magic. You can hardly feel the light. If anything, it simply gives off a slightly warm feeling to the area of your body being treated.
After about 15 minutes, my red light automatically turned off meaning my session was over. I did not immediately feel any difference with my feet however, later that evening my feet started to feel much better. I was amazed. Of course, I purchased the red light lamp this company was offering. I have used it a lot and have found it to be an excellent go-to device that I use practically every day.
So, what is Red-Light therapy?
Red-light therapy is not new. This particular type of therapy has been around for decades, but it just hasn’t started to become mainstream until recently.
Early research by NASA paved the way for the development and understanding of red light therapy, also known as PBM. Red light therapy has revolutionized solutions for pain management and skin care. It uses clinically determined red and near-infrared lighting.
Red light therapy uses photobiomodulation, which is a low-level laser therapy that delivers red and near-infrared light to areas of your body. By doing this, it helps regenerate (or grow back) cells, restore cell function, and trigger blood flow. Doing this helps to heal and relieve pain.
Red light therapy is thought to work by enhancing the “power plant” in your body’s cells called mitochondria. Healthy mitochondria are essential to good health. When cells have more energy, they can do their work more efficiently, such as repairing skin, boosting new cell growth, enhancing skin rejuvenation, and much more.
What are some of the benefits of Red Light Therapy?
Some of the possible benefits of this technology are:
Muscle and Joint Pain Relief
Increased Blood Circulation
Restoration of Motion to Joints
Nerve Pain Relief and Regeneration
Temporary Relief of Pain Associated with Arthritis
Improvement of Skin Appearance and Texture
Immune System Boost
Increased Energy Levels
Enhancement in Brain Health
Cell Regeneration and Enhanced Tissue Repair
Promote Wound Healing
Reduce Chronic Pain
Is Red Light Therapy Safe?
Red Light Therapy is considered perfectly safe and painless. Treatments may generate a minimal amount of heat to the skin. The red lights are very bright however, many devices and service providers say that it is perfectly fine to use the service without eyewear protection unless desired for comfort. These lights do not tan your skin like the lights in a tanning bed or lamp would.
Today there are dozens of companies offering a wide range of different types of red light devices. The quality and pricing of these devices vary greatly. While I have not done an exhaustive study on the industry, I know the quality and strength of the lights that different companies offer vary widely. Some of the devices are FDA-approved, and some are not.
What are some other options for getting red light therapy?
I love my little red light lamp that I purchased and use it often. It’s so convenient to have it in my home and be able to use it anytime I wish. However, over a year ago I found out about a franchise that had just opened in my area that offers red light therapy. I was eager to check it out. They have a very expensive and high-quality red light therapy bed. It looks somewhat similar to a tanning bed. There is a bottom part you lay on and then you close the top part over you, so you are completely enclosed by the bed and the red lights. The lights are on the bottom, sides, and top of the bed.
They have about 15 different frequency settings you can choose from. These settings use different frequencies as well as light patterns to achieve the results you want. Some of the options you can choose from include mental clarity, stress relief, immunity, energy, relaxation, and more. The attendant simply selects your desired setting on an iPad and leaves the room. You are then free to remove all your clothes if you wish, or leave on whatever you wish, and lay in the bed. The timer is set for 12 minutes and then it turns off automatically. I can tell you it’s a great experience. It’s very peaceful and relaxing.
When I complete my sessions, it does not give me an immediate life-changing feeling, however, it does give me a great sense of calm and well-being. It simply feels good, and it feels like it is helping my body inside and out. I love it and go there regularly for sessions. The staff is top-notch, and they have tons of positive stories of how much this service has helped different people in so many ways.
I’m not the only one who likes this service. I use their app to book my appointments. I used to find it very easy to find a time to get in on any day I wanted. Now, this service has become so popular, that it’s hard to find a free opening on the schedule. Sometimes I must book my appointment 4, 5, or 6 days ahead of time. So obviously a lot of other people are loving this service as well.
A while back I considered getting my own red light therapy bed so I would not have to wait for an appointment. However, I quickly found out that the bed used in the center I go to cost well over $80,000. The reason these are so expensive is due to the quality and power of the lights.
If you are searching for any of the many home-use devices that are widely available on the internet, be sure to check and compare the quality and power of the lights, I bought my bed from iCRYO. Some of the less expensive devices use low-quality and low-power lights, thus their benefits are much, much less. Some people may try these lower-cost devices and be quick to determine that this form of therapy is not effective. The quality of the devices you use is critical to getting the benefits you want. I know people who have purchased some of these home-use devices and love them.
Who else uses red light therapy?
I have seen where some major college and pro sports teams have red light therapy stations set up in their training rooms. A lot of celebrities use this. I know some very wealthy people who have top-quality red light equipment in their homes and swear by them. Many people who have been searching for solutions to some nagging health issues have found that this therapy has helped them when nothing else that they have tried has worked.
Conclusion
There are no downside or negative side effects of red light therapy. There are lots and lots of very positive benefits of this type of therapy. If you’re looking for a potential way to improve various aspects of your life, you owe it to yourself to investigate red light therapy.
