Alternative therapies have continued to rise in demand over the last few years. From cold plunges to acupuncture, we’re all looking for alternative ways to stay healthy and boost our longevity. Red light therapy has become a wellness staple for many, with biohacker, health consultant and New York Times bestselling author Ben Greenfield taking to Instagram to share his appreciation for this therapy, and how it’s uniquely beneficial for longevity.
What is red light therapy?
As implied by the name, red light therapy involves low-power red light wavelengths being painlessly emitted directly through the skin. These wavelengths are the same as those emitted by the sun and once absorbed by the skin, and soaked up by the cell mitochondria, it triggers a reaction that can improve health and longevity.
Longevity Benefits of Red Light Therapy
“Red and infrared wavelengths of sunlight and possess the ability to boost mitochondrial function…Improved mitochondrial function, which impacts virtually all cellular metabolic activity, has been widely demonstrated to improve health in a whole host of ways.” – Ben Greenfield
1. Muscle Recovery
If you’re a fitness fiend, you may want to include red light therapy as part of your recovery as it increases blood flow/circulation, thereby helping bring more oxygen and nutrients to your muscles. Greenfield adds that the cells and tissues red light encourages your cells to make energy on high octane, resulting in you performing at your peak.
2. Anti-inflammatory effect
Inflammation is good for the body, but too much of a good thing can soon mean the opposite,
bengreenfieldfitness/instagram
“Inflammation is natural and necessary, but you must process and deal with it, or it can become chronic and painful,” explains Greenfield, who adds that when sore or fatigued, red light therapy sessions have helped him control the inflammation and start the healing process efficiently.
Additionally, in helping to control inflammation and increase circulation, red light therapy has been found to help manage a number of inflammatory conditions that include osteoarthritis, psoriasis, and tendinitis.
3. Skincare benefits
“Red light is great for your skin for the same reason it’s great for muscles – it boosts ATP energy production in the cells and helps clear out the body’s inflammation.”
Results from a 2023 study published in Skin Research and Technology demonstrated the efficacy of red light therapy in significantly decreasing the depth of crow’s feet wrinkles, sagging of the facial oval, roughness, sebum levels, and pore size. The researchers also observed a significant increase in skin density, elasticity, and firmness, concluding the following:
“From the very first sessions, whatever the age of the person, the visible effects of reversing the signs of aging are not only observable but also measurable.”
4. Wound healing
If you’re dealing with a wound, one 2022 study revealed that red light therapy may accelerate wound healing.
5. Mental health
For those struggling with anxiety, a 2019 study suggested that red light may help improve anxiety symptoms in people with generalized anxiety disorder.
6. Alzheimer’s disease
Over 50 million people worldwide are currently living with Alzheimer’s disease, but red light therapy may help curb these numbers.
Formaldehyde is a neurotoxin that can affect memory loss, yet a 2019 study suggested that red light therapy may break down formaldehyde concentrations, potentially improving cognitive function in adults with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease.
7. Heart health
Heart disease continues to be the leading cause of death worldwide, so a group of researchers set out to investigate whether intervention in middle age could enable people to avoid further age-related heart deterioration.
Focusing on heart condition and function in middle-aged mice (14 months of age), the researchers exposed the mice to infrared light.
The findings, published in Lasers in Surgery and Medicine, suggest that light therapy may be effective at slowing cardiovascular aging.
Red light therapy – the ultimate longevity hack?
Unfortunately, despite the aforementioned benefits, more studies need to be conducted before we can proclaim red light therapy as the ultimate hack for better health and longevity.
Yes, it appears to be safe and isn’t associated with any side effects. However, peer-reviewed research evidence supporting red light therapy’s benefits is still limited, so if you are going to try red light therapy, make sure to manage your expectations about the results.
Want to know more?
If you’re interested in alternative therapies, why not look at Reiki healing? An ancient Japanese energy practice, it’s time for us to stop seeing Reiki as merely a wellness trend, but as a deep healing practice for longevity.
References
@bengreenfieldfitness (2024). Instagram. Available at: https://www.instagram.com/bengreenfieldfitness (Accessed: 04 November 2024)
Couturaud, V., Fur, M. L., Pelletier, M., & Granotier, F. (2023). Reverse skin aging signs by red light photobiomodulation. Skin Research and Technology, 29(7), e13391. https://doi.org/10.1111/srt.13391
Giannakopoulos E, Katopodi A, Rallis M, Politopoulos K, Alexandratou E. The effects of low power laser light at 661 nm on wound healing in a scratch assay fibroblast model. Lasers Med Sci. 2022 Dec 27;38(1):27. doi: 10.1007/s10103-022-03670-5. PMID: 36574084; PMCID: PMC9794538.
Maiello, M., Losiewicz, O. M., Bui, E., Spera, V., et al. (2019). Transcranial Photobiomodulation with Near-Infrared Light for Generalized Anxiety Disorder: A Pilot Study. Photobiomodulation, photomedicine, and laser surgery, 37(10), 644–650. https://doi.org/10.1089/photob.2019.4677
Syed, S. B., Ahmet, I., Chakir, K., Morrell, C. H., et al. (2023). Photobiomodulation therapy mitigates cardiovascular aging and improves survival. Lasers in Surgery and Medicine, 55(3), 278-293. https://doi.org/10.1002/lsm.23644
Tripodi N, Feehan J, Husaric M, Sidiroglou F, Apostolopoulos V. The effect of low-level red and near-infrared photobiomodulation on pain and function in tendinopathy: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized control trials. BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2021 Aug 14;13(1):91. doi: 10.1186/s13102-021-00306-z. PMID: 34391447; PMCID: PMC8364035.
Zhang P, Wu MX. A clinical review of phototherapy for psoriasis. Lasers Med Sci. 2018 Jan;33(1):173-180. doi: 10.1007/s10103-017-2360-1. Epub 2017 Oct 24. PMID: 29067616; PMCID: PMC5756569.
Zhang, J., Yue, X., Luo, H., Jiang, W., et al. (2019). Illumination with 630 nm Red Light Reduces Oxidative Stress and Restores Memory by Photo-Activating Catalase and Formaldehyde Dehydrogenase in SAMP8 Mice. Antioxidants & redox signaling, 30(11), 1432–1449. https://doi.org/10.1089/ars.2018.7520
Zhang R, Qu J. The Mechanisms and Efficacy of Photobiomodulation Therapy for Arthritis: A Comprehensive Review. Int J Mol Sci. 2023 Sep 19;24(18):14293. doi: 10.3390/ijms241814293. PMID: 37762594; PMCID: PMC10531845.
