Light therapy utilizes light to convert it to biochemical energy for healing and wellness, with thermal effects potentially occurring due to interaction of light with cells and tissues.
People use light therapy to treat seasonal affective disorder, neonatal jaundice, psoriasis and mood disorders as well as chronic diseases and circadian rhythm issues.
Light Changes Into Biochemical Energy
Red light therapy works by stimulating mitochondria, organelles found within cells that serve as the power plant and source of energy for their respective cells. Exposure to light initiates chemical reactions known as photophosphorylation that convert electrons in mitochondrial ATP synthase into usable forms; this process provides energy needed for healing skin conditions, blood flow, and cognitive clarity processes within your body.
Scientists believe that light energy serves as an energetic “wake up” signal and we are hardwired to respond. People who regularly utilize light therapy may notice clearer skin, better sleep and faster recovery after exercise or injury as it stimulates existing pathways rather than replacing them.
Red and near-infrared wavelengths between 660-940nm are particularly effective for stimulating mitochondria, reaching deeper into tissues than other wavelengths and targeting energy molecules like cytochrome c oxidase that initiate the electron transport chain of mitochondria and drive production of ATP, the currency of cells.
As your ATP levels increase, so does your cells’ ability to function more efficiently, leading to many people using red light therapy for fatigue and brain fog reporting stronger energy, reduced midday crashes and faster post workout recovery times. Results typically take three or four weeks as cell changes occur gradually over time.
Light therapy has been shown to not only reset your circadian rhythm – which determines when you feel tired and alert – but it has also proven helpful for depression by alleviating symptoms like fatigue and hopelessness as well as improving overall quality of life. If these are something you are experiencing, speak to your physician or therapist about including light therapy as part of their treatment plan.
Your doctor may suggest trying various light therapies until you find one that meets your unique needs, such as higher or lower wavelength, longer or shorter treatment times, or devices with different LED spacing to determine which works best.
Light Changes Into Thermal Energy
Light therapy is often employed to treat insomnia and seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Bright light in the morning helps realign your internal clock – your circadian rhythm governs when you feel tired, want to wake up, and need sustenance; those suffering from these disorders have abnormal circadian rhythms which do not correspond with sun’s daily cycles; bright light therapy can reset this clock and improve mood, energy levels, and sleep quality for many with sleep issues.
Light therapy requires sitting in front of a light box or visor producing bright lighting for an established amount of time each day, set by your doctor to mimic natural sunlight without its harmful UV rays. Most patients opt for devices emitting full spectrum lighting at 10,000 lux, and sit between 16-24 inches away from it; treatment sessions may range anywhere from 20 minutes to two hours daily, depending on symptoms and the device being used.
As light enters your eyes, it strikes retinal cells responsible for regulating brain melatonin and serotonin production, changing its chemistry to make you more alert while slowing nighttime production of melatonin – both essential elements to good restful sleep.
Light therapy involves shining light directly into the eye to cause chemical changes in your brain that will help improve quality sleep. Most people can start experiencing benefits within days after beginning light therapy while for others it may take weeks before their quality sleep improves.
If you experience side effects from light therapy such as headache, eyestrain, nausea or agitation, speak to your physician. In many cases you can reduce or eliminate such side effects by altering both duration and product used in light therapy treatments.
Light therapy has been found to be safe and effective for most patients; however, in rare instances it may cause some unpleasant or dangerous side effects.
Light Changes Into Electromagnetic Energy
Light therapy (phototherapy), also known as photobiomodulation, involves sitting for an allotted period each day under bright lights that emulate natural sunlight for an agreed upon amount of time. This practice can be used to treat circadian rhythm sleep disorders, depression and fatigue; mood swings related to bipolar disorder; skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema as well as jaundice in newborns – it may even help alleviate it! Phototherapy sessions can take place either at home or under medical guidance.
Light therapy uses light to stimulate retinal cells in your eyes to send signals to the brain that will stop production of melatonin, the hormone that controls your sleep-wake cycle and allows you to fall asleep more easily while awakening more frequently during the night. For best results, light therapy should be practiced daily in the morning – many experience improvement within days while some need several weeks until seeing noticeable benefits.
Before beginning light therapy, if you are taking medications that interfere with the natural rhythms of your body, such as antidepressants and blood pressure medication, consult with your physician first. Also be sure to inform them if there are any conditions which could be affected by its brightness, such as eye disease.
Though light therapy is generally safe, it may cause side effects such as eye strain, headache or nausea. If these occur it’s wise to reduce time spent under the light source or switch out for another type of lighting system.
Circadian rhythm sleep disorders (CRSDs) are a group of conditions that alter the regular timing of your sleep-wake cycles, whether caused by genetics or external influences (like working an overnight shift). Light therapy may be used to address insomnia caused by these disorders as well as jet lag and seasonal affective disorder.
Light therapy can also be an effective means of treating dementia. Researchers discovered that providing natural light indoors improved sleep and reduced agitation. Another type of light therapy, used to treat cutaneous T cell lymphoma – an aggressive cancer which manifests itself by way of sores on the skin – uses narrow-band UVB or PUVA light waves to kill cancerous cells and kill them off more quickly.
Light Changes Into Magnetic Energy
Light therapy is an easy and cost-effective treatment you can do at home to help with sleep or wakefulness, boost energy levels and decrease fatigue and stress levels. Before engaging in light therapy it is advisable to speak to your physician as they will advise which light to use as well as how long each session should last.
Light can have an enormous effect on how our bodies produce certain chemicals that regulate our sleep-wake cycle, helping those suffering from circadian rhythm sleep disorders like insomnia or delayed sleep phase syndrome (DSPS) to feel more rested. Light therapy may also help with depression symptoms like fatigue, trouble sleeping and feelings of sadness or hopelessness as well as helping those dealing with fibromyalgia (a painful condition causing stiffness and swelling of joints and muscles) feel less pained by its symptoms.
Studies have demonstrated the ability of low-frequency magnetic fields (LFMFs) and red LED lighting to stimulate cell regeneration. Researchers investigated this correlation by measuring their effects on the levels of collagen IV secreted by human keratinocytes from HaCaT cell line. Both treatments significantly increased this amount, with even stronger effects occurring when coupled with each other.
Rajiv Gupta, director of the Ultra-High Resolution Volume CT Lab at MGH’s Wellman Center for Photomedicine and an associate professor of neuroradiology at Harvard Medical School; Benjamin Vakoc, biomedical engineer and applied physicist from Wellman Center; conducted their study using custom helmet which utilized low frequency magnetic field (LFMF) therapy with near infrared LED lighting for brain injury recovery.
The study was released in JAMA Network Open September 14, with researchers believing light therapy may be one of the first treatments to demonstrate measurable gains for patients suffering mild TBIs. They intend to evaluate other potential therapies like near-infrared LED and LFMF lights further during other clinical trials.
