Red Light Therapy(Photobiomodulation): Legitimate Medicine?

Light Therapy: Legitimate Medicine or Not?

NASA had that same question in the early 1990s and got to work. After finding that red light therapy activated natural plant growth in space, they started researching medical applications for people. NASA’s findings demonstrated health benefits from specific wavelengths of red light delivered through light emitting diodes (LEDs). 

The medical science community took notice and over the last 3 decades, there’s been extensive clinical research on the various medical applications of red light therapy. The results are extremely encouraging for people seeking natural, non-invasive treatments for a wide range of medical conditions. 

Here’s the short answer: yes, light therapy definitely works, and it’s backed by a wealth of published research. 

How Does Red Light Therapy Work?

Natural red light powers your cells. A light therapy device like a Joovv delivers red & near infrared wavelengths directly to your body with medical-grade LEDs. These photons of natural, therapeutic light produce a chemical reaction in the mitochondria of your cells that boosts energy production and regeneration. The two primary effects are:

More ATP Energy: Light therapy reduces oxidative stress and increases adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production. ATP, produced through cellular respiration, is a crucial molecule required by all living things to make usable energy for your body. It’s often called “the energy currency of life.” This article goes deeper into the science of light therapy and ATP production.

Enhanced Cell Signaling: Specific wavelengths of light help to create a better oxidative environment in your cells. This results in the activation of numerous intracellular signaling pathways, increased protein synthesis, enzyme activation, and enhanced cell cycle progression. 

What does red light therapy actually do? A good way to explain it is comparing light to food. Just like whole food can be broken down into different vitamins and minerals, sunlight can be broken down into different colors. And just like the nutrients in whole food, each color in sunlight has its own effect on our bodies.