The benefits of Red and Infra-red light therapy devices
- Pete Houchin
- Mar 14, 2023
- 5 min read
Updated: Mar 15, 2023
What I'll be covering:
What is Infra-red light?
The benefits of IR and red light therapy
The hazards of modern living that red/IR light help to reduce
Mitochondria
Best time of day to use.
Why I've chosen my particular device
What is Infra-red light?
Infra-red light is part of the Electromagnetic Radiation Spectrum. This includes everything from visible light, radio waves to X-rays.
Infra means below - so infra-red simply means below red. We can't see it with our naked eyes but we can with specialist cameras.
Some animals such as snakes can see Infra-red light, they detect the heat emitted from the animal they are hunting so they can hunt in the dark.
Key Benefits of IR light and red light therapy devices
Firstly they are relatively cheap, you can use them at home and they are low risk which means you don't need a specialist qualification to be able to use one.
I should add here that there are commercial devices that will require training often used by physiotherapists or similar. These would usually be higher powered devices for targetted therapy on a specific condition or problem area.
You could expect a red light device to last a number of years if you don't bash it around.
This means you can use it daily. Most are also run from LED light sources meaning that their Energy consumption is also relatively low.
The major health benefits.
Studies have shown that exposure to certain frequencies of infrared light can have various benefits to the body. Some of these benefits include:
Pain relief: NIR (Near Infra-red light, meaning closest to visible Red light) light has been shown to reduce pain and inflammation in the body, making it a popular therapy for those with arthritis, muscle strains, and other types of pain.
Improved circulation: MIR and FIR (mid and far infra-red light, closer to Radio wave frequencies) light have been shown to improve circulation by increasing blood flow to the tissues. This can help with a variety of conditions, such as poor circulation in the legs, Raynaud's disease, and diabetic neuropathy.
Skin health: NIR and FIR light have been shown to stimulate collagen production in the skin, which can help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, as well as improve overall skin texture and tone.
Immune system support: Studies have shown that exposure to FIR light can stimulate the immune system, potentially helping to fight off infections and other illnesses.
Mitochondria: These guys are what create Energy for us, thousands of them inhabit each cell of your body. Infra-red light can stimulate them to produce Energy more efficiently. It's thought that many modern diseases have poorly functioning mitochondria as (at the very least) part of the cause. Well performing Mitochondria lead to an overall improved Energy in the body, increased speed of healing and possibly enhanced athletic performance.
The Hazards of modern living
Modern lifestyles are spent significantly indoors meaning we spend very little time outside in natural light.
We stay up too late, get up too late and whether it's through work or choice we are inside for most of the day and see very little natural light.
Interior lighting, unless specifically addressed, contains a significant amount of blue light and an insignificant amount of red light especially with the rise of LED and the phasing out of incandescent light bulbs.
So too our devices such as laptops, computers, mobile phones and tablets etc emit significant blue light and very minimal red
Our eyes aren't designed to cope with this type of light on this scale. They want Sunlight ideally.
However, that's not always practical and it gets dark early in Winter (if you're living far from the Equator)
By having a red/infra-red light device we can "supplement" the types of light that we miss by living a much more indoor lifestyle.
These devices usually operate with a mixture of red light and Near Infra-red light to "mimic" the rising/setting of the Sun (to some extent).
Best time of day to use a red-light device
First thing in the morning (Sunrise) and around Dusk/twilight are considered the best time of day to use general red light therapy.
This is because when the Sun is rising and setting the atmosphere of the Earth filters out (bends) the shorter wavelengths of light. The Bluer colours don't reach us on the ground.
Our pituitary gland is stimulated by light, the pituitary gland releases 9 key hormones that have significant effect over our health.
If we aren't stimulating the pituitary gland effectively through light in our eyes then we are limiting it's ability to produce these hormones. [p.s. bin your sunglasses]
Morning time is the BEST time to do this and red/infra-red are the key forms of light to do this.
In an ideal world we would simply spend more time outdoors at dawn taking a walk in the sunlight. And again at twilight (aiming for roughly 2 hours total per day)
Unfortunately with the cloud cover and frequent rain (don't forget the cold and wind) it's not always so nice to get outside for the desired 20-30 minutes that create the best effects for our health. Having an indoor option could be the difference you're looking for for your health and overall longevity
Why I've chosen EMR-Tek devices
There's lots of things to consider when buying a device.
The frequencies of light that is emitted by the device
Other electromagnetic radiation emitted by the device
Power
Specificty i.e. is it used for a specific area of the body for a particular health condition (which may or may not be a better option, hard to say)
Look for a device that uses more than 1 frequency, usually 2-4 different frequencies as each frequency has different effects on the body. Some are better for skin, others better for gut or blood.
These are usually a 1 or 2 red frequencies and 1 or 2 in the NIR frequencies
Electomagnetic radiation - my main reason for going for EMR-tek. One of the reasons we're using these devices is to help improve our health. Electromagnetic radiation can be detrimental to our health. EMR-Tek have gone out of their way to reduce/remove any harmful electromagnetic signals from their devices which, to the best of my knowledge, not many other are doing.
Power - depending on the style of device and the reason for your purchase power will vary. EMR devices are more for general health, they help the overall wellbeing of the body. Some devices on the market are aimed at a specific body part and are to be placed on the skin, they will have a lower power output.
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