|
Tipton, KS | The surprising science behind red-light therapy -- and how it really works
People are buying helmets, face masks, vests and beds that emit long-wavelength light. Beneath the hype, there is some interesting biology.
...
...
Experts warn that there is considerable hype about red-light therapy But a growing body of legitimate science has been exploring the benefits for several conditions. Clinical studies have reported improvements in peripheral neuropathy1, retinal degeneration2 and certain neurological disorders3. For some indications, expert groups now recommend red-light regimens1.
Researchers are also uncovering how red and near-infrared light might exert these effects. Mitochondria -- the power plants of the cell -- are emerging as a central piece of the puzzle.
The science behind these benefits is growing at a time in which humans are exposed to less red light than ever before. People spend more time indoors away from the Sun, and efforts to conserve energy have narrowed the spectrum of indoor lighting, eliminating many red and near-infrared wavelengths (see 'Light by the source'). Some scientists are now asking whether these factors might have biological consequences. "We're literally being starved of something that, biologically, we've evolved to receive," says Ozog
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-00878-1
| |
|
red-light therapy
