Can Light Therapy Heal the Brain?

Exciting research has been and is currently being performed on the benefits of red-light therapy for the brain. Photobiomodulation, or PBMT for short, may be able to encourage healing within the brain and promote overall good brain health. So without further ado, let’s explore how this works and what the potential benefits of this innovative treatment could be.

What is Red Light Therapy?

Red light therapy, or RLT, has a myriad of applications throughout the body including improvements in skin health. According to recent research, it could also provide an exciting solution to sharpening the mind, too.

Red light therapy utilizes a narrow spectrum of both red (630 - 660 nanometers) and near-infrared (810 – 850 nm) light wavelengths in order to yield a biological body response. 

A non-invasive treatment, photobiomodulation has been noted to have stimulating effects on the brain and body. 

You absorb these wavelengths by way of a device that can penetrate into the body, past the skull, and into the brain itself.

How Does PMBT work?

Red light therapy works on a cellular level, by stimulating the mitochondrial electron transfer chain, or ETC. 

By doing so, it boosts ATP, or adenosine triphosphate production. ATP fuels all of your functions.

This helps to:

• Decrease oxidative stress

• Reduce inflammation

• Regenerate cells and strengthen brain function

How Can RLT Treat the Brain?

So, what are the therapeutic effects of this type of therapy on the brain, and who can it treat? RLT creates lasting cellular change within the body, which can be beneficial for:

• Maintaining healthy cognitive function

• Treating depression and anxiety

• Targeting the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease

• Improving quality of life for those with Alzheimer’s and dementia

• Healing traumatic brain injuries

• Faster stroke recovery

How should I use red light therapy?

For best results, it’s recommended to use a high-output medical-grade red light device. By doing so, you’ll ensure maximum penetration and the most efficient results.

Red light panels ensure full exposure and absorption of the wavelengths into your body and brain.  

The consistent delivery of a ten-minute session of red-light therapy several times a week could support your brain and body’s self-healing mechanisms. 

So if you’re struggling with any of the signs of a poorly functioning brain, such as increased stress, difficulty focusing, poor memory, low mood, or a brain-related disorder, consider looking into how red and near-infrared light therapy could help you.