LED Light Therapy: Ancient Healing, Nobel Prize Science, and What It Can Do for You

Today light therapy is used in clinics, hospitals, physical therapists, cosmetology, chiropractic, and more — because of its amazing benefits in healing the body. But the story starts over 125 years ago.

History

Niels Finsen was the first scientist to discover the healing effects of light in 1896. He first started treating lupus vulgaris and tuberculosis by using electrical light up to 15 times concentrated. The treatments included daily time with the light for up to two hours and found it was successful in clearing the diseases.

Niels Finsen later won a Nobel Prize in 1903 for his discovery of light therapy. In the beginning, it was called phototherapy. In the 1960s, it was referred to as LED light therapy and was used all around Europe to treat chronic pain, arthritis, associated conditions, joint rehabilitation, and soft-tissue injury along with other medical ailments.

In the 1980s, it expanded to more clinics and medical institutions using LED light therapy. Many studies came out finding that the tissues themselves were healing and cosmetic conditions were improved with this light. In the 1990s, professional sports teams and athletes started to use LED lights to heal their sports injuries. It also began to be popular with physical therapists — and they found that the time of recovery was 50 times faster with this light therapy.

What Is LED Light Good For?

Skin Healing and Anti-Aging

The most well-known condition that light treats is skin — and it causes no damage to the skin whatsoever. Red light can heal sunburn damage and helps reduce wrinkles, fine lines, acne, and sagging eye bags. The light works with an inside-out approach by causing regeneration at the cellular level.

Research in 2013 found "there is a wide range of applications of use in dermatology, especially in indications where stimulation of healing, reduction of inflammation, reduction of cell death and skin rejuvenation are required." And a 2007 placebo-controlled, double-blinded study showed how effective LED light is in rejuvenating the skin, especially wrinkles.

Hair Growth

Not only is it good for the skin, but also for hair. Light stimulates dormant hair follicles into entering the growth phase, increases blood flow, and increases collagen production to restore normal hair growth.

Reducing Inflammation

This therapy qualifies for most people — a study published in 2017 proved that LED light is effective in reducing inflammation in the brain, abdominal fat, wounds, lungs, and spinal cord. Chronic inflammation is at the root of nearly every chronic disease, making this application particularly significant.

Pain Relief

Red light is effective in penetrating the muscles and promoting healing, reduction of inflammation, and increased blood flow. A 2016 study found that red light reduces hypersensitivity. A 2014 study concluded it was effective with neuropathic pain. And a 2003 study found there was a significant reduction in pain in chronic joint disorders.

Weight Loss and Metabolism

Red light has a stimulating effect on the metabolism and causes fat cells to shrink. A 2015 study showed that "combined with exercise was effective in controlling the lipid profile, reducing the mass of adipose tissue, suggesting increased metabolic activity and changes in lipid metabolism." Red light therapy combined with regular exercise accelerates fat loss beyond what exercise alone achieves.

Muscle Performance and Recovery

Red light activates the mitochondria to produce more energy, leading to quicker regeneration and growth. The light also helps with recovery because of the way red light helps with inflammation. Research in 2015 showed that red light lessens oxidative stress and is beneficial in cases of muscle fatigue and injury — concluding that "it can improve muscle performance, reduce muscle fatigue during exercises, and benefit muscle repair." A 2016 study found that athletes who used red light therapy greatly reduced the time it took to heal and get back to playing.

Wound Healing

There is a significant body of research showing how red light heals wounds. It works by activating stem cells, reducing inflammation, and supporting the formation of collagen and density in the tissues. Research showed that the light accelerated healing and reduced infection. It also helps to prevent scarring and optimize wound healing.

Sleep Quality

Good sleep is of vital importance for the body's and mind's wellbeing. Blue light is known to negatively affect sleep quality — but red light counteracts the blue light and promotes good sleep. It was tested in 2012 with elite female basketball players to improve the quality of sleep and prevent sleep disorders. Another study showed that red light doesn't suppress melatonin and "can be used to mitigate sleep inertia upon waking."

Brain Health

The awesome thing about red light therapy is that it penetrates through bones — including the skull. This is a huge discovery and could be revolutionary for healing the brain and progressing forward with solutions for mental illness. There are also many more applications that can be used with the red light laser in treating physical and mental problems.

Conclusion

Red light works at the cellular level, so many sessions and consistent use are needed to see results. It may take several weeks to notice a difference, or a few months — but it will be worth it. The results from thousands of studies show that this red light laser is effective if you are consistent in using it.

We use LED laser light therapy at Total Family Wellness as one of our most powerful and evidence-based tools. Whether you're dealing with chronic pain, skin issues, poor sleep, or simply want to optimize your recovery and performance — it belongs in your protocol.