This article is intended to give you an idea of the benefits and effects of light therapy, explain how you can use it and whether you should expect certain risks. We would also like to give you an indication of how often you can use light therapy. To do this, we will briefly explain the principles of how it works and have selected a few interesting studies that demonstrate how near infrared light (NIR) can benefit your body and your health. First of all: the list of advantages is long!
Light, color spectrum and effect
If you protect yourself from the sun in summer or use sunscreen or do not spend long periods of time in the blazing sun, you already know that Light also poses dangersThe ultraviolet (UV) light contained in sunlight, for example, causes the skin to age quickly and with it many cells of the largest organ in your body.
On the opposite side of the color spectrum you can see the ‘near infrared' This has been shown to be protective against aging in animal studies, in contrast to harmful UV light. near infrared covers the wavelengths from 780 to 3000nm and is in invisible area of the color spectrum.
In another article we have already talked about the effect of light on the Sleep There we talked about the visible part of light and discovered for the first time that light has a major impact on our everyday lives. We also learned when it is better to avoid light, especially the blue part of the spectrum, and how you can benefit from light in the morning.
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NIR at the cellular level
So what are the Advantages of near infrared (NIR)? One improvement of the circadian rhythm, reduced oxidative stress (fewer free radicals) and a positive effect on the neural networks (connections in the brain) were detected. In addition, reduces NIR inflammation and associated pain or edema (fluid accumulation in the tissue). Furthermore, the therapeutic application improves the healing of wounds or other injuries such as broken bones or torn ligaments and has therefore been of great importance in physiotherapy for some time.
These diverse effects of NIR are reflected in the enzyme cytochrome c oxidase which is a important component of the mitochondrial respiratory chain is the mitochondria You probably know them from school as the powerhouse of the cell - this analogy hits the nail on the head, because mitochondria are used to produce energy. Mitochondria are involved in many metabolic processes, and so is cytochrome c oxidase. Stimulating this can speed up a lot of things.Furthermore, studies have shown increased ATP (Adenosine triphosphate) levels and increased citrate synthase were detected. ATP serves as the cells' main energy storage. Citrate synthase plays a crucial role in the citric acid cycle, which is also important for our body's energy production.
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Example studies: what benefits do you get from NIR?
As early as 1903, the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine to Niels Ryberg Finsen who demonstrated a stimulating effect of light on tissue. He mainly worked on the antibacterial effect of concentrated light.
A study examined competitive athletes who were treated with NIR. Here a significantly improved performance of the athletes is shown. Various laboratory tests were carried out which can explain the improvement: the oxygen uptake from the blood and the time to exhaustion were significantly increased in a running test.
Did you know?
The American millionaire and longevity enthusiast Bryan Johnson also uses NIR several times a week. But that’s not all. His project Blueprint is designed to prevent him from aging and, in the best case, even to biological age to turn back. For this, Bryan Johnson takes more than 100 different He takes nutritional supplements, practices a strict fasting and exercise regimen, and has even had his younger son's blood transfused. But this is not even the craziest method the American has tried to live forever.
How often should you use NIR?
For a local effect, one session is sufficient. This is the case, for example, if you want to benefit from improved wound healing. However, if you want to benefit from light therapy in general, you should use a lamp daily or at least five times a weekSimply put: the more often you use the light application, the better the effect and your benefit will be, to a certain extent. So use it consistently and not just sporadically. One application can take around 10 minutes.
Can too much light therapy be harmful?
Studies have not revealed any abnormalities in this regard. This means that the application can be considered safe. However, the benefit for you is not correspondingly greater if you use it very frequently. This is also referred to as a “ceiling effect”.
For further and specific information you can contact the manufacturers of various lamps, of course there are differences in the models.
