Infrared light is composed of wavelengths of light that we cannot see with the naked eye. When administered during infrared therapy, these light waves penetrate deep into the skin and tissues. Cellular components like mitochondria absorb the photons of this light energy. This absorption kickstarts a cascade of beneficial biological processes and photochemical reactions. These reactions work to ease pain signals, reduce inflammation, increase blood flow, and stimulate healing mechanisms, among other therapeutic effects.
The light’s ability to penetrate several centimeters beneath the skin enables it to impact joints, nerves, and deep muscle tissue. Therefore, targeted treatment with tuned infrared wavelengths may provide relief for diverse conditions afflicting soft tissues or the musculoskeletal system.
An Important Wellness Tool
Near infrared light therapy is emerging as an intriguing wellness tool with a variety of potential health applications. Fundamentally, infrared light comprises part of the electromagnetic light spectrum that we cannot see with the naked eye. But unlike damaging ultraviolet light, infrared wavelengths may provide healing benefits by safely penetrating human tissue. When absorbed by cells, researchers know infrared light has beneficial photobiomodulation and photochemical reactions.
Current areas under investigation for infrared therapy span relieving pain and inflammation to improving circulation, and even fighting cancer. One of the most researched effects involves infrared light’s ability to alleviate acute and chronic musculoskeletal pain. Photobiomodulation may work by stimulating endorphins, reducing oxidative stress, or regulating nerve signals and inflammatory markers.
Boosting Circulation and Healing
Multiple clinical trials support the efficacy of near-infrared light for reducing pain stemming from arthritis, injuries, and neuropathic causes. Widespread conditions, including back, neck, shoulder, and knee pain, may improve substantially with exposure to targeted infrared wavelengths through lamps, pads, or bandages.
Reducing Inflammation
Infrared therapy shows versatility in modulating inflammation that underlies diverse diseases. Studies indicate infrared light therapy can reduce inflammation and swelling in tissues when applied directly or when blood is exposed during transfusions. From skin conditions like dermatitis and acne to intestinal inflammation involved in irritable bowel disease, infrared light exhibits therapeutic potential to help resolve low-level chronic inflammation in various parts of the body. Boosting microcirculation may also accelerate the healing of surface wounds, burns, and infections.
Fighting Cancer
Pioneering research additionally demonstrates how infrared light holds promise in fighting cancer. Preclinical studies expose cancer cells grown in a lab to infrared light can impede tumor growth and proliferation. Clinical trials are beginning to investigate focal infrared treatment as an adjunct to traditional chemotherapy and radiation. By rousing the immune system and interfering with proteins critical for tumor growth, infrared light might one day play a role in cancer treatment plans combined with other therapies.
While studies supporting infrared therapy’s many medical applications show promising results, most large-scale, definitive clinical trials still lay ahead. Optimism remains high, and the breadth of possible benefits continues to expand from mental health to eyesight to reversing hair loss. Only time will tell how the full extent of infrared light therapy positively impacts wellness outcomes.
Saying “spark beneficial photobiomodulation” is not very accurate. Also, we don’t need to say researchers believe, we can say researchers have shown!
This is too speculative. Let’s not say the photons of light (which is redundant anyways), but say photobiomodulation or similar. It’s ok to be somewhat speculative then, but it is not the photons themselves that do that, it is downstream effects.
