Everything you want to know about treatment with red, infrared light and photobiomodulation (PBM)
How does infrared heat therapy work?
Far-infrared therapy works by heating the water in the body. Parts of the invisible light (radiation) penetrate the tissue, producing a range of physiological effects. When the body is exposed to the heat from the infrared radiation, a form of mild stress occurs at the cellular level. This triggers the production of what are referred to as heat shock proteins. Heat shock proteins are able to compensate for some of the effects of oxidative stress in the body and help regulate antioxidant levels.
There are a number of ways infrared light can positively affect physiology:
- Support the immune system by increasing levels of white blood cells
- Reduce levels of inflammation as measured by C-reactive protein
- Improve muscle regrowth after injury
- Improve athletic performance by improving blood flow to the muscles
- Reduce the risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease
- Improve detoxification through sweating
- Promote feelings of relaxation and help release "feel-good hormones" (endorphins)
Near- and far-infrared radiation therapy
Near-infrared (NIR). NIR is infrared light between 780 nm and 1400 nm, closest to the visible light spectrum. Most of the sun's infrared spectrum consists of NIR light. Infrared light in general warms the body from the inside out, and NIR reaches up to 5 mm into the tissue. Far-infrared (which has wavelengths in the range of 3000–10,000 nm) does not have the ability to penetrate deeply into tissue, but works primarily by heating the water in the skin. Between near- and far-infrared, we have medium infrared with wavelengths in the range of 1400–3000 nm. Medium infrared penetrates deeper into the tissue than far (or long)-infrared. NIR and wavelengths from 810 to 950 nm have been studied extensively for their effects on ATP production, the molecule necessary for our cells to function and produce energy. This frequency range stimulates the activity of the enzyme cytochrome c oxidase (CCO), which has the ability to donate electrons (energy/voltage) directly to the electron transport chain (ATP production) in the cells. You get your cells "charged" there and then without any effort other than receiving NIR therapy. This direct conversion of light into electrons (electricity) was first discovered by Albert Einstein and called the photoelectric effect.
Most of the benefits of NIR therapy are related to its ability to stimulate ATP production:
- NIR helps stimulate collagen production and circulation, and helps rebuild damaged joints and cartilage.
- NIR, alone or combined with red light, has been shown to be effective in improving the appearance of the skin by removing signs of aging and accelerating wound healing.
- By helping our body produce more ATP, the use of NIR reduces both pain and inflammation while improving muscle regrowth.
- It has been speculated that NIR exposure has a role in improving retinopathy (eye damage) via ATP-stimulating effects.
Far- or long-infrared radiation therapy (FIR). Far-infrared radiation is absorbed mainly by the water in the body, and for that reason the heat rays penetrate only 0.1 mm into the skin. Although it is absorbed by the body’s water, FIR light can cause changes in the body’s protein structures.
The benefits of FIR include
- reducing arrhythmias in people with chronic heart failure, and also improving markers of vascular health in those with risk factors for heart attack
- reducing pain and stiffness in patients with arthritis (rheumatoid arthritis)
- improving quality of life in study participants with type II diabetes.
The benefits of a full-spectrum infrared sauna
Today, we offer Sunlighten full-spectrum infrared saunas, which include NIR, MIR, and FIR wavelengths, providing the best of both infrared worlds. Infrared saunas heat up much faster than traditional saunas, require less work to assemble, and are less expensive to operate. There are also many small, single-person infrared sauna options, which mainly offer either FIR or NIR. Uno Vita has chosen to focus on Sunlighten mPulse full-spectrum saunas. They have (in our experience) the best specifications on the market, with wavelengths from FIR, MIR to NIR infrared radiation (actually full spectrum, unlike many competitors). Infrared therapy, like sunlight, has the ability to help the body structure water, which is essential for good cellular function.
Why are LED panels, laser, belts, mats, or professional light therapy devices such as Bioptron used?
The answer has two parts. First, sweat will partially block light waves so that they do not penetrate deeply (this applies to NIR and MIR infrared). Visible light and NIR can deliver light energy deep into the tissue. This means that the optimal solution is to be able to combine focused LED/laser light and a full-spectrum sauna, but not everyone can afford or has the opportunity to buy both. Ask us for advice for your situation and your needs. There are useful and good solutions from a few thousand kroner and upwards.
How does light therapy work?
How does light therapy work?
Research shows that, apart from biochemical reactions, the themes of information and energy play an extremely important role for the organism and our health. The biological effects of light are an essential component in treating a disease effectively. The biophysicist Professor Dr. F.A. Popp made one of the most important scientific contributions with his biophoton theory. According to quantum theory, light consists of quanta (packets of energy) or photons. Popp's contribution was to state that each cell communicates with other cells using biophotons. Biophotons are the weak light emitted from the cells of all living things. In the same way, three Russian researchers, S. Stschurin, V.P. Kasnaschejew and L. Michailowa, confirmed through more than 5000 experiments that living cells transfer information using biophotons. The emitted photons are primarily absorbed by the skin and spread throughout the entire body. They reach the brain and pass through the branching of the nervous system as well as the spinal cord. The biophotons also harmonize the production of endorphins and serotonin. Certain parts of the light signals reach the adrenal glands and influence the production of DHEA and cortisol (a stress hormone).
Effects at the cellular level
It is not possible to live without light. According to Popp, every cell in our body emits biophotons. In cells with impaired function (in cases of inflammation, infections, cancer, etc.), the intensity (strength) of the light is reduced. The regeneration of these weakened cells is stimulated by adding light. Photon treatment used in the infrared wavelength band can activate many metabolic processes. This includes cell division for cyclic AMP metabolism, oxidative phosphorylation, hemoglobin, collagen and other proteins, synthesizing leukocyte activity, production of macrophages, and wound healing. If macrophages are exposed to infrared light within the 880 nm range, they release substances that are useful for repairing damaged cells and that support the production of connective tissue. Infrared light has been shown to have positive effects on leukocytes, several types of lymphocytes, several types of enzymes, prostaglandin production, and collagen cells. It has been documented that infrared photon radiation leads to an increase in ATP concentration and ATP activity in living tissue (energy).
Hormonal effects. Endorphins are referred to as "endogenous morphine" because they resemble morphine in chemical structure. They are found in different parts of the body and central nervous system and are considered responsible for and/or involved in various functions such as pain reduction and well-being. Endorphins have a controlling influence on the body's reactions in stressful situations and on mechanisms such as heart activity, respiration, digestion, and heat regulation. It has been shown that people with chronic pain have a lower level of endorphins in the cerebrospinal fluid. Light therapy increased endorphin levels, resulting in pain reduction. Cortisol plays a significant role in stressful situations in addition to adrenaline and noradrenaline. With shock or stress, cortisol production increases. Stimulation with infrared light results in lower cortisol levels. The user experiences a pleasant relaxation that often lasts for many hours.
There is no form of pain or disease that will not be positively affected by this technology.
Photobiomodulation and our body
All plants perform photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is the simple process of converting sunlight and water into glucose and oxygen (photoenergy and chemical energy). Biologists have determined that our bodies use a similar principle in the digestive process, where proteins, fats, and sugars are broken down in the mitochondrial membrane into the smallest molecular nutrients, called pyruvates. Pyruvate is the end product of the breakdown of glucose (sugar) through glycolysis. Certain light wavelengths (red and near-infrared) are absorbed by the human body and stimulate the mitochondrial membrane to produce ATP (adenosine triphosphate) energy. ATP is the fuel that all cells use to carry out cellular activities, including DNA and RNA synthesis, cell repair (called mitosis), and collagen production.
Photobiomodulation is an essential biological process we depend on
What exactly is photobiomodulation?
Photobiomodulation (PBM) is the metabolic and cytological response (response at the cellular level) of living cells to light (photons). This means light energy, consisting of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) in the visible spectrum and in parts of the near-infrared (NIR) and ultraviolet (UV) frequency range. Photobiomodulation is a combination of "photo," meaning light, "bio," meaning "living cells," and "modulation," meaning to vary or exert influence upon. The term photobiomodulation describes biochemical reactions that occur in living cells in response to light. Photobiomodulation occurs in all living organisms. It occurs naturally in cells exposed to sunlight, but also occurs for selected wavelengths (colors) of artificially produced light. It occurs in plants, animals, and bacteria. It stimulates growth, provides energy for cellular respiration and reproduction, stimulates DNA repair, and strengthens the molecular maintenance of cells, tissues, and organs. In complex organisms such as primates and humans, light is involved in the growth and regulation of the nervous system, it controls blood flow in the circulatory system, stimulates the immune response, and affects stem cell development.
Photobiomodulation via sunlight and therapeutically using biophotonics
Photobiomodulation can be used therapeutically to accelerate repair after injury, to restore organ function, to relieve pain and inflammation, or to combat microbial infections caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi. Treatments can be carried out on humans and animals, including pets, for example horses.
Although electromagnetic radiation affects living beings across the entire spectrum, photobiomodulation is limited to only certain parts of the spectrum (frequency range). PBM is substantially different in its mechanisms of action from heat therapy, that is, "thermobiomodulation," which is what you get in infrared saunas, heating pads, steam baths, and hot tubs. Because of its ability to support energy production at the cellular level, light therapy generally surpasses heat therapy in effectiveness.
Photobiomodulation occurs in the NIR, visible, and long-wave UV spectrum
Photobiomodulation occurs naturally in the presence of sunlight and also in artificial light. The effect of light on living cells can be beneficial or harmful, depending on the photonic energy absorbed according to the technical characteristics of the light, which often include:
- Wavelength, also known as color (μcm or nm)
- Power density, also known as irradiance (W or W/cm2)
- Total energy (dose), also known as fluence, in (eV, J, or J/cm2)
The effects vary in different organisms, tissues, and cell types. Full-spectrum natural sunlight usually contains both beneficial and harmful rays, whose net effect depends on the light’s color temperature, that is, its spectral composition, and on the total energy dose at each constituent wavelength. Living organisms are easily damaged by short-wave ultraviolet light (UVC) with its high energy content. The medical use of PBM as a therapy is subject to strict medical regulation. Treatments are usually performed within a well-established safe range of wavelengths (from 400 nm to 1000 nm) such as near-infrared (NIR, IRA) and visible light.
Life on Earth needs light
Throughout the 20th century, biologists, botanists, and teachers claimed that all life on Earth gets its energy from sunlight, which stimulated photosynthesis in plants. In photosynthesis, chloroplasts (small organelles in plant leaves) convert sunlight (photonic energy) and raw materials (hydrogen, oxygen, and carbon) into simple sugars (glucose). Everything is stored as energy in the plants in the form of carbohydrates. Animals that eat this vegetation ingest these carbohydrates, convert them into energy (ATP), and store it as fat for fuel for metabolism. Photosynthesis in chloroplasts is not the only method of converting sunlight into energy. Bacteria and animals also have mechanisms that are capable of absorbing light and directly converting it into usable and stored energy. In photobiomodulation, the conversion takes place with the help of light-absorbing chromophores (chromophores are groups of atoms that give chemical compounds color). They are usually located in the membranes of cells and organelles. For example, the mitochondria in both plants and animals are capable of converting sunlight directly into ATP.
Ubiquitous photobiomodulation, the ability of a broad range of living organisms to capture the sun’s energy directly, is now known to be a fundamental component of life on Earth.
PBM in animals arises mainly from optical absorption by chromophores in the cytochrome c oxidase (CCO) molecule within an optical window of wavelengths in the band from red light (650 nm) to near-infrared light (950 nm). In photobiomodulation, light must be absorbed in order to induce a photochemical, photobiological, or physiological response.
Power, intensity, and distance from the light source affect the biological response
In addition to the fact that different wavelengths and frequencies are absorbed differently by different parts of the cells, the PBM response is influenced by several factors. It varies with illumination, which includes both the optical power or power density and the total energy delivered (i.e. the PBM dose). In biophysics, optical power (measured in watts or W/cm2) is called irradiance, and total energy is measured in joules, J/cm2. At very low power levels (low energy doses), little or no PBM occurs. By increasing the power level to a substantial but safe level, the total dose can be controlled by limiting the exposure time. At higher power levels (bright light), the exposure duration must be reduced. Conversely, at lower optical power levels, the exposure time must be increased to produce the same degree of biomodulation. These parameters help determine how long each treatment session should last.
How does photobiomodulation work?
The mechanism of action of photobiomodulation is a transfer of light energy to molecules in cells and organelles, resulting in chemical, electrochemical, and thermal reactions and transformations that trigger changes in cellular metabolism and gene expression. Photobiomodulation takes place at the atomic and molecular level through energy transfer. Photons carrying precise amounts of energy (called quanta) transfer that energy to the molecules in living cells and their organelles. The amount of photons (= the amount of energy) absorbed by a particular cell depends on its type and structure, and on the wavelength. Some of the light is reflected or scattered and never enters the cell. The remaining non-absorbed energy passes through the cell into the next layer of cells. The laws of thermodynamics tell us that absorbed light will inevitably produce heat (produce a photothermal response). Other parts of the absorbed light stimulate photobiomodulation in the form of photoelectric effects, photochemical reactions, or a combination of these. 99% of the molecules in the body are water, and water absorbs infrared energy from approximately 1200 nm. This helps cells form structured, metabolic water, called EZ water (exclusion zone water), or water that excludes substances and has a special gel-like structure. Mitochondria (the cell nuclei) contain chromophores capable of capturing light and indirectly converting it into ATP. Such a light-sensitive molecule performs the final step in ATP production. This process is enhanced by the presence of red and near-infrared light (but unlike chloroplasts in plants, not by violet, blue, or orange light). When ATP production increases, nitric oxide (NO) is released, a signaling molecule responsible for regulating the dilation of blood vessels and blood circulation. The PBM process releases genetic messengers that enter the cell nucleus and stimulate gene expression. This includes growth factors, enzymes, polymerases, and other proteins.
During PBM, cytochrome c oxidase also generates catalysts and reactive oxygen species (ROS), including the superoxide anion O2-, hydrogen peroxide H2O2, the hydroxyl radical OH and HO2. During PBM, mitochondria release calcium ions (Ca2+), a signaling substance in the nervous system. The generation of ATP and the release of NO signal a cascade of reactions that are beneficial for maintaining cellular vitality and health. The results of PBM benefit the cell and the tissue, the organ and the organism of which it is a part. A combination of inhaling hydrogen gas, drinking hydrogen water, and PBM contributes to a beneficial balance between reduction and oxidation in the body.
What is photobiomodulation therapy used for?
Photobiomodulation therapy (PBT) is the therapeutic use of gentle energy to combat disease, repair damage, reduce pain, counteract dysfunction in organs and the immune system, reduce inflammation, and counteract a range of neurological and age-related health conditions. PBT is also used preventively to avoid disease, prevent injury, improve brain health and cognition, promote well-being, and improve performance in sports and athletics.
Examples of health conditions that have been treated with photobiomodulation therapy
Non-medical "wellness" applications include counteracting pain, improving fitness and good health, improving sleep and relaxation, reducing stress, improving energy, relieving fatigue, and slowing the aging process. Other applications include strengthening the immune system to prevent infectious disease. PBT is also used in competitive sports to improve an athlete’s performance (without drugs or steroids), to reduce the risk and severity of sports injuries, to manage pain, and to return to training more quickly after injury.
The history of PBM in brief – used by humans for 3000 years
The first recorded use of sunlight to promote health dates back to papyrus from Egypt around 1550 BC. Ancient physicians observed that sunlight, and especially certain colors (a treatment called chromotherapy), helped people recover from illnesses. Early use of light to promote health and well-being was also practiced in the Indus Valley (ancient India) and in China before the imperial era. In Greece, scholars focused on the medical benefits of sunlight, which they called heliotherapy (a reference to the god Helios, meaning sun). The Romans commercialized Greek light therapy into "solariums," sunrooms, which spread in popularity throughout Europe with the expansion of the Roman Empire.
In the 19th century, physicians and researchers began to investigate the mechanisms behind phototherapeutic biomedicine. The science of phototherapy gained international recognition in 1903, when Dr. Niels Ryberg Finsen was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his use of gas lamp- and arc lamp-generated light in the successful treatment of lupus.
During the 1960s, the emergence of laser technology led to concerns that lasers (at power levels too low to cause burns) could cause cancer. Systematic studies by physician and professor Endre Mester at Semmelweis University in Budapest, Hungary revealed an unexpected result. Not only did the treated mice avoid cancer, but the hair (on those that had been shaved) grew back much faster than in the control group.
In 1971, studies showed that laser light not only stimulated hair growth, but also promoted wound healing. Although lasers showed exciting medical results, lasers in the 1960s and 70s were large, bulky devices. They consisted of fragile glass tubes (filled with gases) constructed with delicate precision-aligned lenses and required large, heavy power supplies.
In 1996, with support from NASA, Dr. Harry T. Whelan at the University of Wisconsin reported the first use of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) as an alternative to lasers in phototherapy. In 1999, he demonstrated that light-emitting diodes, just like lasers, effectively accelerate wound healing. In 2003, he published groundbreaking work on therapeutic PBM in methanol-induced damage to the retina of the eye – data that provide clear scientific support that red and infrared light stimulate ATP production in cytochrome c, a membrane-bound chromophore in the mitochondria. This was an important discovery for research into a photochemical, rather than photothermal, origin of the true mechanism of photobiomodulation.
The turn of the millennium brought new life and a new approach to photobiomodulation. Starting in 2001, Dan Schell, a pioneering developer of light therapy and founder of "A Perfect Light" (APL), began experimenting with sequencing multiple wavelengths of light-emitting diodes in complex excitation patterns of varying illumination conditions and duration. He cataloged the results to define and refine tissue-specific therapeutic regimens and protocols for disease and injury.
In 2012, Schell joined forces with Richard K. Williams, an electrical engineer and semiconductor physicist with expertise in molecular biology, nanotechnology, and photonics. Williams was a respected founder, including of the NASDAQ IPO semiconductor company Advanced Analogic Technologies Inc. Since then, different uses such as red light therapy using LED and related technologies have exploded in prevalence and are, at the time of writing, in demand in all major markets worldwide.
Therapeutic use of PBM
The therapeutic use of photobiomodulation is referred to as photobiomodulation therapy. The therapy is usually described in the context of treating humans and other mammals (e.g. dogs, cats, horses, and camels). PBM is used for a broad range of physiological conditions, mainly because this process occurs naturally in almost all tissue types, that is
- Nervous tissue
- Muscle tissue
- Epithelial tissue
- Connective tissue
The effect of photomedicine in general depends on the patient’s condition, the treatment regimen being carried out, and which device (and its specifications) is used. With over 300,000 articles published in PubMed alone, the preponderance of empirical documentation supporting the effective use of PBM therapy is overwhelming. PBM is no longer limited to so-called alternative medicine, but is used by physicians, hospitals, and clinics worldwide. Its ability to treat disease and injury makes PBM a strong competitor to pharmacological solutions.
PBM’s ability to combat a wide range of seemingly unrelated medical conditions is based on its fundamental mechanisms of action – delivering photons as uncharged (non-polarized) energy to cells and organelles to improve cellular metabolism and the cell’s inherent (natural) repair mechanisms through photochemical processes. Most cells contain photosensitive chromophores that influence metabolic processes. Despite demonstrating common mechanisms of action in all animal cells, the beneficial effects of PBT/PBM are tissue-specific and vary for nerve, muscle, epithelial, and connective tissue types in accordance with the tissue type.
Neurology and nerve tissue
The primary PBM mechanisms in nerve tissue consist of improved circulation, reduced tissue inflammation, increased oxygen supply, normalization of tissue pH, accelerated wound healing, and activation of selective neurogenesis.
Muscle tissue
The use of photobiomodulation therapy on muscle tissue includes effects on skeletal muscles, muscles, internal organs via smooth muscle, and cardiac muscle. General effects of PBT on muscle tissue include improved circulation and oxygenation of tissue, as well as combating inflammation. In addition, the immune response is supported to combat microbial infections, and regrowth in injured muscles is accelerated.
Especially in skeletal muscles, the benefits of PBM treatments include increased tissue oxygenation and improved biokinetic ability, an increase in the lactic acid threshold for cramps, and management of local inflammation and edema. PBM-generated increases in elastin and collagen also improve muscle flexibility and an expanded range of motion, thereby minimizing the risk of high blood pressure, sprains, and muscle injuries. In athletics and sports, treatments can be used before strenuous activity to minimize the risk of injury and improve performance. This as part of a training regimen to keep muscles warm and loose between competitions, to improve breathing (lung capacity and blood oxygen levels), or after activity to gently relax muscles, prevent cramps, and improve stretching.
PBM treatment benefits for muscle tissue in the skeleton and internal organs
Epithelial tissue is present throughout the body both as skin (the body's protective layer to withstand wear and environmental damage), and as the lining of internal organs in the digestive system, respiratory system, hormonal system, and immune system. Such tissue not only provides protection, but is also found in partially porous membranes used by hormones, enzymes, mucus, digestive products, and other biochemical molecules.
Treatment benefits of PBM for epithelial tissue in skin and organs
Connective tissue is present throughout the body and consists of loose connective tissue in fat, dense connective tissue in ligaments and tendons, specialized skeletal connective tissue in cartilage and bone, and specialized vascular connective tissue consisting of blood and lymphatic tissue.
The distance to an LED source affects the PBM treatment area and penetration depth
A common misunderstanding (or misrepresentation) in the use of PBM is that more powerful lasers send light deeper in than weaker light sources. This notion is not based on scientific research. Higher irradiance simply means that more photons are delivered simultaneously (more light). According to modern physics (quantum mechanics), the energy of a photon (and therefore the corresponding penetration depth) is determined exclusively by the wavelength, or the color if you prefer.
Light therapy or photobiomodulation is recommended for everyone as a fundamental health-promoting therapy.
