Light is one of those elements in our environment that’s easy to take for granted. It’s always around us but we seldom think about it. With many of us spending more and more time indoors, and especially during the winter months when the days are short, we’re not getting enough light, or better, we’re not getting enough of the right kind of light.

​Nasa was among the first to understand the health and longevity benefits of light. Their astronauts not only need to maintain their health in space, but aIso when they return home. An anti-gravity environment can take a massive toll on the human nervous system, so Nasa’s solution was to line the astronauts’ sleeping bags with light.

The light found in Nasa’s astronaut sleeping bags is the same frequency light provided by the FDA-approved Celluma Light Therapy device we use in our office. Keep reading to learn the benefits of light therapy, plus how you can enjoy light therapy at home.

How it works

The chromophores in your cell membrane and mitochondria inside the cell absorb photons from a low level LED light.

“As light is absorbed by your cells’ chromophores, adenosine triphosphate (ATP), reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitric oxide (NO), and intracellular calcium (iCa2+) all increase. With this increase, transcription factors are activated and translocated to the cell nucleus, activating gene transcription.” (1)

In short, exposure to the specific light provided by our office’s Celluma Light Therapy, increases cell survival and supports wound healing, among other positive outcomes.

With over 3600 studies in the past 20 years, and more being released everyday, supporting the value of light therapy, it’s worth it to take a look at the benefits.

I used to work in a practice that offered light therapy, and we saw absolutely incredible results. I always thought that a device designed to wrap around certain joints for a more targeted application would yield even more compelling results, so when I saw the Celluma device at a seminar, I was so stoked and knew I had to offer it in my own practice.

Most light therapy devices are not FDA-approved but Celluma has been approved by the FDA to treat and improve acne, pain, arthritis, wrinkles, muscle and joint pain, decrease inflammation, and improve microcirculation. The relaxation most patients experience is an added bonus, but the above reasons are why we offer Celluma light therapy in our office.

1. Improved cellular nutrient uptake:

You eat a whole food diet and take quality supplements. But is your body able to optimally absorb and metabolize those nutrients? Light therapy can help.

Without the right wavelength of light energy, certain nutrients are not completely absorbed, and therefore are wasted and less effective. This means that when you provide your body with the proper whole food nutrients and supplements, light therapy helps maximize the absorption rate, leading to a healthier biochemical outcome and more efficient, optimally functioning digestive system.

We recommend taking your prescribed supplements just moments before your light therapy treatment to experience optimal results.

2. Increased circulation:

If you have an injury or experience poor circulation in general, increasing the nitric oxide in your body is one of the best things you can do.

Nitric oxide helps keep our blood vessels open and relaxed, allowing blood and the nutrients it carries to easily reach all parts of the body. The specific wavelengths of light provided by light therapy help increase nitric oxide production in the body, improving circulation and healing time for injuries.

3. Increased collagen production:

Noticing a few more wrinkles when you look in the mirror? Red Light therapy has been proven effective in preventing and decreasing wrinkles overall because the frequency of light provided during therapy actually increases collagen production.

Collagen is the connective tissue in our face, which decreases with age and creates that wrinkled appearance we all dislike so much. Light therapy promotes more efficient collagen and elastin production, leading to smoother, younger, and more healthy-looking skin.

4. Improved tissue repair:

Beyond the beauty benefits, the red light used in light therapy that increases collagen production also promotes scar tissue healing.

I find scar tissue on nearly all my patients, whether from a new or old injury, or even from daily repetitive movements that cause microtraumas. You’re practically guaranteed to leave this life with some sort of scar tissue. If scar tissue builds up, either from injury or a surgical intervention like a c-section, the scar can imbed deep within the tissues and cause pain, hinder mobility, and decrease optimal function.

But when scar tissue is broken up and repaired with red light therapy, my patients have been able to move and feel better.

5. Improved mitochondrial function :

Light therapy also improves the function of our cells’ mitochondria. You probably remember from your elementary school science lessons that mitochondria are our cells’ energy powerhouse, so improving their function will increase energy storage in the body.

One of the nicest things about light therapy is the relaxation patients experience during a session, but they’re also simultaneously improving their energy.

Outcomes in our office

Clinical Outcomes in our office have been positive. We treat a lot of neuromuscular conditions such as arthritis, tissue and joint injuries, and fractures. Patients have noticed reduction in pain, decreased healing time, and overall relaxed feeling.

I have observed a reduction in patients’ scar tissue in as little as 3 treatments, as well as an increase in range of motion when there was a deficit pre treatment. I have also seen an overall improvement in vitamin uptake to their cells, which is IDEAL when you are dealing with nutritional deficiencies that can lead to disease.  With that said, I am recommending light therapy to all my patients as a very important adjunct to care.

In Health,

​Dr. T
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