Red Light Therapy, also known as photobiomodulation and low level light therapy, uses red low-level wavelengths of light for a variety of health and wellness benefits. Red light is considered “low level” because it works at an energy density that’s low compared to other forms of laser therapies.
In the early 1990s, Red Light Therapy was used by scientists to help grow plants in space. They found that the intense light from red LEDs promoted the growth and photosynthesis of plant cells.
Red light was then studied for its ability to increase energy inside human cells. The human body needs to make ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate) cellular energy to function and survive. This occurs naturally when our bodies are exposed to natural sunlight. Red and near infrared wavelengths of natural light stimulate the mitochondria in our cells. The mitochondria turn the light into usable energy for our bodies through the process of cellular respiration.