What is Red Light Therapy and Near-Infrared Light Therapy/Photobiomodulation?
Red and near-infrared light are part of the electromagnetic spectrum, and more specifically, part of the spectrum of light emitted by the sun. These wavelengths of light are “bioactive” in humans. That means that these types of light literally affect the function of our cells.
It is the red and near-infrared wavelengths specifically that have these amazing effects on our bodies. Specifically, most research showing benefits of red light and near-infrared light have used wavelengths in the narrow ranges of 630-680nm and 800-880nm.)
Near-infrared light and red light can reach deep into the human body (several centimeters, and close to 2 inches, in some cases) and are able to directly penetrate the cells, tissues, blood, nerves, the brain, and into the bones.

Once in those deeper tissues, red light, and near-infrared (NIR) light have incredible healing effects on the cells where they can increase energy production (ATP), modulate inflammation, relieve pain, help cells regenerate faster, and much more.
The Five “Bioactive” Types of Light: Why Humans Need Sunlight to Be Healthy
Nutrients are very important to the health of your body’s cells, so is light necessary for your body to be healthy and your cells to function well.

- Blue light helps to set and regulate our internal clocks.
- UV light allows us to synthesize vitamin D from sunlight.
- Far Infrared light heats up our bodies and helps with circulation.
- Red and Near Infrared lights acts on the mitochondria in our cells, stimulate cellular energy production (ATP)
Most of us are deficient in the benefits of all these types of light and are health consequences of not getting enough of the right light. For example, Vitamin D deficiency or sunlight deficiency, mal-illumination due to too much exposure to artificial light at night (like your TV, your IPAD/tablet, computer, cellular phone, electronics, indoor lighting). has been linked to certain diseases, like:
- Neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, dementia, Multiple Sclerosis, and Parkinson’s
- Numerous types of cancer
- Depression
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Metabolic syndrome
- Heart disease
- Insomnia and poor sleep
- Mood disorders
But what if there is another type of light deficiency that most people don’t know and can be as devastating to your health? Near-infrared (NIR) and red-light deficiency.
Red and near-infrared light have profound effects on our cellular and hormonal health. And we’re designed to need ample amounts of those types of light to have optimal health.
Just as the modern world of processed food leads to chronic malnutrition, our modern light environment (of too much of the wrong kinds of light and too little of the right kinds, and with poor timing) is called mal illumination. Most people living in the modern world are suffering from chronic mal-illumination and don’t even realize it. And it has widespread effects on our brain and organ function, immune system, energy levels, mood, neurotransmitter balance, and hormone levels.
How Does Near-Infrared (NIR) and Red-Light Therapy Work?
We know how UV light affects us, for example – it works primarily by interacting with our skin and stimulating the production of vitamin D. We also know how blue light enters our eyes and feeds back into the circadian clock in our brain to regulate our 24-hour biological rhythm, including the complex array of hormones and neurotransmitters that are regulated by this circadian clock in our brain.
These mechanisms are well understood by science. But what about red/NIR light?
There are numerous different physiological and biochemical mechanisms that researchers have identified as being affected by red and near-infrared light, but for our purposes we will focus on 2 key mechanisms
It has 2 central mechanisms in how it benefits cellular function and overall health:
- Increased mitochondrial energy production (stimulating ATP production in the mitochondria)
- Building up the cell’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory defense system.
In a nutshell near-infrared and red-light therapy help mitochondria produce more energy, decrease inflammation, and help build the cell defense systems to increase resiliency.

Your body’s health depends on the energy being produced by the mitochondria in your cells. It is for this reason that it can benefit different health conditions. Red/NIR light therapy work to enhance mitochondrial energy production in essentially every type of cell in the body, it can enhance the cellular processes and cellular health of potentially almost every type of cell in the body. Here are the major benefits that have been proven by scientific research for near-infrared and red-light therapy:
- Increase your energy
- Make your skin healthier and get rid of cellulite
- Speed up fat loss
- Improve muscle recovery and athletic performance
- Improve mood and cognitive function
- Increase muscle size and strength
- Speed healing from injury
- Improve metabolic and hormonal health
Now that you know, you need to start using this powerful technology. Take your health, body, and energy to new heights!





