Red Light Therapy for Improving Your Mental Health

Did you know that 10-15% of the population is affected by Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)? This season-related depression is so common and can be debilitating. But there are ways to fight back! One such way is with red light therapy. Red light therapy is a non-surgical treatment used to help people overcome their symptoms of SAD or other mood disorders such as anxiety and depression. 

In addition, red light therapy for weight loss is gaining popularity because of its ability to boost metabolism and mimic the effects of exercise. Wanting a healthy body is, after all, one way people are able to achieve happiness!

In this article, we will answer all your questions about how it works and how it may just become your new favorite thing!

What is Red Light Therapy?

Red light therapy is a type of phototherapy that uses natural sunlight or red lights, often found in LED panels. It can be used to treat specific conditions by stimulating the cells under the skin with special types of light energy. It has been known to help with many conditions.

Red light therapy is used for the treatment of specific skin conditions including aging and acne scars. It also helps regenerate collagen production which plumps up your skin cells. Using red light therapy on your face can give you younger-looking skin quickly! Improve fine lines, wrinkles, and acne scars with red light therapy!

Red light therapy has also been known to be effective for many internal issues. It is often used in the treatment of depression, anxiety, insomnia, and more because it can produce similar effects that are achieved through medication without any side effects. Red lights mimic natural sunlight which makes them perfect for treating sun-related conditions.

Red light therapy is also sometimes used in place of medication for pain relief. It can help reduce the symptoms of arthritis, joint pain, muscle spasms, and more! 

How Light Affects Your Overall Health

Red light energy is believed to affect your body because of the impact it has on the mitochondria within each cell. Red Light Therapy can increase mitochondrial function by up to 40 percent, which in turn helps improve overall health and wellness. 

Red light therapy has been used to reduce depression and anxiety as well. In this case, the red light is believed to affect your body by increasing serotonin production within your central nervous system. All of these benefits can lead to a decrease in depressive symptoms and an improvement in overall mental health for those experiencing this type of mood disorder.

How to Use Red Light Therapy for Improving Mental Health

Red light therapy can be used in many different ways for improving your mental health. 

The number one way is by using it on the brain, which can help improve concentration and focus. Red light therapy has been proven to do this because of its ability to increase oxygenation within the neurons (cells) of our brains while also stimulating neurotransmitters.

Allowing your brain cells to absorb more oxygen has many benefits. Not only does it allow them to work better but also longer, which means you can perform at optimal levels for much longer periods without running out of energy or becoming tired easily. 

We all know that feeling when our brains feel like they’re about to explode after a long day of studying or working. Red light therapy has been proven to help with that kind of pressure and overload, allowing you to work more efficiently without becoming overwhelmed by stress.

Another way red light therapy can be used for improving your mental health is by using it on the skin. This is done because red light therapy helps to increase blood flow within your body, which means more oxygen is being distributed throughout your entire body.

When you are stressed out or feeling run down, most people experience tension in their muscles causing them to feel sore and tight all over. When this happens it can be very hard for your mind to relax and fall asleep, which is why so many people suffer from insomnia. However, red light therapy can help you sleep better because the increase in blood flow will allow your muscles to recover faster after a workout or just everyday aches and pains that keep you up at night.

Red light therapy can help improve the functionality of your central nervous system which will allow you to heal faster and remain healthy.

Studies Proving Red Light Therapy Help for Mental Health

So, red light therapy can improve your mental health. But what are the scientific studies proving this? 

There is a study that shows how “By using red and near-infrared (NIR) light-emitting diode treatments on different parts of the brain over eight weeks, scientists were able to increase neurogenesis in rats by up to 30 percent.” 

Another study done was a small double-blind, placebo-controlled trial on patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). Patients were treated with red light therapy every other day for six weeks and experienced significant improvement in their symptoms. These results have been supported by several case studies as well demonstrating the benefits of using red light therapy for mental health.

Contraindications for the Use of Red Light Therapy

Red light therapy is considered safe for most people. However, there are some specific situations where you should not use red light therapy: 

• If you have a skin condition and the area to be treated looks inflamed or broken out in acne, do not use red light therapy at this time – You want your skin to heal before exposing it to red light.
• If you are using a medication, check with your doctor to make sure the combination of red light therapy and that medication is safe.
• Do not use if pregnant or nursing – Red Light Therapy can be absorbed through the skin which could affect a developing fetus or an infant who may be nursing.

Conclusion

Red light therapy for improving your mental health is an effective method. It can be used for issues of depression, anxiety, or even PTSD that you may have experienced in the past. The way it works is by having the light charge your cells and help them work more efficiently. This can lead to an increase in energy, moods, and overall health.