09/28/2022
I get asked many questions about what I do. But two of the most popular questions I get asked are:
1. What’s the difference between Red Light Therapy (RLT) and Infrared Sauna?
2. Do you think either one of those could help me?
RLT & Infrared Sauna seem to be “on trend” right now. However, both have been around for a very long time. The sudden “trend” is because, in my opinion, people are starting to wake up to the fact that we can treat our own health and well being with more holistic, functional and non-invasive treatments. More and more studies have been emerging about the benefits they offer, including increased energy, reduced inflammation, better sleep, improved skin, and reduced stress levels. And seriously, who wouldn’t want that?
Although both technologies help improve your health in similar ways, there are some key differences between the two modalities. So let me break down the two and show you how infrared saunas may be able to complement red light therapy.
The main difference is light vs. heat. They are two different types of energy. Infrared sauna heat up the body directly by emitting infrared rays. Red light therapy works by targeting parts of your body with infrared light.
Infrared saunas use infrared heat instead of steam to provide deep-penetrating warmth and detoxification from within. While there are many different infrared sauna devices available, each type provides similar benefits: detoxification, improved circulation, better sleep, and pain relief. Infrared saunas can help with arthritis, muscle spasms, injuries, chronic pain, and weight loss. These wavelengths of light pe*****te through the body and cause your core temperature to rise – which makes you sweat.
Red light therapy devices promote healing in similar ways to infrared saunas, but do so by using light beams (non-thermal light), instead of heat. These light beams are used to relieve pain and discomfort associated with muscle and joint stiffness, chronic pain relief, and other painful conditions associated with inflammation such as carpal tunnel. In simple terms, saunas rely on heat to produce biological health benefits. Red light therapy, on the other hand, relies on light energy to produce a biological response.
However, there is something very important to note about the majority of red light therapy many places offer. They are not the medical-grade therapeutic red lights. Instead, they are something called chromotherapy. Though chromotherapy does offer some great benefits, it is not the same as red light therapy.
Infrared saunas have been used for decades by many cultures around the world to improve health. That’s because of their proven benefits, time and time again, that include things such as boosting circulation and increasing your body’s ability to sweat toxins out. This can lead to improved recovery after exercise or sore muscles. However, you stand to gain the most benefits from using red light therapy along with your infrared sauna sessions.
Red light therapy, also called photo biomodulation, works to target the body with very specific wavelengths of light that produce some powerful benefits. These benefits exist because red light (660 nm) is absorbed by your skin and near-infrared light (850nm) is able to pe*****te through your skin and into your tissues, muscles, and body, where it can provide energy to the mitochondria of your cells to aid in all sorts of things. If you remember high school biology, that's the energy source of the cell.
Here are some of the top benefits you can get from red light therapy.
Skin health
Therapeutic red light treats the root cause of many skin issues by stimulating natural collagen production, reducing inflammation, and enhancing blood flow. Because of this, red light therapy can be used to help skin with anti-aging, fine lines & wrinkles, acne & acne scars, sunspots, and stubborn skin conditions such as eczema, rosacea, psoriasis, and sunspots.
Sleep
Red light therapy can help you relax and wind down in the evenings, ultimately promoting deeper and more restful sleep. This light has a long wavelength, which has a calming effect on the body. Therefore, red light therapy has beneficial effects on sleep and other physical properties that help promote relaxation and rest in the evenings while offsetting harmful blue light exposure during the days.
Muscle health
Many professional athletes are discovering the benefits of red and near-infrared light therapy. Because red light therapy works by increasing blood flow and stimulating cell regeneration, athletes are able to speed up the recovery process. Recent clinical studies have shown red and near-infrared light therapy can repair muscle, enhance athletic performance, and aid in the recovery process following a workout or injury.
Mental health
Red light therapy can help eliminate fatigue (partially by working to support the thyroid - Hello fellow Hashimoto's brothers and sisters), support a balanced mood, improve mental clarity, and improve general positivity while reducing anxiety, depression, and seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
Pain & inflammation
Red light therapy has shown immense potential as a natural treatment for pain and inflammation without the risks of pharmaceuticals. Red light therapy alleviates chronic inflammation by increasing blood flow and by increasing the body’s natural antioxidant defenses.
Circulation
Blood circulation is one of the most vital functions in the body. It’s how essential nutrients and oxygen get delivered to the brain and throughout the body. Red light therapy improves blood flow by stimulating the production of Nitric Oxide (NO) in our cells. This right here is why bruising can sometimes be prevented if used immediately after injury or speed up healing.
RLT and Infrared Sauna Session – It’s a great partnership
For the ultimate experience, spend 15-30 minutes in our infrared sauna to activate heat shock proteins in your body, increase your blood flow, and detox through sweat. Then, use our red light therapy for 10-20 minutes to boost your cellular energy production, help with pain and inflammation, and support your sleep.
Both our sauna and red light therapy device are convenient and easy-to-use alternatives to more aggressive procedures that often require months of physical therapy to achieve the same level of pain relief, such as steroid injections, surgery, or extracorporeal shock wave therapy.
I’ve mentioned many benefits to infrared sauna and red light therapy. But don’t take my word for it. Come out and try a combination session of both. 15 minutes in an infrared sauna followed by 10 minutes of red light therapy for $25 and feel the benefits for yourself!
