Anxiety and stress are more prevalent in these times than ever before, having taken tolls on the life pattern of millions across the globe. Perhaps it's pressure at work, personal challenges, or external factors like global events, but in all ways, stress can be manifesting in different ways to really affect our general well-being. While many would normally reach out for medication or therapy for relief, a growing number would look to find natural and non-invasive treatments such as red light therapy that they hope can alleviate anxiety and manage stress more effectively.
Lately, red light therapy has gained quite a high level of interest because it provides many health uses, such as skin health improvement and muscle recovery. Probably less known but highly influential use of this technology deals with anxiety relief. In the blog post, you will look at how red light treatment can be used as a natural, safe, and effective method to reduce anxiety and stress.
What is Red Light Therapy?
First, let's understand what red light therapy is. Red light therapy is a process wherein one exposes the body to low wavelengths of either red or near-infrared light (sometimes blue). These penetrate deep through the skin and tissues for ensuring cellular repair, regeneration, and overall well-being.
The process works by its enhancement of mitochondrial function in your cells. Mitochondria, the so-called "powerhouses" of the cell, provide energy. If mitochondria are excited by red and near-infrared light, they generate more adenosine triphosphate, or ATP-the cellular energy currency. This heightened energy production hastens healing, reduces inflammation, and generally enhances cellular processes.
What is Pulsing?
Pulsing is the simple on and off of the light, but at very specific intervals and durations. Research has shown that certain hertz like 10 and 40 can affect the wavelengths of the brain. 40hz can bring the brain wavelengths up to a more alert state, while 10hz can decrease to a more calm state.
Anxiety and Stress: How Do They Affect the Body?
Anxiety and stress are not mere states of the mind; they do manifest physically, too. Therefore, long-term anxiety can lead to chronic stress, which is associated with many physiological issues, including:
- Accelerated heart rate
- Increased blood pressure
- Muscle tension
- Gastrointestinal problems
- Insomnia or disrupted sleep
These can indeed be a vicious cycle of sorts: stress feeding anxiety, and with increased anxiety, even more stress until it does affect one's mental and physical health. Most anxiety treatments, in fact, aim to break this vicious cycle. While prescription medications may help, they usually have side effects. That is where the natural remedies, such as red light therapy, come into place by offering a more attractive alternative.
The Science Behind Red Light Therapy and Anxiety Relief
So, exactly how does red light therapy alleviate anxiety? Several mechanisms indicate the science behind stress relief and a nervous system that is soothed.
1. Reduction of Inflammation
Chronic inflammation is usually comorbid with chronic stress and anxiety. This response could be your body's normal way of responding to some injury or other illness, but in instances where this type of reaction has been extended and prolonged, it may wreak havoc on your system and give rise to mood disorders, anxiety, and depression. Red light therapy helps decrease inflammation by encouraging better circulation and oxygenation to tissues in support of cellular health.
2. Improved Circulation
It widens blood vessels and, by this virtue, allows an increase in blood flow, thus ensuring the cells are getting their right share of oxygen and nutrition. All these can help to alleviate some of the physical symptoms of anxiety, such as muscle tension and headaches, promoting better relaxation and focus.
3. Improves Production of Serotonin
One of the major ways red light therapy can engage in the fight against anxiety is by fostering the production of serotonin. Serotonin is one of the neurotransmitters responsible for maintaining mood, anxiety, and happiness. Experiments show that with pulsing red light (40hz), an effect on serotonin levels is possible, influencing a more balanced mood and fewer feelings of anxiety.
4. Promoting Better Sleep
Anxiety also happens to combine with sleep disorders, such as insomnia or disturbed sleep. Red light therapy might regulate melatonin production, the chemical responsible for sleep. Therefore, RLT can decrease the level of stress and help the physical and mental recovery of your body by improving sleep quality.
5. Soothing the Nervous System
Red light therapy might work directly on the nervous system, particularly on the autonomic nervous system responsible for involuntary activities, such as heartbeat and digestion. It has also been reported that some studies indicate red light forces the autonomic nervous system from "fight or flight" to "rest and digest" mode. This is pertinent to reduce feelings of anxiety and promote states of relaxation.
How to Choose the Right Red Light Therapy Device for Anxiety Relief
When it comes to leveraging red light therapy for anxiety, the right device makes a big difference. Whether you are seeking a portable solution for home application or an advanced device capable of addressing the need for larger coverage, LightPathLED has prepared a number of options for various easy and effective treatments.
1. Mini Red
The Mini Red is a compact, portable red light therapy treatment device suitable for more focused areas. From tense shoulders to a quick, relaxing session after a bad day, the Mini Red offers a user-friendly option that one can easily take anywhere. Its compact size makes it perfect for use at home, in the office, or even while traveling, providing flexibility in the daily application of red light therapy.
2. Diesel Tabletop
A more powerful but yet space-efficient option is the Diesel Tabletop. This device is constructed for ease of use, further enhanced by its tabletop design qualities, making it perfect for your home or office. You can comfortably place it near your workspace or area of relaxation and enjoy the soothing effects throughout your day. The Diesel Tabletop has high-intensity red and near-infrared lights that ensure deep tissue penetration for great relief of physical and mental tensions.
3. XL Shortie
If you need a device for larger areas of the body, then the XL Shortie is your best bet. This multi-use device delivers some seriously powerful red light therapy over a larger area, ideal for anyone with general tension or chronic stress. Designed to be used while lying down or seated, its larger dimensions also equate to quicker, more comprehensive treatments.
4. Diesel XL
The Diesel XL is the ultimate solution for an all-rounded red light therapy. This high-performance device offers a full-body treatment, which is great for persons who have symptoms of both localized and generalized anxiety. Covering a larger surface area will ensure that one has obtained optimal exposure to near infrared and red light, promoting full-body relaxation, improvement in circulation, and increased well-being in general.
How to Incorporate Red Light Therapy into Your Routine
It is, in reality, loads simpler than it appears; making red light therapy a part of your daily routine. Here are some ways you could use RLT for relief from anxiety:
- Morning sessions: Start your day with a quick 10-15 minute session pulsed at 40hz to boost your mood and reduce morning anxiety.
- Midday relaxation: If you feel stress building up during the day, take a break and enjoy a calming red light session to help reset your mind.
- Evening wind-down: A 15-20 minute session pulsed at 10hz before bed can help you relax and improve your sleep quality, reducing stress and anxiety for the next day.
Most LightPathLED red light therapy devices are designed for convenient home-use applications, so you can easily squeeze these treatments into your daily schedule. In reality, this should ease most of the stressors for using these devices in the first place. At the top of this, one may notice a general improvement in mood and quality of sleep, as well.
Conclusion: Nature's Anxiety Relief
Living in a world where stress and anxiety have become the utmost common features, it's highly relevant to seek natural and non-invasive methods of managing one's mental health. Red light therapy is one such promising, scientifically-backed solution to calm anxiety and improve overall well-being. Whether you go for a portable option like the Mini Red or go all guns blazing with the full-body Diesel XL, red light therapy will be the core component of your wellness routine.
Interested in tapping into the power of red light therapy? Consider innovative solutions by LightPathLED. With a wide array of different devices designed to suit numerous needs and budgets, it's easy to fit in the benefits of red light therapy into one's routine and enjoy new depths of a calm, relaxed psyche.