Mental Health Benefits of RLT

How Does Red Light Therapy Impact Mental Health?

Red light therapy, also known as phototherapy or photobiomodulation, involves applying specific wavelengths of red and near-infrared light to the body. These wavelengths painlessly penetrate the skin and stimulate cellular processes. By activating cells to produce more ATP, or cellular energy, red light therapy can have exciting impacts on many of the body’s functions.

Red light therapy works in several ways to alleviate symptoms of depression and SAD:

• Regulate circadian rhythm: The brain’s circadian rhythm is responsible for sleep patterns, but also for hormone regulation, proper digestion, and many other functions. Phototherapy has been shown to help regulate the body’s internal clock, allowing for better sleep and more efficient hormone regulation.¹

• Reduce inflammation: Red light therapy can help reduce inflammation throughout the body, alleviating chronic pain and allowing for improved brain function. Chronic pain and depression often go hand in hand, so reducing inflammation can play an important role in breaking cycles of depression.

• Boosting energy: By increasing cellular energy, red light therapy can improve cellular function and make individuals feel more energetic. Having more energy makes it easier to participate in activities that have been shown to alleviate the symptoms of depression, such as physical exercise. Red light therapy can also help boost overall mood.

• Balancing hormones: Hormones such as serotonin and melatonin play an important role in mental health. Red light therapy can help normalize the production of these hormones in the brain, promoting mood elevation and wakefulness in the daytime.

  
  

Red light therapy alone is unlikely to cure depression or SAD. However, properly administered phototherapy can play a role in breaking difficult cycles of poor sleep and low energy. Working with a medical team to determine the best steps for alleviating the symptoms of depression and SAD is critical.

¹ https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/light-therapy-not-just-for-seasonal-depression-202210282840