Photobiomodulation, also known as red light therapy, is a cool science-y way to use red or near-infrared light to help our cells work better! Read more to understand how.
Red Light Therapy: Like Sunshine for Our Cells
Okay, imagine you’re a plant basking in the warm sunlight. The sun’s rays hit your leaves, and something magical happens. It’s called photosynthesis, and it’s how plants make food and grow big and strong.
But did you know that something similar can happen to our cells with a little help from red light therapy?
You see, our cells have these special structures called mitochondria. They’re like tiny powerhouses inside our bodies, working hard to produce energy for all our activities.
Just like the sun helps plants with photosynthesis, red light therapy gives our cells a similar boost.
When we use red light therapy, we shine special red or near-infrared light on our bodies. It’s like giving our cells a gentle hug of sunlight. This light gets absorbed by our cells, especially by something called cytochrome c oxidase (CCO) inside the mitochondria. CCO is like the plant’s own photosynthesis machine!
Red Light Therapy Boosts Cell Energy By Flipping a Switch
When the red light touches CCO, it’s like a switch turning on. CCO gets excited and starts releasing something called nitric oxide (NO). Think of NO as a messenger that tells the cells, “Hey, let’s work harder and make more energy!”
With this extra push our cells go into overdrive, and red light therapy boosts cell energy.
They start producing more of a molecule called ATP, which is like their energy fuel. Just like plants use sunlight to grow and thrive, our cells use this extra energy to heal, repair, and keep us feeling our best.
Scientists are still studying all the nitty-gritty details of how red light therapy works, but we do know it’s a pretty cool way to help our bodies feel good and do what they do best!
Reference:
- Avci, P., Gupta, A., Sadasivam, M., Vecchio, D., Pam, Z., Pam, N., … & Hamblin, M. R. (2013). Low-level laser (light) therapy (LLLT) in skin: stimulating, healing, restoring. Seminars in Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery, 32(1), 41-52. Link
- Ferraresi, C., Huang, Y. Y., & Hamblin, M. R. (2016). Photobiomodulation in human muscle tissue: an advantage in sports performance?. Journal of Biophotonics, 9(11-12), 1273-1299. Link
- Hamblin MR. Shining light on the head: Photobiomodulation for brain disorders. BBA Clin. 2016 Oct 1;6:113-124. Link
