We feel that its safe to say that Western medicine has been adopted as the industry norm worldwide for any and all ailments, diseases and treatments. So, we’re not surprised that there are many questions regarding safety, application and benefits when it comes to ‘alternative’ treatment methods. Luckily, red light therapy has been around for long enough, and has been investigated in many clinical trials with published peer-reviewed articles to support the findings, for us to confidently guarantee a proven benefit. We’re looking at some more interesting frequently asked questions.
1. Can you overdose with red light therapy?
What would the negative side effects be of extended exposure times to your red light therapy device? A lot of research has been conducted in this area so luckily, we have all the answers you need!
A study performed in 2011 looked at the biphasic dose responses observed in low level light therapy, where many studies previously performed using red light therapy were investigated and conclusions were generated regarding overdose responses. It was noted in some instances where the same benefits weren’t seen at higher dosages, which is termed – the biphasic dose response. This means that as the dosage that your red light device delivers increases, increasing benefits will be experience, up to a certain point. At this point, the benefits start to decrease with increasing dosages as a result of cells being overloaded with energy that they aren’t able to use efficiently.
So yes, we can overdose with red light therapy. BUT, the side effects aren’t negative in the sense that no discomfort or medical issues will be noted but rather, a decrease in benefits of the treatment will be noted. So not negative, but less positive.
How do I make sure I’m not overdosing?
Simple. Follow the guidelines that are provided in your device manual which have been generated for optimal results. Mychondria makes this exceptionally easy for you!
2. Can red light therapy really help me with weight loss?
In very simple terms – it is responsible for increasing our metabolic rate. This is due to the fact that light of certain wavelengths stimulates a copper enzyme in our bodies to increase the production of ATP resulting in more energy in the body. This means that there is more energy to burn glucose, resulting in healthier and stronger cells and a stronger and faster metabolic rate – which ultimately results in weight loss. Extreme dieting and periods of high stress levels have shown to result in lower metabolic rates, meaning that the body requires less energy to function and the body functions less efficiently. RLT has been proven to work against this by encouraging an increase in energy production which can provide a buffer against inflammation and oxidative stress in the body. To summarize – red light therapy can effectively be utilized as a tool to burn calories and therefore, lose weight.
3. How long does red light therapy really take to work?
To achieve long-lasting and life-changing results in a very short amount of time is unlikely and unrealistic. As with anything in life, consistency and dedication to something will almost always result in a more positive outcome than something rushed. Firstly, it’s important to remember that when we start using red light therapy, our cells need to become accustomed to the additional energy that our mitochondria are producing. Our cells need to learn how to upregulate the amount of antioxidants produced to neutralise the increased free radicals that are produces as a by-product of red light therapy. So initially, some of the increased energy produced will go towards dealing with the by-products of the treatment and not towards things like weight loss, skin and wrinkle improvement, wound healing etc. Just like anything, good things take time!
We recommend using your device for 10 – 20-minute sessions, 3 – 5 times per week for optimal results.
The best part of all? There are no negative side effects of this treatment. In fact, there are only positive things to gain through this treatment method. So why not give it a shot? You’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain!
Our blog posts take a deep dive into some very interesting and thought-provoking topics relating to red light therapy, that are posted weekly. Check them out!
Written By: Caroline Bursey
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