Treatment time
For red light therapy, you can spend as little as 15 minutes or as long as 45 minutes. But the ideal treatment time depends on your needs.
An individual who wishes to perform light therapy will be taking it as part of a schedule they already have. Some people will do light therapy every day, while others will only use it once or twice a week.
If someone has no scheduled access to a red light therapy room, they may also take light therapy at work or at home. If a person is homeless, they may seek out places that offer sessions.
Overview
Red light therapy is similar to both vitamin D and electrical light therapy. Red light therapy is similar to both vitamin D and electrical light therapy.
The light in red light therapy has two parts. The blue light excites retinal cells in the back of the eye, and the red light causes the cells to send a message to the brain, which sends a signal to reduce pain and increase blood circulation.
The yellow substance in the light can also be used to treat a person’s blood vessels to improve blood flow.
Using red light therapy for pain relief does not allow a person to rid themselves of their condition entirely.
Red light therapy is similar to many forms of pain therapy, including:
Electrical light therapy
Electrical light therapy is an old method of pain management.
Light therapy first became popular in the 1950s, when people began taking electrical pulses to treat pain. They had devices called photon lamps that produced electric currents that struck the skin and caused the body to contract.
The method can be used for any type of pain, including:
- irritable bowel syndrome
- arthritis
- muscle and joint pain
- itchy skin
- difficulty sleeping.
Danish researchers published a study in 2012 that demonstrated the effectiveness of electrical light therapy. They studied the response of joints of people with arthritis who underwent treatments of the same intensity but for different times and patterns.
These electrical pulses were highly effective in reducing pain, especially at the beginning of treatment and for the first few days afterward.
Vitamin D therapy
A 2012 study showed that those who take vitamin D supplements may feel more rested. A 2012 study showed that those who take vitamin D supplements may feel more rested.
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is necessary for many vital functions in the body, including growth, reproduction, and metabolism.
There are three types of vitamin D:
- vitamin D2 , which is created when the body makes vitamin D from ultraviolet light.
- which is created when the body makes vitamin D from ultraviolet light. vitamin D3 , which can be obtained through a diet or from synthetic supplements.
- which can be obtained through a diet or from synthetic supplements. vitamin D3, which comes from vitamin D2.
Vitamin D supplementation has been widely used to treat certain medical conditions, including:
- cancer
- stress-related disorders
- chronic fatigue syndrome
- migraines
- MS
- osteoporosis
- paralysis.
Doctors may prescribe a dose of vitamin D in addition to an anti-inflammatory drug, like ibuprofen or naproxen, to relieve pain.
Light therapy
Light therapy is another form of therapy that can help a person feel better. Some doctors may prescribe light therapy as an alternative to or alongside traditional medication for pain.
Light therapy works by exposing a person’s body to a series of specific wavelengths of light, usually around 900 nanometers.
Light therapy targets the centers of the body that are sensitive to pain, and it helps reduce inflammation and the perception of pain.
One form of light therapy is called light-emitting diode therapy. Researchers first discovered that UV-A light can be used for pain management in 1959, when they were studying cancer treatment.
Vitamin D therapy
Vitamin D is needed for the body to synthesize collagen, which is responsible for keeping the bones strong. In order to get the vitamin, a person needs to eat food that is rich in vitamin D, including:
- fish
- milk
- eggs
- fortified cereal
- sunshine.
Vitamin D is also necessary for production of serotonin, a hormone that helps regulate the brain and nervous system. In the brain, serotonin is involved in the production of mood and other psychological functions.
Taking a vitamin D supplement may help to improve a person’s mood and may also help manage conditions that are related to the levels of serotonin in the brain, such as:
- lupus
- insomnia
- sleep disorders
- depression
Some people who take vitamin D supplements report improved pain management, insomnia, and other symptoms. However, taking the supplements in high doses can lead to side effects, such as nausea and fatigue.