Inflammation is an issue that millions of people across the globe have had to deal with throughout their lives, whether it be due to disease, injury, or another external problem. It can serve to seriously hold you back in any form of recovery that you intend to have, and in day-to-day life, it’s the kind of nuisance that makes you want to crawl up in a ball and sleep it off.
Thankfully, though, there are ways to fight back, and that’s where red light therapy for inflammation comes into play. As many people know, RLT has been looked upon with a controversial eye in the past by those who don’t quite understand its real uses. However, in reality, the positives are crystal clear for all who are willing to see.
Today, we at NovaaLab want to focus on inflammation specifically, discussing how it can be detrimental and also how red light therapy can help you overcome it. This isn’t something that’s going to take place overnight, but if you can give it some time, the process will slowly but surely begin to come into effect.
What is red light therapy?
Over the years, red light therapy has really emerged as a new frontrunner in the world of photomedicine. It can be used in a variety of different ways and for a seemingly endless amount of illnesses or ailments. Whether it be in the comfort of your own home or administered by a professional, it is rapidly becoming a popular tool for people across the United States and beyond.
In short, red light therapy represents the use of light to treat your skin and myriad other health conditions. It takes wavelengths transmitted to parts of the body that need fixing in some way due to a lingering health concern. It can deal with anything from physical scarring to deep tissue problems, and you can work to your own timeline.
This low-level light therapy is safe to use and has been tested countless times in a variety of different formats. While there’s no guarantee of a quick fix, patience could lead you down the path of an entirely new lifestyle. With red light therapy, you could take a seriously debilitating condition and turn it into something that isn’t anywhere near as prevalent in your life.
What is inflammation?
Inflammation, in essence, is part of the body’s core defense strategy. The immune system recognizes a threat of some kind and begins the healing process, and it can either be acute or chronic (the latter of which we’ll come on to later). It usually stems from some kind of trauma, and it can become clear rather quickly that there’s a developing situation wherever it’s situated in your body.
It’s a localized physical condition, and, as we’ll discuss shortly, it features a handful of familiar symptoms that the majority of us will understand. It’s part of a reaction to an injury or infection that needs to be dealt with, and while inflammation is part of the ‘alert system’, if you will, it’s still frustrating and needs to be taken seriously.
In the short run, it’s a good thing because it means the fight has begun from your body. If it becomes a long-standing issue, however, then it can give you some real headaches in how you live your life. It’s not all bad news, though, as there are different methods you can use in order to really fight back.
Symptoms of inflammation
We don’t think it’s necessarily fair to assume that everyone has the same experience with inflammation because that just isn’t realistic. It can all come as such a shock in such a short period of time, and given the symptoms we’re going to discuss, it can be quite worrying - even though, initially, inflammation is a positive sign.
Firstly, you may start to notice some kind of pain in the troubled area (your elbow, for example). Then, you’ll start to realize that your elbow is starting to feel quite warm, more so than usual. In what should be the immediate next step, there will be some redness around the inflamed elbow, which makes it particularly tender.
From there, there’s a decent chance that there’s going to be some kind of swelling. It’s possible that it could lead to a loss of function for that part of the body, but once you’ve really started to travel down this road, you should have already been in touch with a local medical facility.
The inflammation response
The inflammatory response is something we’ve already touched on, but it’s worth getting into the nitty-gritty details of what it all really means. It starts when tissues are injured by some kind of bacteria, toxins, exposure to heat, or, as previously suggested, trauma. The cells release chemicals such as histamine and prostaglandins, which cause blood vessels to leak fluid into the tissues, leading to swelling.
The ‘foreign substance’, if you will, will then be isolated and cannot have further contact with other tissues in your body. As per the following report, the chemicals can also attract white blood cells that consume damaged cells.
From there, between a combination of your body’s response and medical intervention, we can get to work.
Chronic inflammation
While it’s quite common for inflammation to disappear as the hours and perhaps even days go by, there is a window in which it can become a chronic condition that needs constant monitoring. This long-term inflammation can exist for a prolonged period that may go on for months and potentially even years.
The side effects from this can vary depending on what caused the injury, as well as how able your body is to repair some of the damage. Sometimes, the cause of chronic inflammation can be an autoimmune disorder, where the immune system recognizes the normal component of the body as a foreign substance and begins attacking healthy cells.
Still, even with all of this being present, you can easily battle back once you understand what’s happening and study how to combat it - which is where red light therapy for inflammation comes in.
How red light therapy helps with inflammation
As part of this discussion, we’ve decided to run through a handful of really important pieces of information collected from studies in recent years. These points offer a guiding light to help you understand just how much of an impact red light therapy can have on inflammation and why as a type of photomedicine, it can give you some real peace of mind.
Melatonin production
The type of melatonin we’re referring to here doesn’t enter the bloodstream like the melatonin you’re perhaps thinking of, which aids you with sleeping. Instead, it remains within the cell and is a powerful antioxidant. As such, it’s probably a good thing to know that red light therapy, as per a study, is believed to enhance melatonin production.
The effects of stimulating this and nurturing it can play a huge role in how red light therapy helps inflammation and suppresses it. This is the kind of game-changer information that would be enough to keep anyone up at night with excitement, largely because of how countless lives could be improved by it.
Mitochondria
Red light therapy works by creating wavelengths, as we’ve noted, of light absorbed by a chemical that is referred to as cytochrome C oxidase. This chemical is actually found in mitochondria, aka small organs that are featured in pretty much all of your cells. If you can promote good mitochondrial function, you’ll go a long way toward solving the problem.
It can help reduce inflammation, speed up your recovery, and generally give you a much better outlook on whatever injury it is you’re dealing with. A recent study has looked into this matter in a fair bit of detail, coming to the conclusion that this gives you a great chance of finding some light in the darkness.
Reducing pain
It should go without saying, but living your life in any kind of consistent pain is no way to live at all. We should all be able to enjoy the little things and take everything in our stride, but sometimes, things happen that are simply out of our hands. With red light therapy, you can cut out one of inflammation’s biggest abilities: causing sustained pain.
RLT eases joint stiffness and soreness, improves your blood flow, and massively improves your circulation from head to toe. From fibromyalgia to arthritis and beyond, there are countless diseases and illnesses out there that can benefit from the use of red light therapy. Yes, it may seem like a leap of faith, but it’s one that will aid you significantly in the long run.
Post-surgery
Something that isn’t spoken about enough is the impact this can all have post-surgery. It’s not uncommon for inflammation to occur once you’ve been under the knife as your body begins to heal. Thankfully, red light therapy can alleviate even the most chronic of inflammation, giving you one less thing to worry about along the way.
It’s certainly a bit more unorthodox in the eyes of the general public, but this way, you can speed up the timeframe of your recovery. Yes, you need to speak with medical professionals before proceeding with any official action, but it’s definitely an idea that we’ll continue to actively promote. No matter what the clinical setting, this is certainly a route to consider.
Vital organs
Another point that can easily be overlooked is just how helpful red light therapy can be with inflammation when it comes to things like lung disorders, brain conditions and even spinal cord injuries. It may seem like something that can be used in jest or as a secondary idea, when in reality, the evidence speaks for itself.
One study showed promise for using photomodulation using infrared LED irradiation in intensive care units, as those involved appeared to have less lung damage as well as reduced oxygen therapy time. It’s all about continuing to explore and investigate as much as possible and with signs like this, you’d have to think the only way is up.
Learn more about red light therapy
At the heart of this entire tale is one core message: we’re here to help you live your best life – pain free. As a company, NovaaLab sets out with the sole ambition of wanting to get our customers to the point of real comfort and happiness. Sure, some companies out there just want to make a quick buck and be off to the races, but that isn’t us.
We have a selection of great products available at the click of a button, and we’re ready to commit to giving you the assistance you need. If you have any questions or queries whatsoever, feel free to check out our FAQs page.
If that doesn’t do the trick, get in touch and let us know what we can do to help!
Shirlene - 5 stars (The Novaa Deep Healing Therapy Pad)
"I can say I just ordered my 4th item from NovaaLab and my husband and I are very pleased with the red light therapy lights. I have been suffering from joint inflammation, knee pain,(after three knee surgeries,) lower back pain, arthritis in my hands, and my husband has been suffering from swollen ankle and knees. We both use the wraps for our knees and I just ordered a third wrap and I also have the Flashlight one that I can carry with me at any time when I have pain in my hands. they are just the best thing and they do work. It would be awesome if they could make a big rap that you could just lay on your bed and lay down on top of it and cover your whole body underneath. I am in my 60s and this has been a game changer for me . Thank you NovaaLab !"
Laurie K. - 5 stars (Novaa Light Pro)
"I use this on my horse's back. He has a disk slightly out and causes him to shift from foot to foot trying to get comfort. I had him on an oral suppliment for inflammation and pain relief that was bothering his stomach and he wasn't eating enough. By using this device, I was able to discontinue the oral suppliment and he is now standing quietly when confined to his stall. I'm so happy I tried it, I do use it almost every evening."
Deb - 5 stars - (Novaa Extra-Strength Healing Laser)
“I waited two mos to review. I have major foot issues/foot pain due to severe osteoporosis in feet. Bone bruises, bone stress, and inflammation most the time. On top of that my feet were injured in a tripping mishap. Desperate to heal, I decided to get the laser. I think it has hastened healing of my injuries. I didn't think I'd be walking as soon as I was post-injury. I continue to use and am happy with my progress.”
