Red Light Therapy vs. Acupuncture: Which Is Better for Pain Relief?

In the modern world, we’re constantly looking for a quick fix when it comes to the pain that we experience in our bodies. Sometimes, there can be temporary relief from what seems to be a fast and simple solution — but in other instances, it’s a bit more complicated than that. You have to really consider your options when looking at potential treatment, and today, we want to take a closer look at two in particular.

Red light therapy and acupuncture are both used across the globe but in very different ways. Many folks have opted to compare and contrast the two to see which is more beneficial, and we’ve decided to weigh in on that debate. In truth, there are a lot of differences between them, but it’s always interesting to have a look through the data.

With that being said, let’s take a closer look at our two contenders.

Red light therapy and acupuncture: what are they?

The aim of red light therapy is to help treat any pains or ailments that you may be suffering from using low levels of red or near-infrared light. It can provide substantial assistance with skin or muscle tissue concerns, and that extends to most parts of the body. As a kind of photomedicine, it continues to be validated and deemed safe to use with every passing study.

As for acupuncture, it is best known as a complementary medicine that uses fine needles that are inserted into the skin at specific points. They are seen as lines of energy and can be used to treat a variety of different physical conditions, with the purpose being to stimulate the central nervous system, which could alter your body’s healing abilities.

In their own way, both are viewed as unorthodox methods of treating people — if you’re narrow-minded, that is.

The benefits of red light therapy

Red light therapy works on improving your skin in a myriad of ways, including healing wounds, reducing stretch marks, helping with wrinkles, and improving the appearance of scars — and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. One study found that RLT provides a safe option for the treatment of skin tissue with really positive feedback from patients.

In terms of dealing with problems that many of us can’t see, a previous study has suggested that red light therapy activates cellular energy and, off the back of that, can relieve inflammation. This opens it up to an entirely different market, and trust us when we say that this is just RLT scratching the surface of what is really possible.

The benefits of acupuncture

Throughout a range of studies, acupuncture has been found to be effective in reducing the effects of many different illnesses and injuries. In a 2017 study, reviews from thousands of trials found moderate to high-quality evidence of acupuncture having a positive impact on 117 conditions out of 122 that were tested.

Then, four years later, guidelines were published on chronic pain management, with acupuncture being selected as one of just four evidence-based treatments that should be used to treat chronic pain. Whether it be reducing your stress, dealing with menstrual cramps, or trying to help your headaches, the possibilities are endless.

Can you combine red light therapy and acupuncture?

Regarding facial acupuncture, a report from Shellie Goldstein has indicated that the two can work quite well in association with one another. She states that pairing them up can serve as a real benefit for those with acne or just for people who want to try out some anti-aging methods. Alternatively, if you just want to look after your own general health, there’s a solution for that, too.

The report suggests that light therapy and acupuncture can stimulate skin cell micro-circulation, improve lymphatic drainage, and, as has been well documented, increase collagen and elastin production. If this is the starting point, then something tells us that we could be in the beginning stages of a beautiful relationship.

Red light therapy vs acupuncture: our final thoughts

The benefits of both red light therapy and acupuncture have been well documented, as have the positives associated with blending them together. We are, however, slightly biased in the sense that we believe RLT to be a truly remarkable source of pain relief. Whether it be day or night, there’s always room for red light to come in and change your life.

Here at NovaaLab, we strive to make a difference with every single product we produce. Our goal is to help millions of Americans, as well as others from across the globe, to learn and understand more about red light therapy as it continues to grow.