Red Light is Essential (especially in the winter) – and here’ s why.

Here at LondonCryo we’re best known for our whole-body cryotherapy and localised Cryotherapy treatments. Yet we consider our red-light therapy treatments to be key to enhancing the health of our clients whilst complementing the benefits of -140oC. Red light therapy, (such as our Infrared Sauna) and particularly the Infrared and Far-Infrared light emitted by photobiomodulation has a number of noticeable effects on mood, hormones and skin health. If you’re interested in ‘geeking’ out on some of the research surrounding Photobiomodulation, or you just want to find an awesome discount on your first session then check out below. 

Energy

Energy is synergistic with life – meaning living things are like batteries they need a ‘charge’ to function and release energy. For the body to function optimally a condition of energy balance of both using and producing energy (Homeostasis) is critical for sustaining life. For the human body to create this energy, our mitochondria (the ‘powerhouse of our cells) convert food into energy (ATP) for our cells to use resulting in literally trillions of tiny reactions every single second. These reactions allow our muscles to contract, the neurons in our brains to fire and the immune system to function, all of which are central to our overall health and ability to fight off disease. But energy for mitochondrial function doesn’t just come from the food we eat but also from the sun. 

Sunlight, Red and Near Infrared Rays 

 Sunlight is essential not only for energy but for our mental, emotional and hormonal health and recovery (Holick 2016). A lack of sunlight can disrupt these processes and not only lead to a lack of vitamin D but also to fatigue, low mood, inflammation and a weakened immune system (sidenote-if you’re not already taking vitamin D or getting plenty of healthy sun exposure consider supplementing or getting your status checked – more than 1 in 5 of us in the UK is deficient). Unfortunately, work and personal commitments mean that most of us spend the large majority of our time indoors, in-fact UK adults on average spend 22 hours a day indoors (Diffy 2010). 

In 1800 William Hershel discovered InfraRed waves of light etc etc …fast forward a couple of hundred years and Scientists found that these Red and Near-Infrared Rays have positive effects on the body: healing skin, boosting collagen production, increasing mental activity, optimizing the  circadian rhythm , lowering inflammation, boosting testosterone production, reducing the damage caused by oxidative stress & improving performance and recovery (and this isn’t even the full list!).For treatment purposes red light therapy was then incorporated into medical devices that emit these beneficial wavelengths in isolation – welcome Photo biomodulation! (PBM). 

Try out Photobiomodulation 

Photobiomodulation emits isolated healing wavelengths of Red and Near-Infrared light to encourage and optimize your bodies ‘inner healer’ and mitochondrial health.  By concentrating these beneficial rays into an accessible device not only are you able to get all the benefits of Red light, but all in under 20 minutes – sounds too good to be true? (Check out the research referenced later). 

To do…

If you want to benefit from Red light, then go outside, especially during sunrise and sunset exposing your bare skin as much as possible (without burning!). Of course, as we know here at Londoncryo Nature is always the best option but sometimes that isn’t an option- or some of us just want to really optimize;). Photobiomodulation will give you a concentrated dose of Red light that your body might need- really!  Try it… get out in the sun more and check out Photobiomodulation at LondonCryo, you’ll feel better and so will your 100, 000 trillion mitochondria.

Quote Red20 to get 20% off your first session of Photobiomodulation. 

Want to know more? Don’t just take our word for it… read the countless studies indicating the beneficial healing effects of red light. Here are just a few of the open access articles. 

Our Whole Body Cryo service as well as infrared saunas and lymphatic drainage, red light photobiomodulation therapy, compression therapy, Cryofacials, slimming, toning and double chin services and IV drips are all available to book in our locations – LondonCryo City (located in Liverpool Street) and LondonCryo Belgravia (situated near the suburbs of Chelsea) and now at 82 St Johns Wood High Street, St Johns Wood.

Refences from blog post

 An overview analysis of the time people spend outdoorshttps://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2133.2010.10165.x

(B.L Diffy 2010) 

Biological Effects of Sunlight, Ultraviolet Radiation, Visible Light, Infrared Radiation and Vitamin D for Health. (MICHAEL F. HOLICK)https://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/36/3/1345

Open Access Articles 

 Photobiomodulation and the brain: a new paradigm. https://doi.org/10.1088/2040-8986/19/1/013003

 Photobiomodulation in human muscle tissue: an advantage in sports performance? 

https://doi.org/10.1002/jbio.201600176

Mechanisms and application of the anti-inflammatory effects of photobiomodulation . 

https://doi.org/10.3934/biophy.2017.3.337

 Photomiomodulation as a treatment for neurodegenerative disorders: current and future trends. 

https://doi.org/10.1007/s13534-019-00115-x

By Rebecca Nelson for LondonCryo