Red light therapy Improves immune system, combats some autoimmune conditions and improves thyroid function

Your body has an unbelievable capacity to heal itself. It is possibly the most essential function of it. From a young age we have been recovering after injuries, attacks from bacteria, viruses and toxins. These systems that power this healing however work in conjunction with the overall health of our defence systems. To keep these defence systems at a constantly high level requires maintenance in many forms. These forms can include not smoking, eating a diet high in fruits and vegetables, regular exercise and red light therapy. Although most people might purchase a Red Lab device to improve their skin or recover from exercise, maintaining a strong immune system might just be the most important side effect you never realised that your device is providing you.

So, let’s get to the facts. The positive effects of red light therapy on the immune system include:

• Immuno-competence cell restoration:

Laser therapy has been shown to act directly and selectively on the autoimmune system, restoring immunocompetence to cells.[1] 

Immunocompetence means that a B cell or T cell is mature and can recognise antigens and allow a person to fight back with an immune response. Thus to be immunocompetent means that the immune system is working properly and that the body is capable of mounting an appropriate immune response, when necessary.

• Promoting ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate) production.

Mitochondria convert molecules into energy in the form of ATP. The vital function of Red Light Therapy is its ability to boost this performance, allowing cells to function at their peak, replicate successfully, and fight any infections. This improves the resilience of cells. ATP has key functions both in intracellular and extracellular signalling. It is easily recognised by purinergic receptors in mammalian tissues – its release from synapses and axons activates purinergic receptors that modulate calcium and cyclic AMP levels inside the cell. In the central nervous system, adenosine modulates neural development, the control of immune systems, and of neuron/glial signalling [2]

• Improved circulation. 

While your body undergoes a Red Light Therapy session it reacts to the red and near infrared light with the instant release of nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is the human body’s natural vasodilator, instantaneously widening the blood vessels and capillaries and allowing for improved circulation in the local area where the treatment is occuring, which helps to bring nutrients to cells and remove cell-damage. 

• Improved thyroid health. 

The thyroid hormones, specifically T3 and T4, are modulators of the immune response. The faster your immune system reacts to a threat, the higher the likelihood of disease prevention. Hypo and hyperthyroid disorders negatively affect the activity of macrophages, leukocytes, natural killer cells, and lymphocytes. Restoring normal thyroid activity will positively affect the activity of these cells. [3] 

A placebo-controlled clinical trial [4] showed how RLT was effective at improving thyroid function by increasing the production of T4 and helped reduce autoimmunity by lowering thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOab). 

Not only can it improve the health of the thyroid, but science has shown near-infrared light therapy to be one of the most effective approaches to aid the body in healing itself from the type of mitochondrial dysfunction caused by EMF. [5]

• Stem cell activation,

Stem cells are invaluable to the medical community as they are master cells. These non-specialised cells are present in an inactive state throughout the body. When they are needed, like in the event of an injury, infection, or cell damage from inflammation, stem cells are transported via the bloodstream to the affected area. There they magically transform into any cell that’s needed (in this case mobilised to become active in the immune system response). [6]