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It turns out that natural sunlight, provided by nature itself, is the best form of light therapy. Sunlight provides a plethora of benefits, including accelerated natural healing, pain relief, and even anti-aging effects that previously went unnoticed.
"Heliotherapy is the use of sunlight or of an artificial source of ultraviolet, visible, or infrared radiation for therapeutic purposes" (Merriam-Webster Medical).
Sunlight consists of many different types of light, including infrared light, visible light, and ultraviolet light. Let’s explore each of them.
Infrared Light
Infrared light penetrates deeper than the other types of light listed, allowing it to reach nerves, joints, and muscle tissue. Experts believe that infrared light strengthens mitochondria, organelles which make energy for the body. Mitochondria become energized, boosting cell activities. It also increases blood flow, which in turn reduces inflammation. Put simply, wounds and injuries heal faster, and soreness or body aches don’t persist for as long.
Visible Light
Red light and blue light are within the visible light spectrum. Both provide different benefits, which are explained below.
Red Light
Red light penetrates further than blue light but not as far as infrared light. It has lots of similar benefits as infrared light, but because it does not penetrate as deep, it is often used in skin care and anti-aging products. Similar to infrared light, it strengthens mitochondria and stimulate faster repair and rejuvenation of your skin tissues.
Blue Light
Although less is known about blue light, we know that it is the shortest wavelength besides violet in the visible light spectrum. It therefore has some antibacterial and antiviral activity comparable to ultraviolet light. Additionally, blue light is often utilized for skin and acne conditions.
Ultraviolet Light
It is common knowledge that ultraviolet light, or UV light, is needed to trigger production of vitamin D in our skin. Vitamin D is needed for bone, muscle, and immune system health. UV light also increases production of Nitric Oxide, which is correlated with improved blood pressure and other heart benefits. UV light is used treat diseases such as jaundice, psoriasis, eczema and rickets.
Why does this matter? And is light therapy actually important?
According to the World Health Organization, "globally, excessive solar UVR exposure caused the loss of approximately 1.5 million DALYs (0.1% of the total global burden of diesase) and 60,000 premature deaths in the year 2000", where DALYs are a measure of how much the disease reduces an individual's healthy life span due to premature dealth or disability. However, these numbers are trivial when we consider the potential implications of zero UVR. Instead of gifting us with minimal chances of disease and death, we would instead devestated with the higher annual burden of 3.3 billion DALYs worldwide. That is 2,200 times larger!
Some negative effects of low sunlight exposure include major disorders of the musculoskeletal system and some autoimmune diseases and cancers.
Times for ideal sunlight exposure
Obviously, sufficient sunlight exposure is essential for maintaining our wellbeing. While we have to keep in mind to avoid sunburn and cancer risks from excessive ultraviolet light exposure, sunlight is a great way to promote our health. Sunset and sunrise are ideal times for sunlight exposure without having to worry about its detrimental effects, allowing for maximum red and near-infrared light exposure since the ultraviolet light is being scattered and blocked by the atmosphere at that time.
If you have the time, consider seizing this completely free remedy, provided to us by nature!
Resources
"Does Sunlight Provide Red Light Therapy? Health Benefits of the Sun Explained."
GembaRed, 26 Sept. 2021, gembared.com/blogs/musings/does-sunlight-provide-red light-therapy-photobiomodulation-from-the-sun-explained. Accessed 30 Sept. 2023.
"Everything You Need to Know about Red and Infrared Light Therapy." LED Technologies, ledtechnologies.com/blog/red-and-infrared-light-therapy/. Accessed 30 Sept. 2023.
"Health Consequences of Excessive Solar UV Radiation." World Health Organization, 25 July 2006, www.who.int/news/item/25-07-2006-health-consequences-of-excessive-solar- uv-radiation#:~:text=The%20report%2C%20Global%20Burden%20of%20Disease%20of
%20Solar,by%20malignant%20melanomas%2C%20and%2012%2C000%20by%20skin
%20carcinomas. Accessed 30 Sept. 2023.
Johnson, Lee. "UV Light: Positive & Negative Effects." Sciencing, Leaf Group Media, 31 July 2019, sciencing.com/uv-light-positive-negative-effects-8108855.html. Accessed 30 Sept. 2023.
Pagán, Camille Noe. "What Is Red Light Therapy?" WebMD, 29 Nov. 2021, www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/red-light- therapy#:~:text=Red%20light%20therapy%20(RLT)%20is,body%20can%20feel%20as
%20heat. Accessed 30 Sept. 2023.
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