074. Is Red Light a Missing Nutrient for Our Health? Podcast with Dr. Michael Hamblin

Light is essential to life as we know it. Plants rely upon sunlight to generate chemical energy, which is stored in their tissues and fuels various life processes. In turn, animals like us convert the energy from the food that we eat into mechanical energy.
Given its fundamental role in our biology, perhaps it makes sense that specific types of light are connected to our health in some surprising ways, which research is only just starting to elucidate. For example, short-wavelength light (or blue light) has been shown to modulate blood pressure. And some studies have suggested that ultraviolet light might protect against weight gain and cardiovascular disease.
But another form of light exposure, which you’ve probably heard about before, and which we haven’t had the opportunity to address here, until now, is red light therapy.
Like hundreds of technological advances that we take for granted today, the medical application of red light therapy appears to have originated from NASA. Scientists developed red light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to help promote growth in plants on space shuttle missions. From there, red light was investigated for potential medical uses. These LEDs were shown to stimulate energy processes in mitochondria - the organelles from which our cell’s energy is generated. By augmenting mitochondrial function, and enhancing energy production, you would expect cells to be better able to repair and rejuvenate themselves. But is that indeed the case?
In this episode of humanOS Radio, I speak with Michael Hamblin. Dr. Hamblin was (recently retired) Principal Investigator at the Wellman Center for Photomedicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, and an Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School.
There is perhaps no one alive with greater expertise in the health effects of red light therapy and near infrared light than Dr. Hamblin. He is a prolific researcher in photomedicine, having published over 400 peer-reviewed articles on the subject, as well as authored and edited 23 different textbooks.
In this interview, Dr. Hamblin explains:
What photobiomodulation is, and the molecular mechanisms through which it works its magic
What wavelengths and intensities of light are used for physiological effects
How photobiomodulation has been investigated for athletic performance, skin health and rejuvenation, and psychological conditions
When and how to use red light therapy for exercise performance and recovery
How red light functions as a healthy stressor to elicit anti-aging effects
And more!

[@BlueLightDiet]

Good stuff. Love Hamblin.

[@eliakimjosephsophia4542]

Great video,I bought a red light heat lamp last week, so it will interesting to see progress. Red Light is featured in New Scientist 24th November, 2021 and how it can improve eyesight.

[@DanielPardi]

Good luck with the red light experiment and thanks for the article recommendation, Eliakim

[@eliakimjosephsophia4542]

@@DanielPardi You are welcome Daniel, I've shared your video around. I'm really interested to see how much the lamp will help my osteoarthritis.

[@DanielPardi]

@@eliakimjosephsophia4542 Thank you :-) I hope it's a meaningful solution for you!

[@DTALep]

Just got a red light belt, lamp and sauna. The more I learn the more excited I get - thanks for sharing this awesome info!

[@DanielPardi]

Try it before exercise. Interesting evidence that it augments your workout.

[@jcflamini]

He mentioned that he has a red light device on his nightstand that he puts on his head if he wakes up in the middle of the night, and that he falls asleep like a baby……..any possibility of learning which device he uses?

[@DanielPardi]

Hi, I have not actually tried this myself but I was curious about this effect too. It happens to everyone. You wake up in the middle of the night and can't get back to sleep. I would try Amazon for any number of red light emitting devices that you could put comfortably on your head.

[@angiekitson-harris4257]

What a lovely and pleasant Dr to listen to, so natural and down to earth. Thank you, makes a nice change. Bless you.

[@DanielPardi]

It was a fun interview. I'm grateful for my time with him. Thanks for your comment and glad you liked it.

[@rabbitroyale1315]

Would be great for someone to discuss the LED emissions of radio frequency as it behaves like an antenna for wifi. I recently purchased a Red LED for therapy and measured it with a RF meter and the output was significant. Not as strong as my cell phone, but up to 1/3 the frequency emission... if this is meant to be within 6in. Of the skin, especially the head or face for certain applications it seems dangerous for long term regular use with out proper shielding. I made a sock for mine with aluminum window screen material and it's effective... but still seems to be a negative trade-off for the benefits of the light.

[@Daissweetest]

I was worried about EMF, there is a DIY helmet that I was thinking of making from the people that make the coronet red light helmet , Their must be a way to ground.

[@rabbitroyale1315]

@@Daissweetest I ordered some other versions of the light and it turns out it was only the first one that was emitting EMF, the others tested fine

[@kimkimi3315]

can you share a link to the one that does not emit RF?

[@Patty-qd1lz]

Would this light work on our dogs, arthritis, cognitive issues, etc?

[@ANT1714]

You can put the red light on the gut and it helps heal the microbiome?

[@marionharris5952]

Interesting question.

[@marionharris5952]

They discuss it in minute 33. No human studies yet according to them.

[@patrickstarrfish4526]

NIR light in the 810-850nm range penetrates 2-4 inches into the body. Sitting against a NIR light will allow that wavelength to penetrate deep into the abdomen.

[@Patty-qd1lz]

Can this light help Essential Tremors?