Red Light

links: Light reference:

• https://lifegivingstore.com/ray-peat-on-red-light/
• https://redlightman.com/blog/complete-guide-light-therapy-dosing/
• https://rouge.care/blogs/rouge-red-light-therapy-blog/red-light-therapy-for-fitness-performance-and-recovery
• https://valtsus.blogspot.com/2017/05/the-therapeutic-effects-of-red-and-near.html
• Red light biphasic dose response
• https://platinumtherapylights.com/blogs/news/red-light-therapy-before-or-after-workout
• https://heelspurs.com/led.html
• Infrared and Skin: Friend or Foe
• https://www.westonaprice.org/health-topics/sunlight-and-vitamin-d-theyre-not-the-same-thing/ Sunglasses are pozzed
• https://www.neuroplasticity.how/guide-how-to-treat-the-brain-using-photobiomodulation/ easy blog post
• Photobiomodulation (PBM) research - a comprehensive database on google sheets
• https://www.reddit.com/r/SkincareAddiction/comments/115sd3a/comment/j97bs17/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button 6-22-2021

Red Light/LLLT #

• Photon energy absorption by Cytochrome C Oxidase is its main mechanism.
  • More specifically, it displaces nitric oxide.
• Mechanisms of action for light therapy: a review of molecular interactions
  • Peak Cytochrome C copper centers (it has 2) photon peak absorption/active wavelengths:
    • CuA-Reduced: 620nm
    • CuB-Oxidized: 680nm
    • CuB-Reduced: 760nm
    • CuA-Oxidized: 820nm
  • Aditionally, Cytochrome C has two Heme centers.
  • The increase in ATP Synthase activity comes with a concomitant increased production of ROS: it may be apparent that the mitochondrion is incapable of effectively utilizing a higher chemiosmotic gradient.
• nNOS and eNOS lie cytosol and membrane –bound, respectively, and are both calcium (Ca 2þ)- and calmodulin- dependent. iNOS expression is brought about by exposure to a wide array of cytokine and bacterial products, and oper- ates independent of calcium or calmodulin

• Long-term (1 year) study: red light wavelengths of 940nm (600-1000 activate Cytochrome C Oxidase) directed at the scalp led to pretty major improvements in Hair growth and quality. It was every other day, an I think for like 25 minutes with a hat device thing. That’s a long time if the light’s density wasn’t quite low.
• “Can protect against estrogen, stress, shock, ionizing radiation, free radicals, lipid peroxidation, thymic atrophy, osteoporosis, arthritis, scleroderma, apoptotic cell death, and other problems in tissue degeneration/aging.”
• Activates the formation of new cells as well as their differentiation. Affects energy production, increasing the formation of mitochondria, and the activity of the DNA methyltransferase enzymes. Accelerates wound healing, and improves the quality of the scar, reducing the amount of fibrosis."
• “Visible light can restore the activity of the respiratory pigments (a chemical which selectively absorbs radiation). Blue light inhibits and red light activates respiratory enzymes.”
  • Red light is the only visible wavelength that can penetrate deeply into the skin/body. It “quenches” excited electrons, restoring them to their normal resting/ground state.
  • Possibly due to causing excessive vitamin A consumption, not leaving enough for mucous membranes? I’m not sure why this would be, since light needs have UV to make vitamin D, if that’s what he’s implying, right?
• Targeting areas with high bloodflow achieves a systemic effect. For this reason, you want to keep the whole session somewhat brief, for the affected blood will circulate.
• Weeklong improved colour contrasts sensitivity after single 670 nm exposures associated with enhanced mitochondrial function improves color vision in the Retina. Noice

Human Studies #

• Google Docs - Photobiomodulation (PBM) research - a comprehensive database
• Effect of low-level laser therapy on muscle adaptation to knee extensor eccentric training (RPF thread)
  • 810nm.
  • Untrained individuals.
  • Must be done right before exercise to be ergogenic.
• Effects of Light-Emitting Diode Therapy on Muscle Hypertrophy, Gene Expression, Performance, Damage, and Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness
  • Lowered IL-1β and Creatine Kinase. Possibly inhibits Myostatin, which would be crazy.
  • Direct critique: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC5736411/
• Pointing it at the balls can potentially be dangerous. Be cautious. This was with 808nm, though, and with a, comparatively, VERY, high-intensity laser, on a rat’s tiny balls. 670 significantly inreased testosterone levels. R
• Application to the neck improved eyesight in subjects age 56~68. R
• LEDs caused angular chelitis (cracking/redness at corners of mouth) R

Photobiomodulation #

Used with Neurofeedback and the like.

• Transcranial photobiomodulation enhances visual working memory capacity in humans
  • $1200 for gintrux’s setup. Apparently this is a true LASER, and not just LEDs. In literature you can find there is disagreement whether laser is necessary in photobiomodulation. Some say yes, some say no. But in serious studies they use actual lasers to find positive results.
• There are a couple studies on using Methylene Blue as a photosensitizer as preworkout for red light:
  • Methylene blue and photobiomodulation recover cognitive impairment in hepatic encephalopathy through different effects on cytochrome c-oxidase
• There are three chromophores in the body that respond to the NIR range (600-900nm): Cytochrome C Oxidase, hemoglobin, and myoglobin.
• 1064nm is apparently the best. 25% increase in Working Memory in healthy volunteers.

Vielight #

So they have $300 nasal applicators for 633/655. Or for $1800 the gamma/alpha or $2400 for the neuro duo. Or $5k for the Neuro Pro. The Neuro 3 pulses 810 at either 10/40Hz. Does this actually make your brain ‘sync’ with it? I mean, it’s light.

• 100 mW/cm^2
• They have lots of research and publications on their site.

Wavelengths #

• Is 660nm anything special?? R
• Combination blue (415 nm) and red (633 nm) LED phototherapy in the treatment of mild to severe acne vulgaris
  • 8 sessions, two per week 3 days apart. Alternating 415nm @ 48J/cm2 and 633nm @ 96J/cm2 20 minutes each.

Hacker news meme: 850>830 doubled a guy’s programming capacity. So epic. If I get another light it will definitely be in the NIR range.

Bulbs #

CRI, color rendering index is a 1-100 scale of how similar an artificial source of light is to white light from the daylight sun, which is ~5000K. Halogens and incandescents are pretty closed to 100 whereas LEDs are subpar.

• Flicker is something to be concerned about: LEDs have little to none. The best bet is probably to get a 2700k warm white. RPF, BearWithMe’s thread - second best option is DC-powered halogen, preferably without UV filter.
  • The effect of flicker from fluorescent lights on mate choice in captive birds

Protocol #

• A density of 10-200mW/cm^2 is recommended… for whatever reason. You can only calculate the density yourself with a solar power meter, or reading whatever the manufacturer said. Incandescents/heat lamps can’t be tested very accurately, unlike lasers/LEDs.

• Density (mW) x time (sec) x 0.001 = Dose (J/cm²).

  • 1J is the best. Over 60 or so is inhibitory (according to this, at least. The study on acne used 96 with success…)

• $99 17W LGS1 with 610, 630, 670

  • 150mW/cm² @ 0″, 100mW/cm² @ 4″, 50mW/cm² @ 8″, 37.5mW/cm^2 @ 12", 25mW/cm² @ 16″, 10mW/cm² @ 31″ Source
    • Therefore @ 4", point for 10 seconds for the 1J dose. @ point blank, point for 6 seconds.
  • This looks literally identical to this on redlightman for $50 less, but it’s 36W, not 17. 200mW/cm^2 @ 0, so different than the LGS1.