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Ari Whitten was a pioneer in the use of red light therapy
Starting out with Ari Whitten in an overview of red light therapy is not a bad idea. Whitten pioneered the use of red light therapy and his 2018 tome on it – “The Ultimate Guide To Red Light Therapy: How to Use Red and Near-Infrared Light Therapy for Anti-Aging, Fat Loss, Muscle Gain, Performance Enhancement, and Brain” – while obviously dated – is still the best book on the subject.
Whitten, who has a BS in Kinesiology with a specialization in nutrition and health, is a Doctorate of Chiropractic, and a Certified Chiropractic Wellness Practitioner, told Dr. Osborne that he began investigating red light therapy (RLT) probably ten years before it became popular. Whitten was so far ahead of the curve that at one point, he went so far as to ask a company that sold marijuana grow lights to make red lights with a specific wave length (670 nm) that turned on the mitochondria.
The GIST
- Ari Whitten pioneered the use of red-light therapy. In his 2018 book, he claimed that RLT has powerful anti-aging effects, can combat neurological disease, fight depression and anxiety, increase fat loss, speed recovery from exercise, increase strength and endurance, fight hair loss, speed healing from injury – all with little to no side effects.
- Since then studies have shown that Whitten was largely right. Red light therapy can increase mitochondrial activity and ATP production, blood flows, promote antioxidant activity, reduce inflammation, promote tissue repair via collagen and elastin production (connective tissues), desensitize nerve endings, and improve gut functioning.
- Red light therapy is being explored in a wide variety of disorders, including several associated with ME/CFS and FM (irritable bowel syndrome, migraine, endometriosis) pain disorders (osteoarthritis, complex regional pain syndrome, neuropathic pain, inflammatory pain, temporomandibular disorder, post-surgical pain), Gulf War Illness, neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, stroke, traumatic brain injury) hair loss, periodontal disease, and diabetes.
- How effective they are is another question. While they can produce beneficial results no one is suggesting that they can cure chronic diseases and ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, and long COVID studies are rare.
- One fibromyalgia study that provided a narrative review, though, indicated that some people experienced major relief from pain, fatigue, and much-improved sleep. As with any treatment the results are very individual.
- This review covered whole-body (or near whole-body) panels that could provide systemic effects. Concerning purchasing a panel note that any red light therapy panel from a good manufacturer (Platinum, Mito Red, Rouge, Rojo, etc. ) will be fine.
- Whole body or smaller but still large panels can run from $500 to over $2000. Most whole-body panels can be had for around $100. Desktop models ($250-$500) can provide quite a bit of coverage as well.
- Panels first began providing two wavelengths – often 650/850 nm. The shorter wavelength (6-700 nm) is better for skin conditions while the longer wavelengths (>800 nm penetrate deeper and are better for treating the muscles, tendons, and brain.
- Recent panels can provide more wavelengths (630, 660, 810, 830, 850, 1072 nm) and may be more helpful. Because it’s able to penetrate the brain better, the 810 wavelength might be more helpful with ME/CFS, FM and long COVID.
- Because red LEDs generate heat, to get “deep penetration”, large panels that emit a lot of energy need to be at least 6-12″ away from the skin.
- If money is not an object the best whole-body panel might be one that is large enough to impact most of the body, has a good power density (generally not a problem), produces multiple wavelengths, contains multichip LEDS, allows one to adjust frequencies, has a timer, allows one to attach other panels to it, comes with a handheld device,(pulses or doesn’t pulse) has a good warranty and comes from a reputable company.
- A panel that provides two wavelengths and has a good power density (most do) will work just fine as well. You simply may need to stand in front of it more to get a good effect.
- Whitten and Henderson found helmets to be problematic as both hair and bone block light. Whitten and Fergus, though, find the non-helmeted and expensive ($1799) VieLight gamma device – which is getting scientific study – helpful in getting at the brain. Henderson believes laser devices are needed to provide lasting relief in these diseases. (Otherwise the devices must be used regularly.) (Blog coming up).
- Panels that are EMF-free, flicker-free, have multi-chips, and feature accessories like the ability to alter frequencies, have timers, handheld devices, etc. provide more options. (See the blog)
- >The blog provides Ari Whitten’s and Alex Fergus’s recommendations for whole-body panels.
- Applying The Arseneau Test suggests that if you have the money, the ability of these panels to potentially improve pain, fatigue, sleep and cognition makes them an interesting option.
- Don’t expect them to be game-changers, though. Note that Ari Whitten believes that 1-5% of people react poorly to them – probably because their antioxidant systems are in poor shape. Starting low and going slow is highly recommended.
“If there was a pill that was proven to have powerful anti-aging effects on our skin, combat neurological disease, fight depression and anxiety, increase fat loss, speed recovery from exercise, increase strength and endurance, fight hair loss, speed healing from injury – all with little to no side effects – it would be a billion-dollar blockbuster drug…”
Here’s the crazy part: that drug exists… It’s red and near-infrared light.
Strong words, indeed. Studies suggest that Whitten was right, at least, in part. While red/near-infrared light therapy is not a panacea, it does appear able to at least help with a wide variety of conditions.
Red light therapy was shown back in 1967 to promote wound healing and even today, it’s best known for that. Studies since then have shown that it can increase mitochondrial activity and ATP production, increase blood flows, promote antioxidant activity, reduce inflammation, promote tissue repair via collagen and elastin production (connective tissues), desensitize nerve endings, and improve gut functioning.
Ari Whitten believes that RLT’s hormetic stress component may be most helpful. RLT transiently stresses our cells by increasing mitochondrial production – causing an increase in free radicals – which, in turn, causes genes involved in antioxidant production to turn on. (So were genes involved in growth and repair (BDNF – brain) IGF-1 muscles, and growth factors in virtually every other tissue (collagen, bones, thyroid, etc.).)
Whitten also thinks an emerging benefit from RLT involves its ability to “greatly” increase mitochondrial melatonin levels. We tend to think of melatonin in conjunction with the brain and sleep, but Whitten reported that mitochondrial-derived melatonin is a strong antioxidant and mitochondrial protectant that is also produced in virtually all our cells. The amount of melatonin produced by our mitochondria dwarfs the amount produced by the brain.
Red light therapy can increase mitochondrial production.
Red and near-infrared lights have been explored in a wide variety of disorders, including several associated with ME/CFS and FM (irritable bowel syndrome, migraine, endometriosis) to treat a wide variety of pain disorders (osteoarthritis, complex regional pain syndrome, neuropathic pain, inflammatory pain, temporomandibular disorder, post-surgical pain), Gulf War Illness, neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, stroke, traumatic brain injury) hair loss, periodontal disease, and diabetes.
Its ability to assist with nerve regeneration and reduce inflammation has led it to be used in spinal conditions including spinal injury, degenerative disc disease, herniated discs, etc.). It doesn’t appear to have been tested in joint hypermobility syndrome or craniocervical instability, but it’s the ability to promote collagen and elastin production that suggests it might be helpful (???).
The ability of red light/infrared therapy to assist with glymphatic drainage (waste removal) of the brain during NREM sleep is now being explored in a variety of brain diseases. A recent systematic review concluded “that PBM (photobiomodulation) is effective in reducing depression symptoms in patients”.
Fibromyalgia, Gulf War Illness, and Long COVID
A few studies have assessed photobiomodulation (red light/infrared therapy) in the ME/CFS/FM zone of illnesses. A review of photobiomodulation studies for “chronic musculoskeletal disorders (such as fibromyalgia, TMJ, osteoarthritis, low back pain, etc.) concluded that “photobiomodulation therapy offers a non-invasive, safe, drug-free, and side-effect-free method for pain relief of both acute and chronic musculoskeletal conditions as well as fibromyalgia.”
One 42-person randomized, controlled FM study found “significant pain reduction and improved quality of life” as well as reduced catastrophizing and fear of movement (kinesiophobia). Decreased pain ratings were found in a study employing a duo laser/LED/infrared approach to tender points. A 21-person whole body immersion study using the NovoTHOR® device (see below) found “clinically significant” improvements at 6 months.
A “thematic analysis” of 18 FM patients suggested that, in the right patients, RLT can produce impressive results. The study used the NovoTHOR® Whole-Body PBMT device which delivers 16 mW/cm² at 660 nm and 850 nm – which is nothing fancy or particularly high. Eighteen treatment sessions from 6-30 minutes were done.
You can get the futuristic-looking NovoTHOR clamshell device for a mere $3-5K, but don’t worry. While it’s nice to have a device you can lie in, you can duplicate its effects using cheaper means. The results were good.
Regarding pain, some participants reported dramatic results:
- “The pain’s there but it’s not intense so I’ve been able to do things that I haven’t done in a long time.”
- “loads better…I can’t remember the last time my pain was this low”.
- The other aches and pains in my shoulders, knees and my feet—that seems to melt away quite quickly.”
- “It normally burned and could feel crawling sensations, and trigger points would be buzzing…this week I can say it’s zero, I don’t have it.”
- \“Walk…doing a lot of art…which has been easier with less pain.”
- \“A lot of the pain has gone from my shoulders and neck completely, I just think—‘why isn’t that hurting me?’”
- “my pain—I went in there [PBMT device] and I thought ‘bloody hell, this is good’.”
- “it was just excruciating, but like I say since this [PBMT] I can’t believe there’s just no pain there you know.”
Fatigue – improvements were found in fatigue as well
- One person described herself as no longer suffering any fatigue whatsoever.
- Participants describe feeling less heavy, achy, lethargic, and ‘fed up’ when waking up, but rather more alert and awake.
- \“my brain is more awake”.
- “I’ve got that bit more burst of energy.”
- “I don’t seem to have so much fatigue in my legs, they’re not so tired, same with my arms—they’re not so fatigue-y” .
Sleep
- “I feel like when I’m going to sleep now, my body actually wants to go to sleep instead of like chemically having to go to sleep…normally I’d have to wait for my medication to kick in.”
- “I’m not feeling as tired when waking up. I’m still tired but it isn’t that really heavy feeling…I feel like I’ve slept”, “I know I’m gonna go to sleep rather than just lie there awake in pain…I haven’t had a nap since I started doing this [PBMT].” )
- “it makes me sleep like a baby.”
- “then I’m quite happy to just drift off again…that doesn’t normally happen, for years!”
- “My sleep’s improved, for me, my sleep has honestly—amazing, absolutely amazing.”
- “So, before I’d go to bed and I’d be lying there until 2 o’clock in the morning…I go to bed now and I can sleep, I’m not lying there until 2 am thinking ‘what am I going to do?’…I go to bed and within half an hour I can go to sleep”, “one of the main things that affected me was sleep and that’s improved hell of a lot it really has…it’s very very rare now I wake up before the alarm.”
- “usually I’d lie there for 20 min before I’d even try…but I’ve been able to wake up and get straight up.” (Participant E)
- “I wake up…and take myself out straight away, instead of going ‘hang on, I need to stretch etc’—I can literally just jump up and do it now.” (Participant G)
Improved mood, memory concentration, and mobility were also found.
A small (14-person) long COVID study using 12 treatments over a 4-week period using a helmet (1070 nm) or a light bed (660/850) reported significant improvements in cognitive tests.
Red Light Therapy Devices
Whitten started things off in the red light therapy sphere, but in the past 5 years or so, YouTubers like Gemba Red and Alex Fergus have produced hundreds of videos on it. With his affiliate sales, Alex Fergus has the slicker website, appears to have reviewed every panel possible and probably raking the money in hand over fist. Fergus, though, states that he’s an independent operator and is not tied to any manufacturer and his ratings appear bear this out. (You can also get discounts through his site).
The information below can get technical but don’t worry too much about it. If you buy from a reputable company (Plasma, MitoRed, Hooga, Rouge, etc.), you should be okay.
Wavelengths
Specific light wavelengths have different effects: some panels now prove multiple frequencies ranging 650 to over 1000 nm.
In 2018, Whitten recommended devices that transmit in the range 630-680 nm (red light) and 800-830 nm (infrared). While both red and infrared light do similar things (enhance mitochondrial functioning, reduce oxidative stress, and increase circulation), they affect different tissues.
Red light (630-680 nm) penetrates less deeply (1-2 cm; .4-.8ths/inch) and is best used for skin issues and wound healing. Infrared (800-850 nm) penetrates more deeply (2-5 cm; .8 -2 inches) and is used to reduce inflammation, improve circulation, reduce muscle stiffness, improve cognition, etc.
Whitten suggests using 50/50 mix of both – which is what most panels provide. If you’re more focused on the brain, go for pure infrared; or if more for the skin, go for red light.
Most panels will provide two wavelengths – often 650/850 nm – but recent studies suggest more wavelengths may be helpful and higher-priced panels often provide more wavelengths (630, 660, 810, 830, 850, 1072 nm). It should be noted that two-wavelength panels have been helping people for years and they work well.
Mito Pro is a reputable company that provides a variety of panels with multiple wavelengths
The 810 nm wavelength – Alex Fergus calls the 810 nm wavelength a “gamechanger” and, indeed, this wavelength might be more helpful for people with ME/CFS/FM and long COVID because it’s able to penetrate a bit deeper into the brain, and is better at mitochondrial enhancement than 850 nm wavelength.
1072 nm or more – Higher frequency wavelengths can penetrate deeper into the body and are available in some devices but are not typically used.
Some devices will tell how much light output they provide, but not all will tell you the wavelengths they deliver them at. Some devices will also reportedly emit light in the wavelengths that won’t hurt but aren’t helpful.
If you really dig into the data, though, some companies will tell you how much light in each wavelength their panels deliver.
Power density
If you buy from a reputable manufacturer power density should not be a problem
Power density reflects how much energy is delivered to the skin. Because red LEDs generate heat, to get “deep penetration”, large panels that emit a long of energy need to be at least 6-12″ away from the skin. If the panel or light is too far away from the skin, on the other hand, not enough light will penetrate.
Whitten writes that devices need to deliver at least 30mW/cm2 and around 100mW/cm2 from close range (@ 6″ away). Really high-powered devices will still give you an effective dose (@20-30mW/cm2) from as much as 24 inches away.
Most companies provide power ratings that indicate how much energy is delivered at 6″, 12″, etc. Some will provide independent lab tests. Ignore companies that do not provide this information.
Both Whitten and Fergus view the company power ratings with skepticism. Whitten recently reported that he asked dozens of companies to send their panels to an independent lab, which found quite a few discrepancies. Virtually everyone, Whitten said, is lying about their test results, in part, because they feel they have to match each other.
Fergus says no standard power ratings apply and the whole power issue is very messy. He measures panel output himself with a spectrometer. The good news is that both Whitten and Fergus say that if you buy a panel from a company that’s been around, you should be in good shape.
Solo vs Multi-chips
You can also investigate whether a panel features solo or multi-chip diodes. Solo chips provide one LED per unit. Multiple chips provide multiple LEDs per unit. packaged into a unit in multiple chips. Multiple chips LEDS are more targeted, provide more light energy and deeper penetration into the tissues, and can shorten exposure times.
Pulsing or Not Pulsing
While most red light panels emit a continuous source of light, pulsing panels break up the light stream, turning it rapidly on and off. By giving the skin brief cooling periods, pulsed red light devices use lasers (instead of red LEDs) to deliver higher intensities of light, thus giving the light better penetration into the tissues.
Pulsed red light therapy tools allow you to put the tool right next to your skin – something you can’t do with a red LED panel. The amount of light that’s delivered to the tissues can increase dramatically.
That’s the idea, anyway.
So many variables around pulsing exist (pulse rate, intensity, hertz), and the studies show such variable results, that at least one website (lightherapyinsiders.com) says that most people should probably not get a pulsing panel.
Other people might, though, and interestingly, some of those people might be people with diseases like fibromyalgia, ME/CFS, and long COVID. Because pulsed light therapy can penetrate deeper into the tissues, it may have a better chance of getting into the brain – and studies indicate that these diseases are, at least in part, brain diseases. It’s possible, but not certain, that pulsing may be more effective at promoting mitochondrial health.
That said, Bart Wolbers of Light Therapy Insiders writes that even if pulsing is more effective than continuous RLT, it isn’t that much more effective; i.e. you can get excellent results from both.
Alex Fergus states protective eyewear must be used with pulsing devices.
EMFs – Many panels put out low EMF, but some are higher. For a review of EMF-free panels go here.
Flicker-Free Panels – Flicker can cause headaches, migraines, etc., in some people. Most people are not bothered by flicker. We are surrounded by flickering lights in the form of LED lights, car lights, etc. Check out Alex Fergus to learn more about flicker.
Set up – The panels usually come with wall attachments, but you may want to get a stand. Some stands will all you to lie down underneath the panel so you don’t have to stand up. Gemba Red suggests buying a heavy-duty cargo rack and lying on the shelf with the light panel above and/or below you.
Timers, the ability to adjust frequencies, handheld devices, etc., are extra accessories that panels can come with.
The Best Panel?
The Novo Thor Light Bed is beautiful and has done well in some studies but cheaper options will work too.
If money is not an object the best whole-body panel might be one that is large enough to impact most of the body, has a good power density (generally not a problem), produces multiple wavelengths, contains multichip LEDS, allows one to adjust frequencies, has a timer, allows one to attach other panels to it, comes with a handheld device,(pulses or doesn’t pulse) has a good warranty and comes from a reputable company.
A panel that provides two wavelengths and has a good power density (most do) will work just fine as well. You simply may need to stand in front of it more to get a good effect.
Helmets, the VieLight, and the Brain
The VieLight Gamma devices are getting scientific study.
Both Whitten and Henderson thought helmets were highly problematic and did not recommend them, but some studies do find them helpful.
The problems with helmets are twofold: the hair and the skull. Our hair turns out to be a pretty darn effective red light blocker and the bones in the skull even more so.
As we’ll see in an upcoming talk with Dr. Henderson, lasers provide deeper penetration into the body and the brain in particular. Henderson reports that lasers can produce lasting results, while red light from LED and infrared devices produces transient benefits.
If you want to try the brain LED/Infrared approach, Ari Whitten and Alex Fergus recommend Vielight Gamma – a non-helmeted device that Vielight says delivers near-infrared light (810 mm) “safely through the skull to the brain.” The company states that its technology maximizes contact with the scalp”.
VieLight’s Neuro devices don’t come cheap. Their gamma devices, which are getting quite a bit of scientific study and contain both brain and intranasal LEDs, run from $1,799 to $3,299. The separate Vie Light X-Plus 4 ($449) device targets the thymus and nasal vasculature to assist the innate immune system deal with respiratory colds. The Vie Light Vagus ($699) stimulates the vagus nerve using red light.
Vielight devices are expensive, but with over 20 (albeit mostly small) studies, they are undergoing scientific scrutiny. One large study underway is examining whether the VieLight Gamma device can improve cognition in older adults at risk for Alzheimer’s. The results should be interesting.
Handheld Devices
Whitten reported that most handheld devices offer about 10mW/cm2 and only treat a 5-10 square inch area. (I don’t know if this is still true.) They can help with the muscle pain/stiffness often seen in ME/CFS and FM.
While there is no doubt that small panels can help with localized areas of pain/stiffness, etc. they’re not powerful to help with general health or help much with the widespread pain found in ME/CFS and FM. Whitten strongly recommends getting a “large panel light over a hand-held device”, if possible, to help with systemic problems like fatigue.
Not THE Answer
No one is suggesting that red light therapy (RLT) is the answer to anything – and certainly not ME/CFS/FM or long COVID. It’s very possible, though, that it can be helpful for the right person.
Using Red Light Therapy
Twenty minutes is the maximum duration Whitten recommends. Gemba Red notes that lower doses – at most, 3 times a week – have been used effectively to impact the brain. Whitten states that most people will notice better effects with lower doses than the maximum doses. People who are in very poor health will need to start with much lower doses.
Best to do it with eyes closed or with an eye mask.
Buying a Large Panel
Many panels to choose from! (Alex Fergus and his 2024 large panel review)
Whitten was the first to really dig into RLT and I provide his older recommendations first. Since then Alex Fergus has become far and away the most prolific panel reviewer and I rely on his recommendations for newer panels. Whitten’s updated book is coming out soon, though, and we’ll see what he currently recommends.
Whitten’s 2018 Large Panel Recommendations
Whitten said he tried a dozen other lights that ended up underpowered or didn’t have the right wavelengths. Unfortunately, the only recommendations I could find dated back to 2018 andmany companies have entered the market since then. Each of these companies is still producing red light panels, though, and they are presumably a good bet.
The large panels are not cheap but you may be able to get discounts via YouTubers like Alex Fergus who make their money through affiliate sales.
Red Rush360 – now the Red Rush 400 – $745 – pulsed machine (Red Rush says it’s the only machine that allows you to adjust pulsing); wavelengths – 650/850; provides 160 mw/cm2 at 6″ – enough to reach the deep tissue; 85 mw/cm2 at 18″; treats up to 24″ x 42″; 2-year warranty.
Whitten really liked this panel because it was relatively inexpensive, and provided a good power density for a good price. Six years ago it was $499…
Platinum BIO600 BIOMAX – (back then $749) now $1,049 – this is a 3-foot tall, extra-large light that provides red light waves over multiple wavelengths (including 1060) that can treat the entire front or back of your body at once; provides 160 mw/cm2 at 6″; 136 mw/cm2 at 12 inches; 3-year warranty.
Alex Fergus’s Recommendations
Best Red Light Therapy Panel
In his 2024 review of 15 large panels, Fergus assessed the number of LEDs, LED size, power output at 6″, wavelength, support, warranties, lab data, duration of the company, ease of use, accessories, etc.
The Platinum BIO900 BIOMAX ($1299) – similar to one Ari Whitten’s choices – was his large panel of the year for 2024.
Note, though, that Fergus stated all the panels in the competition provided good benefits. One company he said to stay away from is Joove – a former industry leader that now fails badly on its price points. Most of the whole body panels were over $1,000 and went up to around $1500.
Fergus’s prices (with his discounts)
Best Large Red Light Therapy Panel Under $1000
Fergus’s review of panels under $1000 is kind of hilarious because he keeps coming back to more expensive panels and saying for $100 or $200 more you can do a lot better. That said, he does provide some under $1000 suggestions.
Desktop Models
Fergus assessed tabletop panels under $500 recently. His top four were the Dermabeam 300, Hooga HGPRO300, MitoPRO 300,(for this company, use code ALEX5, ROJO 300.
808/810 Models
If you’re looking for panels that provide more light emitted in the 808/810nm region, Fergus recommended the LightpathLED or MitoADAPT panels.
If you want to find a review, Fergus has probably reviewed any panel you might be interested in on his website/YouTube channel.
*You can fine-tune your selection (select specific wavelengths, EMF-free, pulsed, flicker-free etc.) with Alex Fergus’s Red Light Therapy Shopping Tool.
Applying The Arseneau Test
The Arseneau Test assesses the factors below to help decide whether or not to try a new treatment. It comes from a presentation given by Dr. Ric Arsenau, a Canadian ME/CFS/FM doctor.
- The credibility of the source – with photobiomodulation being studied in many disorders, the credibility of the source is good.
- The quality of the evidence – mixed –while photobiomodulation is being studied in many disorders, few studies have been done in ME/CFS, FM, and/or long COVID. Thus far, they have been positive, though.
- The benefit / cost analysis – the benefit is probably moderate, but the thematic analysis study turned up some FM patients who benefited greatly. The panels are not cheap, but while whole-body panels run from $750 to several thousand, a good desktop panel can be had for $250 and there are wraps and other modalities that can help with muscle pain and stiffness. (One interesting possibility is using a light with good power density on the gut to improve the gut flora).
- The risk-benefit analysis – Whitten stated that 1-5% of people – whom he believes to be in poor health – react badly to the panels – probably because their antioxidant systems are so damaged. The start it low and take it slow approach, then, clearly applies to these panels. Otherwise, the risk appears to be very low and few side effects have been reported.
Conclusion
Don’t expect miracles, and, as always results will vary, but if you have the money, the possibility of pain reduction, improved energy, cognition, and sleep, and the few side effects associated with them makes red light/infrared panels an interesting option.
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Was just listening to Ari talk to a Tom Kerber and thinking I need to start using my light. Got the Red Rush years ago when it was much less expensive but it’s not that big and hard to know how to best situate it and yourself. Bryan Johnson, the guy spending 2 million a year to be tested said awhile ago he didn’t use red light because it wasn’t effective enough for the time given to it, but has now incorporated it into his morning routine so guess his opinion changed. He’s got 2 long panels he stands between.
The studies generally last several weeks or longer – it apparently can take some time to see the benefits.
I wonder how the standing Red Light devices compare to the ones you lay on (at night or in the morning usually.) Your skin is directly next to the red lights in the latter devices-I would assume that the light permeates deeper into the body given the proximity. I wonder why these devices were not addressed or covered in the Alex Fergus video?
I don’t know. I didn’t even know they exist honestly. I wouldn’t be surprised if Fergus had reviewed them though. He seems to review just about everything.
https://healthywavemat.com/
I have a mat from this site.
I followed Alex Fergus on YT for more than a year, and he actually has reviewed a few of the pads other devices that touch the skin directly. But most research covers more powerful laser or LED devices, and many cover the expensive devices that would be used in clinics or medical spas.
I use a cheap red/infrared light wrap and tiny desktop panel for spinal pain and found the wrap was easier to use and very effective. The only study that used a pad/wrap that I recall was for acute Covid. I used my device to duplicate the treatment described and found I recovered more quickly from acute Covid than my husband, who refused to try it. My devices are too small to use for me/cfs or fibromyalgia, but some patients in online groups report seeing benefit from using full-body devices.
The mats I referenced to Cort use primarily PEMF and infrared technology for healing- some mats also include red light therapy- but red light therapy is the least effective treatment. IMHO, devices that do not use PEMF or infrared as primary mechanisms are far less effective; furthermore, the further away the device is from your body, the less deep the energy light waves can penetrate the body.
Hello Cort,
A very interesting and timely piece as I’ve been going for PBM over the last 5 weeks. The clinic has the NovoTHOR ‘sun bed’ type of device. I’ve been getting two 20 minute sessions per week, spaced 3 or 4 days apart.
My experience so far is positive – despite the fact that I have to get up (somehow) to be there by 10.30am in the morning I feel invigorated afterwards (by my standards) and generally have quite an active afternoon.
I would contrast this with HBOT, which gave a short term improvement in the brain fog but wore me out and I’d end up having to sleep when I got home. This got worse the more I persisted with it. As HBOT increases oxidative stress, I think it could be contraindicated for ME/CFS in many cases.
The other thing to say about PBM is that it’s actually very pleasant. Like lying on a warm beach!
Hope this experience is of some help. FYI the ME/CFS is of medium severity and has compromised my life very considerably.
Nigel
I’m glad you mentioned the red light bed. I have two Joovv solo panels (since 2017). They are helpful but I could see how the bed would be more effective. Easier laying down and the bed gets close to a 360 degree all around in one session. With the panels I think you run the risk of under or over shooting the sweet spot.
I’ve done a soft sided HBOT too. Helpful for some things, but I noticed if I went over the 60 minutes, I actually felt worse. I did 40 total sessions. I feel like it had a hormesis kind of help, like it temporarily improved my healing ability. You mentioned oxidative stress which is interesting. Six months ago I started drinking hydrogen water from a bottle that infuses hydrogen gas into water. It gives me an energy boost and has helped with healing an inherited skin condition probably due to anti inflammatory and antioxidant properties. I’m wondering if HBOT and hydrogen water would benefit each other.
The sun is the best source.
I was reading a blog “a midwestern doctor” who suggests that 3000 nm MIR produces energy in your body.
. Good luck finding 3000nm anything.
Theres also the Cheap option
Sit outside in the sun for 20-30 minutes . If your worried about UV ,wear long sleeves/trousers.
IR fron the sun can pass through clothing ,and can go in at least 8 cms in to the head
This was a long practised Hospital treatment untill recent times , with most hospitals having an outdoor lounging area patients would be wheeled out to ,to get some daily IR/UV
Most wands can provide ~10-50x the energy in appropriate wavelengths compared to sunlight. So if weather, time, many other variables panels can be better for most.
I agree lasers are the better option for more penetration AND running cooler because of how emit energy.
Agree with starting slow few minutes at a time. Now 1-2hrs a day seems to be optimal.
Wands are powerful but requires holding or moving over target areas. Great to feel areas that need treatment and follow.
Panels are better for broad stationary and regular treatment.
Lymph and glymph drainage, muscles, tendons, testicles, gut.
Talking about the hair. I have to keep short because anything more than ~1″ and I notice a big drop off in effects.
Less fat you have to work through is also beneficial.
Head and chest treat frequently.
I find right before bedtime to be best and notice great change in waste clearing from ~4am pee.
Side note
TENS can be much more powerful energy transmission but waste seems to expel through nighttime sweat. Smells foul!
Recommend 5hz 50msec for most as travels long distance and works through muscle and joints well.
Joints that are seezed I recommend 0.5hz 50msec.
That sounds fantasti but I live in Seattle. No sunlight here for 9 months out of the year.
1) When I applied to ARPA-H in Oct. 2023 for a PM position I suggested they roll out this therapy nationwide for Long COVID patients and those with related conditions, since there are no approved treatments. Since NIR is approved for pain, it targets a main symptom. That received no traction.
2) My podiatrist has a laser and it is very helpful for cramped muscles in my feet. He gets it reimbursed by Medicare.
3) I did a calculation of the wattage in the NIR frequency delivered by sitting in the sunshine and it was similar to the laser in my podiatrist’s office. So now I make a point of basking it the sun on my porch on sunny afternoons with my feet on the railing and feel quite good about my adherence to the treatment plan. My dog likes this approach to PT too.
I would like to call out a resounding YES to red light and infrared therapy.
Cort said “it can increase mitochondrial activity and ATP production, increase blood flows, promote antioxidant activity, reduce inflammation, promote tissue repair via collagen and elastin production (connective tissues), desensitize nerve endings, and improve gut functioning.”
But if your kitchen sink wont drain… well… can’t help you there.
Here is my theory on why we get melatonin for sleep which occurred to me only last week: because it is an antioxidant. It is said to be a POWERFUL antioxidant in fact. Powerful antioxidants are one of the 3 key things that I believe a CFS patient needs to recover: lower inflammation to lower cortisol, and mitchondrial return to full energy production.
If inflammation lowers, then putting out our own cytokines will reduce and that will be a synergistic effect. Then without such inflammation and toxicity, there is no longer a strong reason for cortisol to be so high, which means the Endocrine system can stop sending out a demand for high cortisol, which means your Adrenal glands can go back to producing only the cortisol that you truly, so that now there is some free bandwidth again to make Aldosterone and sometimes small amounts of other hormones (estrogen in men, testosterone in women).
When I read Cort’s quote, above I ask: Great ! Did we miss anything? I don’t think we did. Maybe the kitchen sink. As I said recently, the mitochondria can pick up free energy from the red light/infrared radiation that it has no way currently in CFS of doing via normal ATP producation via glycolysis and lipid metabolism. Heat always speeds up chemical reactions. The mitochondria are feeding the electron transport chain– gratis energy is exactly the gift they need to do more than their wartime phenotype is programmed to do.
So think: all day you exert somewhat, or your body receives challenges. The more you can exert, the more adenosine is produced, and adenosine makes your brainstem tired– and wanting not to remain vigilant. But if you can’t exercise, then you can’t do that adenosine build-up normally. Not only does adenosine then need to be cleared, but all kinds of receptors need to be reset to baseline (does not happen sufficiently without restorative sleep) and all kinds of byproducts all over the body need to be cleared as well.
And melatonin is a powerful antioxidant. Hmmm…..
But remember, it’s not just an endogenous sleep drug (anymore),
it’s not made only by the retina and the pinneal gland, it’s made
as Cort just told us,
in the mitochondria. And where are the mitochondria?
Everywhere. “Widespread” in fact. “Systemic”.
Even nerve cells need to make energy via mitochondria,
and even nerve cells are attacked by Covid, EBV, HHV 1,2, 6
and some viral dna material can stay resident, even if
it is the the entire viral genome in question. It’s enough
to trigger autoimmunity.
Red light and Infrared.
And I also agree with Gary. The sun is the best source.
Amen
Hi Cort, you reference a Dr Henderson in the blog, but Ive looked back through and cant seem to see where you first introduced them. I know you said you have a blog coming up, but can you tell me briefly who Dr Henderson is? (Im curious if its someone local to me whom Ive spoken with before)
Thanks!
Oh – one more question: I am donating monthly on auto-pay, do I need to re-up for the year or will the monthly donations continue automatically?
Thanks again!
Hi Curious – thanks for the support!
Dr. Henderson is a psychiatrist in Denver who has been treating people with ME/CFS with antivirals, red light therapy and other modalities for many years.
https://www.healthrising.org/blog/2014/09/23/depression-adolescence-really-chronic-fatigue-syndrome/
That recurring donation will just keep on going 🙂 Thanks for doing it and thanks for asking 🙂
Thanks, that is who I thought. Ive spoken to him but some of my other doctors have been very anti- antivirals, even though Ive tested positive for EBV and CMV. And honestly I have been a little dubious about the red light and laser claims. Its always so hard to decide whose advice to follow when there are so many differing opinions.
I look forward to learning more about him and his approach in your blog!
Although I really cant afford another treatment or doctor who isn’t covered by insurance…
I’ve learned that things that work are very seldom covered by
Insurance
I don’t see any mention of the belt like devices you wear velcrosed around your body. Do people have any success with these?
My (girl)friend uses one for Rheumatoid arthritis in her fingers and hands.
She finds that it helps. I have used it for muscle knots in my kneck/shoulders and it helped by the next day. But it seems to be most helpful if repeated for a few days consecutive. You know how chiropractors want to see you 3x a week for a month,
and youre like…scyuse ME? It’s like that. Repetitive stimulation. New habit.
I have researched it and the effect in RA is explained that it heats the inside of the joint where heat from the blood can not get. Cartilage has no blood supply. It takes longer to heal Cartilage as a result. RA autoimmunity targets collagen.
Anyway, in the joints the synovium in RA gets thicker and thicker. A heating pad would not really reach the inside of the joint where it needs the most healing. But the radiation of that frequency of red light and that frequency of infrared can move THROUGH the thickened coating of the synovium. If it can do that, then it helps you to imagine how a red light or near-infrared helmet could improve what I call brainflammation.
Once again, (referring to my earlier post from today) energy can be donated by the light and the sub-light radiation (which is also a part of sunshine) to the brain cells.
A good way to understand this is putting a pot of water on the stove, and it boils.
Red and Infrared can bring heat energy to mitochondria.
In fact, it brings heat to our skin and brain all the time. When we get too hot
usually our hypothalamus doesnt only *suggest* that we get to sade, drink water,
jump in the ocean…. it COMMANDS our body to do such things.
Envision: the CFS cells that suffer , in part, from hypoxia when vessels do not tighten to shunt the flow properly from where it is — momentarily less import — to the area currently doing the most exertion, which is supposed to dilate ! CFS has a problem with the RAAS. it is not responding in the way designed. Either it is refusing (possible) or it is so damaged that it is incapable (for now… but more likely right now). Think of switching from the Rest/Digest physiological mode (VAGUS NERVE) to Eat/Excrete (Fight/Flight) . We now realize (or at least I did, between my CFS study advent in 2020 and now) that the same things are happening to the cognitive brain and the limbic brain as are happening to the skeletal muscle cells. The Trio.
What are happening? : (what up?) —
Not sufficient blood flow, so not sufficient oxygen and glucose,
so the brain now knows it cant depend on oxygen, so it goes Anaerobic.
And here we are.
Thanks Christopher, that is helpful. Sometimes l feel it is working other times it doesn’t. I wonder if when not working it is more fibromyalgia pain rather than other pain and that it doesn’t help fibromyalgia. As you say, perhaps l just need to be more consistent.
Nerida,
bless you for your humility.
My respect to you.
Ummm… maybe
I am only a student of these things
but I am trying to synthesize
all of the diverging opinions.
Here is my most mature answer about Fibro and red light/infrared radiation:
You need the energy where the damage has FIRST occurred.
(If) the first damage likely occurred at the spine,
then if you apply the “red” to only the fibro points (9×2= 18)
then possibly the cause has not been helped.
I listened to a brilliant PhD neurologist on Youtube
to try to understand:
“Central Sensitivity”
He explained that:
to left and to the right of ANY vertebra of the spine, there is a dorsal horn ganglion
which means: several nerves either coming into a hub
of activity (ganglion) or branching out from it, in the opposite direction of sending nerve signals.
This doctor of neurology explained *so very well* that if raisec pain signals keep arriving at the spine inpur to the brain,
when they dont need to keep on… then ADDITIONAL pain receptors will be formed there at the ganglion to produce a Stronger pain message to the brain.
So the ganglion does the math, so one more receptor, when there used to be just one
should DOUBLE the pain info sent up to your brain.
NEXT… The Reticula formation
(brain stem) decudes how dangerous this pain is.
It will give redacted information to the analgesic center of the brain.
It is like this:
The pain will always be on
from nociceptors (receptors of noxioys stimulous) if any type: pressure, poison, burning etc
The Analgesic center in the brain
then, if the sensation is significant… compared to the last second’s pain signal, will choose NOT to send pain relief chemicals.
So its on unless you turn it off.
That is where it gets stuck.
What Dr. Gerald Albrecht in the USA found our is that Fibro the following chemicals are deficient (..underproduced) :
Dopamine
Norepinephrine
Those two are intended to go back down there to the input vertebra and SUPPRESS pain messaging.
If the nerves are in perfect health when the “insult” to nociceptors decreases, then analgesia (pain relief chemicals should increase)
If my foot REMAINS trapped under a truck wheel, then it is appropriate to continue pain messages and not turn them down chemically.
But if the nociceptors in our skin and limbs get significantly damaged, then the horn will ADD another pain amplifier.
But nerve damage in the skin, joints and limbs is hard for our bodies to fix well.
BOTTOM LINE:
You can point the red light at where it hurts, but also look at a diagram of body nerves, and point the light at the VERTEBRA where that body parts nerves are reporting in to the spine. To me it seems that BOTH areas need the light equally, but if the light stops helping the body extremity… them perhaps that is a signal that the extremity is doing better ! but that now you need to stimulate the dorsal horn ganglon to WAKE UP and notice the reduced messages.
Finally, if this goes from extremity to spine ganglion, then to brainstem at back if head, then you could consider pointing the light there. 1,2,3… 1,2,3…
I have NO expertise in this subject
Perhaps Dr. Ari Whitten can point your light in the right direction
My best to you
Very interesting.
I got a panel myself two days ago.
I used it for 20 minutes at full power (Biomax900) at 10 inches. It was way too much. directly afterwards I felt massively fatigued and I still feel worse (48 hours later)! Any hypothesis why it is like this ? Sure my body reacted massively- but in a bad way it seems.
Perhaps it released too much oxidative stress. It’s recommended to start much lower – 5 minutes 🙂
Cort,
(and to Marco also)
Thank you Cort.
Starting low or small is always, I think, the wisest way to nurture cells and systems that were already over-taxed and now faltering.
It’s true, a small energy “injection” by the red light might be the best thing to happen this year, but I agree with Cort that:
If this cell or organ or system has been in defense-mode for a long time, then a big energy boost might promote more attack by the immune system,
I am definitely not the right guy about which to request appropriate intensities of energy.
I think Cort is suggesting that a high initial supply of new energy might simply fuel the immune response to be even more strict.
However, a small and building dose of light might better evenly deliver this light energy to ALL systems, such that they can ALL work, and also negotiate on the next step
Have you found anything related to the use of RLT by people who have a pacemaker?
I have severe ME/CFS and my ME specialist recommended red light therapy. I paid $1400 for a Mito Red full body panel and stand and used it daily for a year.
I didn’t notice any difference to any of my symptoms. At all.
I regret spending so much money.
Please see my comments above and the link to the website- it likely will explain the reason for your lack of improvement.
I’m so sorry. If you wanted to recoup your costs, perhaps someone here would like to buy it from you
Thanks for another great article. I had been chomping at the bit for this one for quite some time and it doesn’t disappoint. Here though is my experience with an affordable option only briefly referenced in the article.
I have no affiliation with Infraredi but I’m pretty happy with the PBM body wrap I purchased from them. I really geeked out during the research of different products I could afford (under $400.00 CDN) and this one came out on top. I also like how they sent me a new one when some LEDS on my original went out after a solid year of use, so I would call that reputable.
If we think about getting the biggest bang for our buck, those pwME like me who also suspect CCI is a culprit in their illness may want to go this route, with a neoprene pad embedded with LEDS. But make sure to get one with a rechargeable battery, and not an adapter cord, to avoid excessive EMF.
I’m fairly convinced that daily use on my neck allowed my other therapies such as physio and heat/cold application to work much better and in this way RLT does seem to have been a bit of a game changer, at least for my neck. And this makes sense given the info in this article. I would also love to try a more systemic approach, instead of just local treatment but for now can’t afford that.
Some details. According to Infraredi: “The irradiance level of our wrap is 50mW/cm for 880nm and 35mW/cm2 for 660nm. The EMF level for the body wrap is 0.0 at a distance of 5 centimeters.” The wrap has a total 60 LEDs, 30 in each wavelength.
Thank you Cort, for another great post. I had come across this for fibromyalgia, and have requested a quote as you can do as a patient/end user and not a physician. https://www.multiradiance.com/fibrolux/#
It seems to be what they call “super pulsed” laser therapy, so I am guessing it falls into the pulsed laser category here. From what I can tell, this is one of the publications related to trials with this device which they were previously calling MR5™ ACTIV PRO LaserShower – https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10792673/
Looks promising and along the same lines.
Red light therapy? Meh!
New t cell exhaustion study is more interesting, seems we are having study after study validating this:
https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2415119121
Promising and bewildering (in terms of number of products!) in equal measure 🙂 Does anyone know how far infrared saunas fit into all this?
I haven’t looked into it but one video I saw reported that they don’t provide enough to make a difference. Perhaps some do – I don’t know.
At first I was very skeptical of red light treatment, then I had so much back pain, I decided “why not give it a shot”?
Things seem to go pretty well with a wrap around unit so I upped the dose to two 30 minutes sessions a day.
Suddenly, I became so dizzy and had such balance problems, I could hardly walk through the room. I thought it was another Long Covid symptom and my ND wanted to send me to a neurologist.
Thank goodness, I decided to look up the adverse effects that some people can have from red light therapy. Dizziness is at the top of the list.
When I stopped using the red light treatment, the dizziness gradually went away. I wonder if it was some kind of detox effect.
At any rate, the advice to go low and slow is important. I won’t use it again, because the dizziness was just too bad to risk.
Hi,
Many mitochondrial enhancers, while improving my energy during the day, disturb my sleep too severely to continue with them. I am on multiple meds for sleep and have tried many things for sleep over the years and I doubt there is any drug or supplement that could counter-act the sleep disturbance I get from these mitochondrial enhancers. And the ones I can tolerate seem to have no effect on me.
Do you think red light therapy could cause sleep problems?
I have the same problems with modafinil. I guess you never know until you try it but the FM study suggested that in some people it can really help with sleep and studies outside of ME/CFS/FM suggest it can as well.
I’ve just finished a trial using red light therapy in the UK. It has really helped me – I’ve not had a crash since, and am able to do more than before. It was 2 weeks of 2 minutes a day, in the morning. I’m waiting to see the results of the trial – there were only 25 of us in it. I’m planning to buy my own lamp, now 🙂
What condition is the trial for, Shirley?
Shirley please can you give details of the brand of lamp, wavelength etc , who ran the trial? Helen UK.
I’ve wanted an IR therapy device for yrs, but have no income & can’t even afford essentials, so that’s not gonna happen.
I actually decided to comment to let others know… I heard that combining methylene blue with red light therapy can dramatically increase its effectiveness. Apparently, the methylene blue stains your mitochondria, allowing them to absorb more of the red light.
Idk how true that is, but I’ve also heard good things about methylene blue, period. So, if I had the means, I’d def try it!
Another thing I’ve been dying to try is a supplement called NAD+ or maybe NADH?
I’ve been bedridden level ill for around 15yrs & I’ve pretty much lost all hope of ever getting better. I’m 40, been sick as long as I can remember, but esp since age 26.
I want to get out on the sun, but I’m too exhausted to even get up and get a glad of water. Every day, same sh!t
For those of you who are interested in RLT/PEMF/FIR therapies, or are following the posts here of Rory, Chris D., etc., please understand there very significant differences among so-called “red light therapies.” !00% pure red light therapy is not nearly as effective or therapeutic as PEMF or infrared therapy. There are products that combine all 3 or 2 therapies. In my own research on this subject, I located a web page that has videos that explain these important differences, and how to select the best device for you (see note.) BTW, I am not affiliated with the company, nor receive any remuneration- I just appreciate all the information and the helpful customer service they provide. Happy Hunting!
I just skimmed the Gist, but Ari Whitten simplifies it too much. He gets his information from Dr Michael Hamblin and I’d look up his many youtubes, etc on PBM. In 2017 I contacted him regarding an inherited skin condition that I noticed healed under a red LED light in a sauna pod that was there for esthetic purposes only. He confirmed my thoughts and recommended Joovv. My Joovv helps but is limited. It’s one piece of the puzzle. Important, but still just one piece.
Thank you for this piece, Cort. I always learn new info at your website. My sister has Sjrogen’s and swears by her red/NIR LED and pulse mode light belt. She purchased from LifeProFitness.com. They’re products have lifetime guarantee!
For my recent #???# Birthday, she gifted me one. I have OA, RA and long history of CFS. With regular, albeit brief use, I already feel positive difference in my joints. Better yet, it’s affordable and versatile. Amazing, right now, the usual $240.00 price is on sale for $152.00 with free shipping. Plus, they are giving purchasers a free massager with it. I am delighted with mine and at that price, you can’t go wrong!!
Good to hear! 🙂
Perhaps the effects on the body are faster intravenously.
When I had an ozone therapy treatment last October in Spain, the doctor at the clinic wanted to add an IV red light treatment. I refused, having already had a bad experience with photobiomodulation.
After reading Ari Whitten’s book (which has a section on panel recommendations), I ordered a Red Rush through Red Therapy Co. I got a discount using Ari’s code and he fully disclosed getting kickbacks. I hung it up on the back of my bathroom door using the cables it comes with, and I sit on a stool so my torso and head are bathed in light when I sit 12-18 inches away. I sit a bit closer when I turn away from it and I put my hair in pigtails to try to let some of the light penetrate into my brain stem. I do anywhere from 6-10 minutes front and the same for my back.
I’ve been using it for about a year. Can I attribute my slow improvement from long COVID and ME/CFS fatigue to the panel? Who can say. BUT, I do believe it has helped my skin look better, reversing some accelerated aging I feel was brought on by LC. My dermatologist recently complimented my 49yo skin, so that’s something. My feeling is that if it’s helping my skin cells and the science says it can penetrate into mitochondria, then I’ll keep at it.
I have an infra red sauna, is this the same type of light as those mentioned in the article? Thanks
Afraid not. Red light therapy provides infrared at very specifc wavelengths. The infrared sauna doesn’t provide much of those.
Hi and great thanks to another interesting topic.
Would an ir sauna have the same inpact as an ir panel?
So is this basically the modern, and far more energy efficient, version of the infrared (heat) lamp my mum would have me sit in front of whenever I had the flu as a kid? Amazing how far the understanding of how this might work in our bodies has come.
I delved into Ari’s research last year and was impressed and enthused to try. However, I got overwhelmed and confused by the specification options and making a decision on what product to buy. So I appreciate you collating these additional resources and product reviews. I did commence 2-3 x weekly infrared saunas which I believe are one of the many strategies contributing to me being mostly symptom free.
I’ve seen an affordable flexible strip that wrap around the torso and fix with velcro. Thought I could use this product along my spine which becomes inflamed and drives central sensitisation. I’m also curious about hats/helmets for neuroinflammtion as I strongly suspect overactive glial cells are an issue for me. There’s also intranasal red lights. Interesting reading and a DIY helmet at https://redlightsonthebrain.blog