What is Light Therapy?
The magic of light therapy lies within the photons of light that are emitted from the central ray, which are capable of penetrating our skin at a wide variety of depths. Just how deeply these individual photons can penetrate; however, depends upon where they lie along the electromagnetic spectrum of light, which is typically determined by the nanometer distance from one wave to the next (i.e. wavelength).
Ultraviolet (UV) and violet light, for example, have a much shorter wavelength than light on the infrared or near IR (NIR) end of the spectrum. UV light can only penetrate through the epidermis, struggling to make it to the underlying dermis, while NIR light carries such a long wavelength in comparison, that it can penetrate through the skin and even into the underlying fat and muscle tissues.
What Happens on a Cellular Level?
One of the most essential intracellular organelles that lies within the vast majority of the cells making up our body, is the mitochondria or “powerhouse” of the cell. The mitochondria are where ATP (i.e. usable cellular energy) is generated, so that our cells can carry out of all of the vital functions that we require as complex organisms within this quite often polluted world.
What we know about poorly functioning cells is that they can oftentimes contain dysfunctional mitochondria; we also know that we can use light therapy to stimulate these incredible structures, as well. The most effective wavelength for optimizing mitochondrial function appears to be around the red light (specifically near-infrared) spectrum.
How Does a Light-Emitting Diode (LED) Differ from a Laser?
Generally speaking, a laser tends to be a single coherent ray of light, while LEDs emit a myriad of incoherent rays of light that can scatter in numerous different directions. It is in large part for this reason that lasers tend to be more powerful than LED light.
There are a number of medical benefits and indications for both LED and laser light therapy, from the foundational basics of cellular energy optimization, to detoxing and reducing inflammation. The uniqueness of the Avologi Lumnen laser lies in the fact that it combines both therapies in one device.
Why Should We Care?
Wouldn’t it be nice if we could assist with optimizing cellular function, CO2-oxygen exchange, perfusion of nutrients, stimulating collagen and hyaluronic acid production, as well as reducing inflammation, from the upper layers of the skin, all the way down to the bone?
The Lumnen device is specifically-designed for this purpose. This is why it has indications for things such as painful and/or degenerative chronic conditions, to cosmetic uses including lifting of skin sagging, plumping of fine lines and wrinkles, as well as overall smoothing of the skin.
I have used it on my daughter in a number of therapeutic capacities, and when we were brainstorming together about this blog article, she reminded me “not to forget to say that it’s very relaxing too!” We often treat along her spine and kidneys, as well as over the scalp, all of which are incredibly calming, grounding, and relaxing; she oftentimes drifts right off into a peaceful sleep during the treatment.
If you are interested in learning more about this versatile device, or about our clinic’s current pilot study, please contact our office!