(WFSB) – Red Light Therapy is one of the newest treatments out there, and everybody is buzzing about the health benefits. Celebrities and professional athletes post about its healing powers, so of course, we had to check it out for ourselves.
Dr. Jennifer Stagg, a Naturopathic Doctor at Whole Health Wellness Center in Farmington, gave us exclusive access to one of the only FDA-approved, full-grade Red Light machines in Connecticut. She compares Red Light Therapy to flipping on the body’s healing switch. The light energizes your cells, and the benefits don’t stop at the skin. We’re talking faster healing, pain relief, and even hair growth.
“You’ve got that increased blood flow, you have your immune system kicking in, doing a lot of repairs. It’s anti-inflammatory; those types of things are all happening in your body,” Stagg said.
Dr. Stagg’s been ahead of the curve, using Red Light Therapy at Whole Health Wellness for 5 years. And now, she says everyone else is catching on.
“People sleep better. They have reduced stress,” Stagg mentioned as some of the benefits. “People love it because you feel better all around.”
Stagg walked our cameras through the process.
“A patient will get undressed down to their underwear. They just put on a little eye cover, and then they’ll lie down on the bed and pull the cover over them. The Red Light Therapy session typically lasts for about 15 minutes, during which the patient can relax or meditate.” Stagg described.
Power on the TheraLight 360, and instantly, that red light goes to work, stimulating your cells.
“You feel a pleasant warmth, but a lot is happening cellularly and in the tissue during that session.”
This medical-grade, FDA-approved machine is not only effective but also safe. The light penetrates, but it doesn’t burn. What it does, studies show, is boost your circulation, rev up your energy, and even improve your mood.
“It reduces pain, and it helps with mood, especially depression, but also anxiety. We’ve seen a really great response with that,” Stagg said.
Dr. Stagg says this type of light therapy is a ray of wellness, helping reduce inflammation, ease pain, and speed up muscle recovery.
In just 15-minute sessions, those activated cells can fight hair loss and even rejuvenate your skin.
“We have patients who use it regularly, just from that wellness standpoint and for the anti-aging effects,” Stagg said.
Jennifer Bucari from West Hartford swears by her regular Red Light treatments.
“The light helps with collagen, wrinkles, and it’s not bad for you,” Bucari said.
52-year-old Bucari says it improves how she feels every day.
“I have Type 2 Diabetes. That’s one of the big reasons I wanted to try red light for inflammation. And my endocrinologist was thrilled with the results. After 10 sessions, my blood inflammation level marker went from a nine to a two. So, it was significant,” Bucari said.
The results vary by person and by machine. But a top-tier red light bed has 45 thousand tiny lights that Stagg says can help your body heal faster.
“In just a minor injury. It could take a couple of weeks off that recovery time for sure,” said Stagg.
But be cautious, Dr. Stagg says those at-home masks and wands don’t come close to this kind of power.
“There are a wide range of devices out there, and some, the vast majority, are not FDA cleared and have minimal, if any, therapeutic benefit.”
Dr. Stagg says the low-level devices you see online can’t deliver those same results. It works best in a medical office, and it will cost you at least $40 a session because insurance doesn’t cover it. However, some wellness centers or spas may offer package deals or discounts for multiple sessions, making it more affordable for regular users.
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