Red light therapy, offered by St. Mary’s Wellness Center in Georgia, has the potential to provide a noninvasive treatment option for those dealing with mental health or substance abuse issues. This treatment has the promising effect of balancing neurotransmitters (those “feel good” chemicals in the brain), reducing inflammation, improving skin health, and boosting overall mood.
In this article, we’ll discuss how to maximize red light therapy so you can get the most out of this state-of-the-art technology to improve your mental health and overall well-being.
What is Red Light Therapy?
Red light therapy (RLT), also known as photobiomodulation, uses low levels of red or near-infrared light to stimulate cells and promote healing and skin health. Unlike the UV rays you get when exposed to sunlight, the low-spectrum light emitted from red light therapy does not damage skin cells. In fact, certain cells absorb this light and provide them with energy that fuels them to work and boost the production of new cells.
Benefits of Red Light Therapy
Red light therapy is not only great for skin health but also for mental health. These mental health benefits include:
- Reducing inflammation in the brain, which is often linked to depression and anxiety.
- Increases blood to the brain, helping you feel calmer and more focused.
- Promoting muscle recovery and restoring energy, which reduces fatigue.
- Helping cells repair themselves, which can ease some of the physical and emotional challenges of withdrawal.
- Regulating the production of melatonin to improve sleep.
Learning how to maximize red light therapy can help you get the most out of its benefits to improve your well-being.
How You Can Maximize Red Light Therapy
Though St. Mary’s Wellness, GA, provides red light therapy, you might also wonder, “Can I do right light therapy at home?” The answer is yes. Some devices allow you to do red light therapy at home.
If you’re doing it at home, you’ll want to make sure you’re taking the right steps to get the best results. But even if you’re having it done through professionals, like St. Mary’s Wellness, there are some things you can do to maximize red light therapy, such as:
Be Consistent
Like most treatments, consistency is key. A regular schedule can help you get the most from red light therapy. With this in mind, you might be wondering how long should red light therapy sessions be? Generally, consistency in maximizing red light therapy could look like 2 to 3 sessions per week, but some clients might even do red light therapy every day.
The right answer for you will depend on many different factors like:
- Your individual goals
- The condition you’re treating
- The device that’s being used.
At St. Mary’s Wellness, clients typically undergo treatment for 10 to 20 minutes per session. You’ll work with the treatment team to determine what works best for you.
Find the Right Distance from the Light Source
To maximize red light therapy, you’ll also want to be in the right distance from the light. The recommendation for the distance for the most effective treatment is usually 6 to 12 inches from the light source. At St. Mary’s Wellness, GA, we provide the latest light-emitting devices that can be adjusted to provide the most effective red light therapy.
Increase Absorption
To get the most out of red light therapy, you’ll want to enhance the absorption of the light. This looks like:
- Keeping the skin clean by removing make-up, lotions, or oils before treatment.
- Drinking plenty of water to improve how well the cells respond.
- Enhancing cell growth and repair with good foods rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.
For the best results, use red light therapy on skin that is free of anything that could possibly block the light from interacting with your body’s cells.
Combine with Other Treatments
Learning how to maximize red light therapy could mean combining it with other treatments. If you’re looking to address mental health and substance abuse conditions, combining this with traditional therapy, medication, and lifestyle changes can improve the results. For those struggling with mental health and substance abuse, red light therapy can boost mood, while other treatments can teach coping skills, manage symptoms, and offer support.
How to Maximize Red Light Therapy with St. Mary’s Wellness
At St. Mary’s Wellness Center, GA, we are dedicated to providing cutting-edge, non-invasive treatments that prioritize your health and well-being. In combination with our red light therapy services, we also provide approaches like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), medication-assisted treatment (MAT), mindfulness, and group therapy to support your physical, emotional, and mental well-being and overcome those mental health and substance abuse challenges.
