Moving away from traditional medicine and cures, people are moving towards red light therapy to cure different health problems.

Red light is essentially a noninvasive treatment where light is used to kickstart different types of biological processes. Similarly, many have been using it to treat poor blood circulation.

Blood circulation is the flow of blood from the heart to other parts of the body and back through blood vessels. In the process, our body is supplied with oxygen and important nutrients.

Healthy blood circulation is important for humans and animals as it helps cells grow and keep our immune system strong. If you suffer from poor blood circulation you may face health issues.

So today, let’s see how we can use Red light therapy treatments to support enhanced circulation and improve our quality of life.

How Does RLT Help For Poor Circulation?

• Improved Blood Flow
• Reduced Inflammation
• Enhanced Cellular Function

Understanding Poor Circulation

Poor blood circulation can harm humans. Also, it can lead to severe problems in the long run. It can affect your quality of life so knowing what causes them is important.

Causes of Poor Circulation

Many things can be a leading cause of poor blood circulation such as:

• Inactive Lifestyle: If you lead a lifestyle, where you have to sit at a desk job with little to no physical exercise involved, you may be at risk of decreased blood flow. Physical exercise helps keep the heart pumping blood throughout the body.
• Health Conditions: Many diseases such as diabetes or peripheral artery disease(PAD) can damage blood vessels leading to poor circulation. Narrowed arteries can lead to a buildup of plaque that restricts blood flow, especially, in the legs in the case of PAD.
• Aging: One of the unstoppable effects of old age can be poor blood circulation. As we age, our blood vessels can lose their elasticity restricting smooth blood flow. Paired with a weak heart, overall blood circulation is affected.

Symptoms of Poor Circulation

Some common symptoms of poor blood circulation can be:

• Feeling Cold: One of the telltale signs of poor blood circulation is feeling cold even when it is warm outside. If your hands and feet are cold in such cases, it may indicate that enough blood is not flowing to these parts.
• Feeling Numb: You probably have felt a tingling sensation if you accidentally sleep on your arm. You usually feel this on your palms. What happens is sleeping on your arms restricts blood flow to your hands. So when the pressure is released, you have this sensation. You will naturally feel this without any external pressure in case of poor blood flow.
• Swelling and Fatigue: Without enough blood flowing to different parts of the body, you may notice that the affected area slowly swells up. This happens due to increased fluid buildup in the affected area which can result in muscle fatigue.

How Does RLT Work?

As a solution to poor circulation, many have started turning to RLT as a way to solve the problem. But how does it work to promote blood circulation? Let’s find out.

Red Light Therapy
Mechanism of Action		Biological Effects
Penetration of Red Light into the Skin	Cellular Response	Increased Blood Flow	Cell Repair and Regeneration
RLT uses wavelengths from 630 to 670 nanometers	RLT stimulates mitochondria to produce more adenosine triphosphate (ATP)	Increased nitric oxide Level leads to increased circulation.	Higher ATP production leads to faster tissue repair
This can reach deep into the skin and soft tissues.	More cellular energy is produced.	More nutrients and oxygen are delivered through the body	It can also help skin, muscle, and bone regeneration.
Deeper cells can be accessed, which can be impossible for other non-invasive treatments.	Boosts the release of nitric oxide that can dilate blood vessels and improve circulation.	Useful for conditions like diabetes or peripheral artery disease.

3 Benefits of RLT for Poor Circulation

If you are facing problems with poor blood circulation, you can benefit from Red Light Therapy (RLT) in the following ways.

1. Improved Blood Flow

You can use RLT, to promote a body function called Vasodilation. Using RLT, you can make your body produce more nitric oxide. This relaxes the walls of a blood vessel making them widen so that more blood can flow through it.

On the other hand, you can use RLT to reduce blood thickness. Increased nitric oxide can help thin blood which in turn makes it easy to flow through the vessels.

2. Reduced Inflammation

With Red light therapy, you can reduce levels of inflammatory markers like C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and plasma viscosity (PV).

Reducing inflammation can also give you relief from symptoms like pain and swelling that arise from poor blood flow.

3. Enhanced Cellular Function

Red Light can stimulate the mitochondria which in turn increases ATP production. With more energy, your body is well-equipped to improve cellular functions and metabolism.

Also, when the body has more energy, it can use it to heal tissues faster. Wounds heal and damaged cells are repaired faster as a result of increased blood flow.

Scientific Evidence and Studies

Over the years, there have been studies and clinical trials done to assess the effectiveness of RLT’s claims.

• A study from 2013 was done to treat individuals with heel pain from plantar fasciitis. Low-level lasers were used to increase blood circulation in the affected area. One of the key findings from this study was that RLT can be a non-invasive way to improve local blood circulation in your feet. Using RLT, patients can feel pain relief and heal over time. (Source: ClinicalTrials)
• Another research from 2016 tested red and infrared light on children with severe forms of spina bifida. With the application of RLT, the children saw an increase in blood circulation in areas affected by bedsores. (Source: PubMed)

Dr. Hisham the Laser LifeCARE Institute in New Zealand is a big advocate for RLT and its effectiveness in boosting ATP. He said, “RLT helps to supercharge your cells with the natural photonic energy they need to make more core ATP; The energy molecules.

With more cellular energy, your body can perform more efficiently, and recover from strain and injury faster”.

(Source: Alephbeauty)

How to Use RLT for Circulation?

Types of Devices Available

You can use Red Light Therapy (RLT) through various types of devices

• Panels: Panels fitted with Red light can be used to cover the majority of your body like the back, chest, and legs.
• Handheld Devices: They are more portable and aimed to treat certain parts like muscles or joints.
• Wearables: These devices are the smallest you can find can can come in the form of wraps, masks, or caps

Guidelines for Effective Use

Unless stated otherwise by a doctor, make sure you use RLT devices for anywhere between 10 to 20 minutes. You can do it several times in a week but try to keep the time spent under 20 minutes.

Although RLT is safe and non-invasive it is best to use the therapy as directed by your doctor. Never look into the light directly as you can damage your vision. You can find many glasses made specifically to protect your eyes during sessions.

To have RLT be the most effective for you, try to combine it with other therapies like massage or acupuncture. This can boost the overall effectiveness of the therapy.

Additionally, try to improve your lifestyle and adopt a more active one incorporating workouts, more hydration, and a balanced diet. It is best to avoid smoking as they are known to reduce blood flow.

Potential Side Effects and Risks

Side Effects

Here are a couple of common side effects that you may experience from RLT:

• Redness: You may notice a slight redness on the area that is being treated. As RLT boosts blood flow, the area treated can grow warmer but it is nothing to worry about. It should go away in a couple of hours.
• Mild Irritation: There are also cases where patients complain about irritation in the treated areas. This is more common in people who have sensitive skin.

Risks

Although RLT is safe for most people, steer clear of it if you are:

• Photosensitive: If you take medication that increases photosensitivity, stay away from RLT as it may cause skin irritation.
• Pregnant: If you are pregnant, it is best to stay away from RLT unless instructed by a doctor.
• Have Cancer: Cancer patients, especially those who have skin cancer must stay away from red light therapy as it can stimulate cancer cells from the light emitted.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is RLT and how does it help with poor circulation?

By using low-intensity wavelengths of red light, you can help stimulate certain cellular functions that promote blood circulation. With an increase in ATP production, your body gets more energy which results in improved blood circulation.

How often should I use RLT for best results?

It is best to use RLT regularly for no longer than 20 minutes per session. It is best to consult with a doctor to get a proper answer for this as it may differ from person to person.

Are there any side effects of RLT?

Side effects of red light therapy include burns and blisters if used for a long period. It is more common in people who have sensitive skin.

Can RLT be used with other treatments for poor circulation?

When paired with massages, acupuncture, and hydrotherapy, RLT can prove to be very effective in increasing blood circulation.

How long does it take to see improvements in circulation with RLT?

With proper application, you can see results from RLT within a few weeks. It varies between patients depending on the current condition of the disease.

Treat Your Poor Circulation With Red Light Therapy

RLT can be a very effective way to treat poor circulation when paired with other treatments.

It is the new cutting-edge treatment for a non-invasive way to treat many different conditions. If you are interested in trying this out check out Platinum Therapy lights to grab your device today!