Red Heat - Long Wavelength Light and its Potential Benefits

Yesterday, 9th March 2024, was a stunning day with a cold north easterly wind on Holkham Beach. Despite the cold wind, there was a beautiful warmth coming from the sun. This warmth came from the longer wavelengths of light, once again invisible, on the opposite side of the visible spectrum to Ultraviolet, we feel this light energy in the form of heat. This is Infrared.

Infrared light, also known as IR radiation, is a type of electromagnetic radiation that has a longer wavelength than visible light. While visible light is typically perceived by the human eye, infrared light is invisible to the naked eye, but can be detected by specialised devices, such as cameras and sensors. Infrared light's long wavelength allows it to travel further than visible light, this allows infrared light to travel through our skin and into our bones.

Infrared light comes in the form of Near Infrared Light and Far Infrared Light. Near Infrared Light penetrates inches into the body where it directly interacts and modulates the function of cells. Far Infrared Light is something we feel, we feel it as heat in our bodies and it affects things like our blood flow and circulation.

Over the last 200 years or so our exposure to Infrared light has been decreasing significantly and this is in part down to the shift in our work patterns from being hunter gatherers to farmers and then to being working mostly indoors, a consequence of the industrial revolutions. Today we can be referred to as The Indoor Generation.

Infrared radiation is produced by a variety of sources, including the sun, incandescent light bulbs (when they were available), and even the human body, and it can also be reflected. If the average person today spends only 10% of their time outdoors (our friends in the US spend only 7% of their time outdoors), then it should not come as a big surprise that our consumption of IR has been on a declining trajectory. Our use of fires as a method of heating has declined as we've adopted central heating systems, add to that the move to LEDs as our primary artificial light source and the introduction of Low E-glass and we can see how this has led to a significant reduction in our consumption of an element which has a key role in our health and wellbeing.

IR radiation has several potential benefits for human health and well-being. Here are some of the ways in which infrared radiation can benefit humans:

1. Pain Relief: Infrared light therapy has been explored for its potential analgesic (pain-relieving) effects. It may help reduce pain and inflammation associated with conditions such as arthritis, musculoskeletal disorders, and injuries.

2. Wound Healing: Infrared light has been studied for its ability to promote wound healing. It may enhance cellular repair processes and support the regeneration of skin and other tissues.

3. Anti-Inflammatory Effects: Infrared light is thought to have anti-inflammatory effects, which may be beneficial for conditions characterised by inflammation, such as arthritis and inflammatory skin disorders.

4. Improved Circulation: Some studies suggest that infrared light therapy may help improve blood circulation. This can potentially benefit conditions related to poor circulation, such as peripheral vascular diseases.

5. Muscle Recovery: Athletes and fitness enthusiasts have explored infrared light therapy for its potential to enhance muscle recovery after exercise and reduce muscle fatigue.

6. Joint Disorders: Infrared light therapy has been investigated for its effects on joint disorders, including temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders and conditions affecting the knee, hip, and other joints.

7. Cognitive Function: There is emerging research on the potential neuroprotective effects of infrared light therapy, suggesting it might have positive effects on cognitive function. However, more research is needed in this area.

In addition to the potential benefits of Infrared Light listed above, there are a small number of studies that have suggested that infrared light therapy may improve memory and cognitive function in people with mild cognitive impairment or early-stage Alzheimer's disease, larger and more rigorous studies are needed to confirm these findings and to determine the optimal dose and duration of treatment.

This research suggests that there could be benefits to those suffering from Alzheimer's disease through trans-cranial infrared light therapy (https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6732/6/3/77 ). Infrared light therapy is thought to help stimulate the production of new brain cells and promote the growth of new connections between brain cells, which could potentially help to slow or reverse the cognitive decline associated with Alzheimer's. Trans-cranial infrared light therapy is carried out using specially design helmets.

These helmets direct Infrared Light around the head of the wearer. As mentioned earlier, Infrared light with it's long wavelength can travel through bone, and in this case through the skull. The Infrared Light is then directed by the cerebral fluid deep into the crevasses of the brain helping to stimulate the mitochondria resident in the brain.

Whilst on the topic of mitochondria, Infrared Light has an important role in mitochondrial function. When we were at school I am sure we all learnt about photosynthesis, the process by which green plants and certain other organisms transform light energy into chemical energy. More recently the term photobiomodulation has come to the surface, and the term describes the biochemical reactions that occur in living cells in response to light. Red and Near Infrared light wavelengths reach further into the skin and stimulate the mitochondria to convert the light into ATP - adenosine triphosphate, otherwise know as the energy currency of life. Mitochondria are?membrane-bound cell organelles?(mitochondrion, singular) that generate most of the chemical energy needed to power the cell's biochemical reactions. The chemical energy produced by the mitochondria is stored in a small molecule called adenosine triphosphate (ATP). It should therefore come as no surprise that we feel more energised when we spend more time in natural light!

Beyond the connection between Red Light, Near Infrared Light and the release of ATP, our mitochondria have another important connection to long wavelength light and our physiological health and wellbeing. In my naivety I had understood melatonin to be entirely produced in the pineal gland and used solely for driving our sleep/wake cycle. As it turns out it seems that less than 5% of our melatonin is produced by the pineal gland. Over 95% is subcellular, and our mitochondria produce melatonin in many cells in our body and this melatonin does not fluctuate with our circadian cycle, it is proposed to be consumed locally in response to the free radical density within each cell, in particular in response to Near Infrared Light exposure.

If we consider this finding/proposal by Zimmerman and Reiter, is it any wonder that we are seeing reports suggesting that we are getting more unwell over time as we become more entrenched in our position as The Indoor Generation?

Light, natural light in particular is a critical aspect of our health and wellbeing. We consume light in the same way that we consume and Quality if Light is Quality of Life, there is no getting away from it.

Do we only get Infrared Light from direct exposure to the sun? No! We can benefit from reflected Infrared Light from plant life. Plants receive light, both visible and non-visible, they absorb red, green and blue light which they convert to food, they do not absorb near infrared, they reflect it and we can absorb that infrared light for our own benefit.

There are many studies that suggest that spending time outdoors has a holistic impact on both physical and mental well-being, contributing to a healthier and happier lifestyle.

Make the effort to be outside, make calls outside, take a walk a lunchtime, walk to a meeting, we are The Indoor Generation and we can make some small changes to our daily lives to feel better and to be better.

Disclaimer: I'm not a scientist, a doctor or a physician, and it's worth noting that while infrared light therapy is generally considered safe, there may be some potential side effects, such as skin irritation or eye damage, if it is not used correctly. Anyone considering using infrared light therapy for Alzheimer's or other conditions should talk to their healthcare provider or a healthcare professional first to determine whether it is appropriate for their individual needs and circumstances.