A Study in Infrared: Heal Like 'Wolverine'

A desire we all share at one time or another is to recover from illnesses, our workouts, or create a state of wellbeing. John Watson’s words; “Worn with pain, and weak from the prolonged hardships which I had undergone”(Doyle) is a sentiment we can all relate to even myself who has an overzealous approach to everything, including irony.

Experimenting is the best word to use when one lives with an adventurous spirit as I like to because I get myself into all sorts of predicaments that I delight in solving myself. Infrared lamps and saunas have been around for years, the first time I experienced it was inside an infrared sauna and it was fantastic. I love the warm feeling of any sauna but infrared heat feels next level marvelous while also improving your cell turnover, collagen production, reducing inflammation, aiding your immune system, 

What is Infrared Light?

Infrared light on the spectrum of light/electromagnetic spectrum is the type to have longer wavelengths opposite to the X-Ray or UV light which have higher energy and shorter wavelengths. It is is not the type of light we can see with our eyes but we can sometimes feel it as heat on our skin. “two wavelengths of red light in particular—660 nanometers and 850 nanometers—deliver the best biological response, explains Michael Hamblin, M.D., an associate professor at Harvard Medical School. The former, 660 nanometers, is more quickly absorbed by the skin, making it the go-to for cosmetic treatments, while 850 nanometer wavelengths penetrate deeper into your body to help with muscle recovery, joint pain, and full body health.”(Chenoweth,)

What does it do?

Reduces inflammation by energizing the mitochondria(YES, THE POWERHOUSE OF THE CELL) increasing your body’s ability to heal itself. “Red light therapy alleviates chronic inflammation by increasing blood flow to the damaged tissues, and it’s been found in numerous clinical trials to increase the body’s antioxidant defenses.”(Joovv)

How can you try it? 

You can buy the lamp I bought(linked below) or search locally to find a facility near you that offers infrared saunas or infrared therapies. 

(Not all saunas are infrared)

Works Cited:

Avci, Pinar et al. “Low-level laser (light) therapy (LLLT) in skin: stimulating, healing, restoring.” Seminars in cutaneous medicine and surgery vol. 32,1 (2013): 41-52.

Chenoweth, Hannah. “Red Light Therapy May Actually Be the Fountain of Youth.” Glamour, Glamour, 25 Feb. 2019, www.glamour.com/story/red-light-therapy-may-actually-be-the-fountain-of-youth.

DOYLE, ARTHUR CONAN. STUDY IN SCARLET. BAKER STREET PR, 2020.

“Treating Inflammation and Pain with Red and Near Infrared Light Therapy.” Joovv, joovv.com/blogs/joovv-blog/treating-inflammation-pain-red-near-infrared-light-therapy.