Red Light Therapy

What Is It?

In red light therapy, also called photobiomodulation, the body is exposed to red light (660 nanometers) and near-infrared light (850 nanometers) from an LED panel. The light is meant to strengthen the mitochondria, calm inflammation and improve cell energy. Red light also promotes collagen production in the skin.

What Does the Research Say?

For light therapy on the head, there are first studies in Parkinson's. You can read more about that under Brain PBM. For full-body panels in Parkinson's, there are no studies. The idea of reaching the gut-brain axis through the chest and belly comes from the studies on PDCare.

My Weekly Plan

I combine two devices:

• Vielight helmet (810 nm, pulsed at 40 Hz): works mainly deep in the brain
• LED panel (660 nm red and 850 nm near-infrared, CE-marked): covers a larger area

This is what my week looks like:

• Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 20 minutes of helmet, a 5-minute break, then about 18 minutes of panel for the face, chest and belly
• Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday: rest day
• Saturday: sometimes a shorter 15-minute session with the panel

I lie on my back with my head on a flat pillow. The panel hangs about 18 to 22 centimeters above my face, and a bit farther away over my chest and belly. Both types of light are always switched on.

My Experience

I tolerate the routine well, and it gives me noticeably more energy and quality of life. I don't expect it to cure me.

Effort and Costs

I ordered my LED panel directly from China for about 200 euros. Devices sold in Germany, which mostly come from China as well, cost more like 800 euros. No health insurer covers the costs.

My Conclusion

A simple, pleasant add-on. Its effect in Parkinson's is not scientifically proven.