12/18/2017
LED and Wellness
There are, of course, other spa treatments and modalities that are in keeping with the promotion of wellness. This is where we can take a closer look at the possibilities for LED. If you are familiar with the use of LED for esthetic purposes, you know that it works on a cellular level to initiate various processes that produce desired effects on the appearance of the skin. Many of the same processes are believed to contribute to overall health because they help optimize cellular production and efficiency, especially when the treatment area is of a much larger scale than that of most esthetic devices. This is the essentially the logic in support of full-body LED bed treatment.
Creating cell energy: Over time, the human body generally becomes less efficient at producing adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the body’s fuel source. In relation, light-based energy of specific wavelengths helps to stimulate ATP production.
In esthetics, we associate ATP with fibroblast cells and the synthesis of proteins like collagen and elastin to plump and firm the skin. However, if we consider that there are literally trillions of cells that perform a variety of critical tasks throughout the human body on a moment-to-moment basis, and that somewhere upwards of 200 cell types have the ability to absorb light energy of certain wavelengths, the importance of ATP takes on a whole new meaning.
Human cells have so much on their plates, such as: breaking down molecules; producing a host of proteins, enzymes, growth factors and inflammatory mediators; synthesizing DNA and RNA; and cell signaling, just to name a few. Therefore, sufficient energy is imperative to healthy cell function.
In fact, most theories of aging are based upon progressive cellular impairment as a result of multiple causes, so the idea of stimulating energy production to help fortify the cell to successfully accomplish these tasks makes a great deal of sense in terms of using the body’s own resources to keep it in better working order.
O2 to the rescue: Some LED devices are cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to stimulate local blood circulation. This is a tremendous benefit of full-body LED since “local,” under these circumstances, means the entire body. Adequate blood circulation is, of course, important to health and healing, as blood is a vehicle by which oxygen and nutrients are transported throughout the body. It is also important to note that many disorders and diseases associated with aging, such as coronary artery disease, heart attacks, strokes and dementia, are in part a result of ischemia, or inadequate blood flow.
The miracle molecule: Studies have shown certain wavelengths of light have the ability to release nitric oxide (NO) from cells, making it bioavailable. Nitric oxide is a gas that is naturally produced by the body, and is often referred to as “the miracle molecule.”
As with ATP, the human body’s ability to produce NO diminishes dramatically with age. In fact, it is estimated that by the time we reach the age of 40, we produce roughly 50% of the NO generated in our youth, and that by age 60, we are at approximately 15% capacity.4 To make matters worse, what we do produce may become “bound” in cells, making it unavailable for the body to use.
Why is this important? NO has the following three primary functions.
When formed in nerve cells, NO is a neurotransmitter that plays an important role in cell signaling, allowing cells to coordinate and facilitate various processes.
When produced in the endothelium, NO triggers dilatation of blood vessels and arteries to improve blood flow and discourage the formation of arterial plaques.
When produced in white blood cells, NO helps regulate immune function to protect from harmful bacteria and other threats to the body.
Once again, it is clear that assisting the body in the production and utilization of its own natural resources is absolutely critical in keeping with a pro-active and wellness-focused philosophy.
The Many Faces of Healing
In a society that is becoming increasingly invested in health and well-being, and as members of an industry that is well positioned to contribute to the wellness movement, we have a unique opportunity to help heal in ways we are only beginning to understand—and that is a beautiful thing.
