Depression can truly steal our lives away. Apart from low mood, it can trigger excessive sleepiness, memory and concentration issues, and the loss of interest in things we used to love. Due to this condition, we may struggle to perform well at work or school, skip meals, and withdraw from activities and loved ones.
While depression is best resolved with proper intervention from a medical professional, there are other natural remedies to alleviate some of its symptoms. Red light therapy is one of those options. It can be done alone or in unison with other forms of treatment.
Here’s how red-light exposure can help reduce the effects of depression:
Decreases Inflammation
Inflammation and depression often play hand-in-hand. Those diagnosed with depression tend to have elevated inflammatory markers on a systemic level. Low mood and stress can increase inflammation. Likewise, increased inflammation can also have a negative impact on mood.
Inflammation, regardless of whether it comes before or due to depression, can have a negative impact on critical neurotransmitters in the brain, like serotonin. It can also influence the release of cortisol, the body’s stress hormone. What is more, it can make it harder for the body and brain to heal themselves.
Red light therapy targets inflammation by boosting ATP production, reducing inflammatory markers, and boosting oxygen delivery.
Encourages New Cell Growth
Cellular growth plays a crucial role in combating depression. Healing on a cellular level energizes the body to repair itself, reduces stress, and lowers oxidative damage, which red light therapy can provide.
New cell growth can help with depression symptoms by reducing inflammation in the brain. It can also activate neuroplasticity, which helps the brain to heal itself, while giving the brain more energy to function as a whole.
Boosts Neurotransmitter Levels
Those with depression tend to have imbalanced neurotransmitter levels. This condition most commonly affects serotonin, dopamine, GABA, and/or norepinephrine. This imbalance can create a vicious cycle, frequently reigniting and worsening depression symptoms.
With the help of red light therapy, neurotransmitter levels can be improved. It does this by increasing the production of ATP, which gives energy to cells in the brain to regulate neurotransmitters. The decrease in inflammation, the improvement of sleep, and the increase in the brain protein, BDNF, from red light therapy also boost neurotransmitters.
Increases Blood Flow to the Brain
Improving, repairing, and healing the body often comes down to one’s quality of blood flow. Oxygen-rich blood helps deliver nutrients to the body where it is needed the most. Because depression signifies the body needs healing, optimal blood flow is also critical in this case.
Red light therapy can help boost blood circulation. It helps open up the blood vessels, which allows more nutrients to be transported to the body’s vital organs, including the brain. The increase in nutrient delivery encourages brain cell repair and the removal of metabolic waste, which would otherwise worsen depressive symptoms.
Are you interested in seeing how red light therapy can improve your mood? Recovery Lab is just a phone call away. Contact us today to see if you’re a great candidate for this wellness service.
