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Red light therapy testosterone is one of the least known natural remedies for low testosterone levels in men. However, it provides benefits to men’s health because it is generally safer and more effective compared to other light therapies.
Other light therapies, involving sunlight and artificial lights, have undergone rigorous studies to determine whether or not they are effective in medical treatments. But similar to drugs and other compounds, these treatments have harmful effects on your body.
The UV light (from sunlight) increases vitamin D production and improves mood; however, prolonged exposure to it may result in skin diseases such as sunburn or skin cancer. The blue light (from artificial light) may remove acne; but it harms the cell mitochondria.
To remove those dangerous effects of other light wavelengths, we should instead focus on the red light. In this article, you will discover the curative mechanisms of the red light therapy and its benefits to you, especially to your testosterone levels.
It's rare to find a man with low testosterone who boasts a fantastic sperm quality. In the following article, we discuss light therapies and how they can help men.
What Are the Benefits of Light Therapies?
The idea that the exposure to sunlight has many beneficial effects is the main reason why light therapies were discovered. The earliest study about this field started in the 1930s.
After that, significant amount of studies were conducted to find whether light can really be applied as treatment for various disorders.
- One study proved that Low level laser therapy (LLLT) is effective in solving hair loss or alopecia in both men and women. The treatment was also proven safe and effective.
- During winter, some people experience seasonal affective disorder (SAD) or seasonal depressions due to the lack of sunlight. Fortunately, light therapy recorded 75% success rate when used as treatment for SAD.
- In one research, Intensed Pulsed Light (IPL) therapy was able to improve the tear films of patients with meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). MGD causes dry eye syndrome.
- LLLT is also effective in improving the thyroid functions. Thus, another study concluded that it can cure hypothyroidism or low thyroid hormone levels.
- LLLT is also found to be effective in reducing pain in patients with chronic joint disorders.
- For patients with carpal tunnel syndrome or numbness of hands, LLLT can also improve their hand grip and pinch grip capacities.
Light Therapy and Testosterone
For men, it was found out that exposure of one’s testicles to sunlight can increase the testosterone levels.
However, who would dare to sunbathe naked in public? And more importantly, how would you manage the harmful effects of the UV rays?
As a solution to that problem, the light box was invented. This technology is used for light therapies as it emits bright light; thus, it helps address the lack of regular exposure to sunlight.
But thanks to technological advancements, the light box evolved into more handy and more effective light therapy devices. You may now use these devices to increase your testosterone levels anytime and anywhere.
Symptoms of Low Testosterone Levels
The testosterone is an androgen hormone, produced from the testicles. This hormone is vital for many male characteristics. A low testosterone level will bring you many troubles, including the following:
Low testosterone production does not only occurin aging men. Therefore, if you are experiencing these symptoms, light therapy might actually help.
As mentioned earlier, sunlight and artificial light have harmful effects on your body. Hence, it is vital to remove the specific light wavelengths that cause those problems, and such is the case with red light therapy.
What Is Red Light Therapy?
The red light is part of the light spectrum. The red wavelength (630-700 nm) falls under the visible light; whereas, the infra-red light (700-1200 nm) is part of the invisible spectrum.
The red and the infrared lights are particularly important, among all wavelengths of light, due to their relative safety and penetration ability. Their use in the medical field is called photobiomodulation.
There are two kinds of red light therapies: the Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation (LASER) therapy and light-emitting diodes (LEDs) light therapy.
Laser therapy emits only one wavelength of light and focuses light in only one direction, whereas, LED light therapy emits a broader wavelength of light and non-coherent light.
LLLT is a kind of laser therapy; however, it only uses energy wavelengths that are lower than those applied in laser surgeries. Thus, it is safer for living cells.
In comparison, LLLT is more popularly used for wound healing, injury medication, and brain rehabilitation; LED therapy, on the other hand, is utilized in skin restoration and in muscle repair and improvement.
When body tissue is exposed to these therapies, both of them act on the cell mitochondria by increasing the ATP, or the energy currency, production of the cell. Therefore, either of them can be used for red light therapies.
How Does Red Light Therapy Work on Your Testosterone?
There are many ways in which the red light is able to help you.
- 1. Red light increases the ATP production of the Leydig cells.
Testosterone production, like other body activities, is dependent on ATP production. Upon exposure to red light, the cytochrome c oxidase in the mitochondria’s respiratory chain will trigger the increase in ATP production.
So when red light is applied directly to the testicles, the Leydig cells, which are the testosterone-producing cells, will also increase its energy production. Thus, its cells will function more and will produce more testosterone.
- 2. The red light affects the productions of luteinizing hormone (LH) positively; this hormone further regulates testosterone production.
This mechanism is particularly important when the testicles are not directly exposed to the light. The energy produced by the whole body triggers the production of other hormones, including the luteinizing hormone (LH), in the pituitary gland.
During blood flow, the LH moves towards the Leydig cells in the testicles. This hormone signals the Leydig cells to produce and release more testosterone.
- 3. There is also a theory that red light stimulates the photoreceptive proteins in the testicles: the opsin proteins.
The opsin proteins are also located in other parts of your body and are especially sensitive to red light. Therefore, when these proteins are exposed to red light, they could induce several cellular reactions in the Leydig cells, such as testosterone production.
Other Benefits of Increasing Your Testosterone Levels via Red Light Therapy
When your testosterone production increases, the problems associated with its low level will be eliminated. The following situations are the highlighted benefits of increasing your testosterone level using red light therapy.
Moreover, it is found out that the presence of red wavelength can increase the motility of both the free sperms and the post-ejaculated sperms. Therefore, the sperms can reach the egg cell faster.
- 1. Red light therapy can improve fertility.
Like the LH, the concentration of the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) also increases when the body releases additional energy. FSH will then signal the Sertoli cells to synthesize and produce more sperm cells.
- 2. Light therapy can cure the hypoactive sexual desire disorder.
The hypoactive sexual desire disorder is characterized by lack or absence of sexual fantasies. Red light therapy addresses this problem in two ways:
First, the light therapy accelerates the nitric oxide production by releasing this compound from the blood hemoglobin. Nitric oxide is found to be responsible in normal erectile functions by acting as a neurotransmitter of erection; therefore, you need it to improve your sexual desire and activity.
Second, it cures sexual dysfunctions by inhibiting the actions of the pineal gland. The pineal gland produces melatonin which has negative effects on your testicles.
- 3. LLLT promotes hair re-growth.
Hair loss occurs when the hair follicles become too sensitive to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Fortunately, a study proved that LLLT can stimulate hair-regrowth in individuals who suffered from male pattern hair loss (MPHL) and female pattern hair loss (FPHL).
Aside from all of these benefits, the red light therapy is proven to be safe. Unlike other light therapies, it does not harm living cells, and unlike testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), it does not cause other health risks such as cardiovascular diseases and prostate cancer.
Take note that the red light therapy does not introduce foreign substances into the body. It just controls the body cells to release or inhibit certain substances; therefore, it is natural and is safer.
Try the Red Light Therapy
So what should you do when you discover that you have low testosterone production?
You can go to a doctor if you want to. But you can also treat yourself by purchasing your own red light therapy device.
Always watch out for the light’s ideal temperature and wavelength. LED therapy is particularly recommended for personal use because it emits relatively colder light and a wavelength range of 600-950 nm.
Moreover, some products in the market for light therapy are usually bulky and blinding. Fortunately, there are various red light therapy devices which are also applicable to other tasks and are quite handy.
You can use these devices anytime, anywhere indoors, without feeling awkward. With these devices, you can experience red light therapy testosterone benefits.
