“Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint.”
-Mark Twain
The pursuit of good health has always been big business. From the snake oil salesman and quack doctors in years past to the biohackers and industrial medicine of today, there have always been “experts” ready to heal you for money. Today, with new drugs and treatments galore for every malady known to man, this health pursuit continues and can get confusing.
Most of us are sharp enough to know the bare basics of maintaining good health. Proper nutrition (eating whole and healing foods – quality meats, fruits and vegetables – avoiding highly processed factory food from a box), drinking plenty of water (staying hydrated so you don’t look and feel like a piece of leather), deep restorative sleep (only possible when we put our stupid phones down well before bedtime – screen time ruins slumber), these are all part of keeping our bodies alive and well. But the basics are not always fun. You may forget about them as you scroll through your phone with a bowl of ice cream in your lap at two in the morning. But at the risk of adding more to the pile of “should do” health advice rattling around in your head, let me share some solid info. It relates to a recent helpful discovery that I have made that is frankly too compelling not to share with my readers. This might be a game changer for those who are aging and often find themselves sick and “stove up” as the old timers used to say. And what is this great discovery? It is red light therapy.
A word of caution here – do your own research and consult your doctor before embarking on this restorative health journey. Don’t take my word for it. I am just an old, bearded guy in a ball cap, slumped over my typewriter with a cup of coffee most mornings trying to stay healthy and out of trouble. Learn about the benefits of red light for yourself.
Red light therapy has been around since the 1990s, beginning when our astronauts tried their hand at cosmic farming. At that time NASA introduced red-light omitting diode (LED) devices to help grow potatoes in space. When astronauts were tending their plants, they noticed that the red light helped heal wounds on their hands. This prompted further research, revealing that this red light fostered healing on a cellular level. The light seemed to supercharge the body’s natural healing ability.
Today both red light and NIR (near infrared light) therapy are producing massive benefits. Red light therapy is non-invasive, doesn’t burn, and is considered completely safe. When the light hits your skin, it is absorbed by your mitochondria (the energy factory within your cells) significantly boosting the production of ATP (helpful adenosine triphosphate). Simply stated, this greatly increases your body’s ability to produce energy and repair cellular damage, and in the process essentially healing itself. It’s like charging your body’s battery. Red light therapy is commonly used to promote skin care, but can also support muscle recovery, brain health, and provide serious relief from chronic pain and disease.
My personal experience with red light therapy has been overwhelmingly positive. Plagued with skin issues and the normal aches and pains of a well-seasoned old guy, we purchased a simple red-light pad recently. Concerned about some strange spots on my aging face, after using the pad for a few months, those spots are gone. In the process my beard has started to grow darker, so something strange is working. Most surprisingly, the pain in my aching shoulder, which used to keep me up at night, is now completely gone after using my pad for a short time. I now use my pad anytime and anywhere I have pain or a problem (esp. occasional knee and foot pain – gone usually after a few sessions). I think I’ll go ahead and invest in a larger full-body red light blanket to cover and heal all my parts at once.
If you would like to try red light therapy, here are a few things to consider. First, do your own research before buying anything. And see your doctor if you have any potentially serious issues that need medical attention.
There are a variety of red-light devices available. Find what works for you. I started with a small pad (17” x 24”) that could be used anywhere needed. And make sure your device offers both red light (for skin deep healing) and NIR – near infrared light (for deeper healing in muscles and joints). My little pad is rated at 660nm for red light and 850nm NIR (this seems standard) and can run both wavelengths at the same time for optimum benefit with a treatment time of 20 minutes with automatic shut-off.
It is best to test your device and use it in the morning to start. If treating muscle or bone issues you may experience initial discomfort or irritation that might keep you awake at night, so better to use early in the day to avoid compromising sleep.
If you are not as spry as you used to be, red light therapy might be just what you need as you stagger back to good health and vitality. Try it today!
© 2025 Jody Dyer
typewriterweekly.com
