A summary of this article:
- Why I switched from Joovv to Orion Red Light
- Benefits of red and near-infrared light for thyroid function.
- The differences between red and near-infrared light.
- EMF radiation concerns with red and near-infrared light
- Which Orion Red Light is best?
- How to be entered to win your own Orion Pro 300 light
Back in 2017 when I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s, an autoimmune thyroid condition, I went on a mission to find everything and anything I could do to support myself. One piece of advice that kept coming up was using red and near-infrared light for my thyroid because it was shown to reduce thyroid peroxidase antibody levels (TPOab) by 39% in studies.(1)
Of course, I was floored by this given that this was the antibody that was elevated in my case, so I quickly ran out and purchased a red and near-infrared device.
I originally purchased my device from Joovv, a well-known and reputable company in the industry and used it religiously. After just under a year of consistent use, I went back to get my thyroid levels checked and my TPOab had reduced from over 300 to just over 100.
(Please note: Using these devices alone will not be your magic bullet. Please consider working with us in Sexy Lady Balls to get more help).
To say that I was floored by the results was an understatement.
So with such incredible and promising results, why did I switch from Joovv to Orion Red Light?
To be clear, I had no intention of stopping until I was approached by Orion Red Light, a Canadian company that is also the makers of their own red and near-infrared light.
As a Canadian, supporting a Canadian company was a huge selling feature, especially since their pricing was also in Canadian dollars.
Speaking of dollars and cents, they were competitively priced which was huge for me because, given the results I had received, I wanted my network to run out and get one too. But, I also wanted it to be affordable. And now it would be.
But before making the leap, I wanted to ensure that the quality was the same, if not better.
And to my pleasant surprise, it was.
In fact, Orion Red Light had informed me that they have the highest irradiance light on the market.
To clarify, irradiance is the measurement of how much ‘light energy’ a surface receives from a light source. In other words, the level of irradiance describes how powerful the light is. Generally speaking, a light therapy device with higher irradiance (higher power) will be more effective and efficient at providing full-body benefits and healing properties.
Joovv claims that each of their devices produces irradiance at >100 mW/cm2, but does not disclose the distance at which this level of irradiance is measured. There is no telling if this is at the surface of the device or 12 inches away. This is an important piece of information because the closer you are to the light, the higher the irradiance. At Orion Red Light, they’ve measured the irradiance of each device at 6″, 12″, and 18″.
What’s the difference between red and near-infrared light?
Understandably this is a huge question I receive and I wanted to help you understand the differences. The difference between red and near-infrared light is the ability to penetrate through the skin.
Red light uses a shorter wavelength that ranges from 620-750 nanometers (nm) and is readily absorbed by the surface layer of the skin. Red light increases collagen, energy production, and improves sleep, among many other health benefits.
Near-infrared light uses a longer wavelength that ranges from 750-1200 nm and has the ability to reach deeper tissues of the body for other health benefits. To name a few, near-infrared light is responsible for benefits such as improving muscle recovery, joint pain, inflammation, mental acuity, and thyroid function.
Orion Red Light uses the most effective and clinically proven wavelengths of Red, at 660 nm, and Near-Infrared, at 850 nm, light for full-body health benefits.
Benefits of red and near-infrared light.
When using my Orion light, I’ll often have both red and near-infrared light because they share a lot of common benefits including:
Increasing mitochondrial function
I realize this sounds complicated but to give you a ninth-grade science refresher, mitochondria are the powerhouse of your cells. We have mitochondria in every part of our body except our red blood cells. We have a ton of mitochondria in our ovaries so women struggling with infertility need to be working on mitochondrial support. Lastly, our brains have the most mitochondria so if it’s not functioning properly, then our brains will suffer and guess what signal many of our hormonal functions? The hormonal glands in our brain.
Mitochondria dysfunction isn’t just something you’re born with but also acquired through our environment, food, lifestyle factors. There are many things that can disrupt mitochondrial dysfunction like mold and gut infections (all of which can lead to thyroid and other hormonal issues), so supporting your mitochondria is key.
Red and near-infrared light support our mitochondria. It boosts energy production at a cellular level through the mitochondria, which creates adenosine triphosphate (ATP). The more ATP our cells can produce, the better our bodies heal, feel, and perform. In short, the more ATP our cells can produce, the more energy we’ll have.
And just a side note: Improving mitochondrial function can also help with weight loss.
Lowers inflammation
If you’re struggling hormonally then you have inflammation. To quell inflammation I always suggest working with someone like myself to investigate for infections. You also have to be eating an anti-inflammatory diet, getting in movement, sleep and hydrating. But incorporating red and near-infrared light was also shown in this study to have an overall anti-inflammatory effect on the body.(2)
Helps with improving sleep
If you have been following my work for a while (especially over on my Instagram page or YouTube account), you’ll know I scream loud and proud about the benefits of sleep. You can’t out supplement or out eat a shitty lifestyle. Sleep deprivation is the fastest way to kill your hormonal efforts. I love red and near-infrared lights because both were shown to help increase melatonin (your sleep hormone), which helps improve your sleep.(3)
Aids in supporting your mental health
As someone with Hashimoto’s, I can tell you that supporting my mental health is a huge priority. I’ve felt the impacts of depression and anxiety hit – especially in the wintertime. If you’ve struggled with your mental health, I can tell you that using the Orion Red Light should be a non-negotiable. After reading a study about PTSD patients and how 6 out of 10 of them experienced a remission of their depression, I was certainly intrigued. Personally speaking, I’ve found being in front of my Orion Red Light provides a calming effect.
Aids the skin and support repair
If you struggle with psoriasis, eczema, melasma, acne or any other type of skin ailment, then definitely give red and near-infrared light therapy a go.
I’ve found that my skin looks plumper (likely due to its effects on collagen production) and even my wrinkles have become less noticeable.
But many of my patients who struggle with psoriasis, eczema and even cystic acne, have found a noticeable difference in their skin when using red and near-infrared light therapy in conjunction with a proper nutrition plan.
Helps to grow hair
When I left my mold-infested apartment in Toronto, I had to chop off a big portion of my hair which had thinned out substantially. Mold can be devastating for hormonal issues because it can increase estrogen in the body and roughly 20% of individuals with hypothyroidism were found to have thyroid glands that were infiltrated with black mold (although I estimate that the stat is likely much higher).
I was on a mission to regrow my hair and so it’s the reason why I also use my Orion Light religiously because there are numerous studies to support that photomodulation can aid with hair growth.
Decreases pain
The majority of the women I work with struggle with an autoimmune condition like Hashimoto’s, PCOS, endo or even rheumatoid arthritis and pain is a huge part of the profile. I have used this on my muscles, joints and even on my pelvic region for pain and have found it to be quite beneficial.
And this isn’t all in my head either. There’s also been a study to show that it can help with chronic pain.(4)
FUN FACT: I also use my Orion Red Light on my dogs. Bodhi, my nine-year-old cockapoo recently sprained his paw on the rocky beach. So I used both the red and near-infrared light on his paw and he seemed to love it as he laid there and fell asleep on me. I found that he gained mobility faster than the vet anticipated.
Just like humans, our furry friends can absolutely benefit from photomodulation too, even on a daily basis.
What about EMF radiation with the Orion red and near-infrared light therapy?
EMF is always a massive concern for me. If you didn’t know this already EMF exposure can increase mycotoxins (the toxins produced from mold) but up to 600x making them more aggressive.
So while we can’t avoid EMFs completely, I also want to ensure that I’m not using a product that has high EMF radiation. The Orion Red Light has extremely low EMFs which is considered within the safe limit for human exposure. So in other words, they wouldn’t be able to operate, let alone sell their products if they weren’t absolutely safe to use.
Which Orion Red Light product is best?
The beauty of the company is that they sell different sizes for different lifestyles and financial needs. Given I’ve been living in an RV for the last year, I needed something portable which is why I love my Orion 300. It’s a half-body-sized device that comes with a pulley, which easily attaches to the back of my bathroom door.
The big question I get is, “Which size is best for me?”
The reality is that the bigger the device, the more surface area it’ll technically cover. If you have a smaller device, you may need to do multiple sessions.
However, with that said, I will tell you that if you are pressed for funds, even their smallest device (i.e. Orion Edge) can prove to be a huge asset to have in your home. This small device can allow you to get to targeted areas like the thyroid, pelvic region or to a burn for example to expedite healing.
How do you use the Orion Light?
It’s pretty simple, all you do is turn the device on and close your eyes and relax!
There are two lights – the red and near-infrared light and I generally use both at the same time. If you want to penetrate deeper into the tissues, like your thyroid, you’ll want to make sure that you’re no more than 2” away from the device since near-infrared doesn’t work well from far away.
I’ll use my light first thing in the morning for 15 minutes and again in the evening before bed. It sounds counterintuitive to use the light at night but the red light helps to mimic the sunset, so it won’t disrupt your sleep. I will admit that sometimes when I need a boost or even to just relax a bit, I’ll do another 10-15mins midday.
It has been a staple in our little home for not only myself but my husband when his muscles are sore postworkout and even for our pets.
Here is how you can be entered to win an Orion Pro 300
The lovely folks at Orion Red Light have graciously offered to giveaway to one lucky winner their Orion Pro 300 (not to be confused with my Orion 300 which is half-body-sized). The Orion Pro 300 is an awesome addition to your desk, which can target specific areas like the thyroid. It’s also amazing for your skin, giving you an energy boost and even targeting the scalp if you’re struggling with hair loss.
How to be entered to win the Orion Pro 300 in just two easy steps:
- CLICK HERE to submit your name and email address so we can contact you if you win.
- Share this blog post on social media (Facebook, Instagram, etc.) and use the hashtag #OrionSFTgiveaway (You must make sure that your post is set to public or we will not be able to see it!)
- When you share this blog post, make sure to write in your caption how you’d use your Orion Pro 300 if you were chosen as the winner. Would you use it for your thyroid? Maybe you would use it for your skin? Maybe for chronic pain or skin ailments? Let us know!
Alright you, that’s it! The winner will be announced on July 8!
References:
(1) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20662037/
(2) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5523874/
(3) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5436183/
(4) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4137223/