Enhancing Meditation with Red Light Therapy

Meditation is rooted from the Latin word "meditatio," which means "healing" and "nurturing the mind." It is about allowing us to sit quietly while actively activating our brains to complete a series of brain exercises. The purpose of meditation is to concentrate the spirit, relax the soul, and finally achieve more precise control of self-consciousness and calmness in the heart. From a scientific neurological point of view, meditation can really change your brain, personality, and state of mind so that you can get rid of anxiety, become calm, and reduce sorrow.

mediation and relaxation at house

Meditation also looks very simple; just find a quiet corner to sit down, close your eyes, breathe naturally for 5 to 30 minutes, and gradually increase the time. Nowadays, a lot of people are practicing meditation, but many are unable to persevere. The reason for this is that the biggest obstacle to meditation is distraction. Many people try to clean up their distracting thoughts, but in fact, they can't clean up their thoughts because thoughts are consciousness. Human consciousness is constantly in motion, so distractions cannot be cleared.

Thoughts cannot be purified, but they can be channeled. If you want to cultivate inner peace and improve spiritually, then meditation with red light therapy is definitely a great choice.

Boosting Meditation Benefits with Red Light Therapy

Red light therapy is well known for its overall physical and mental health benefits. It is made up of visible red and near-infrared light wavelengths, which activate cellular energy in the body. Red light therapy's healing power is mainly targeted at the body and emotions. In fact, red light therapy can work in every part of the body and has the unique effect of "photobiomodulation" on organs, cells, and tissues. It can penetrate deeply into the nervous, digestive, respiratory system, and other parts that need healing. Research studies have shown that red light strengthens emotional and psychological well-being. Red light therapy, in combination with different forms of meditation, can effectively enhance spiritual practices and cultivate inner peace in the following ways:

Calm the Nervous System

The human heart is like a dark room; red light therapy ignites the inside. Meditation with red light therapy as a unique practice not only has profound benefits for mental health and personal growth but also triggers a unique perspective on self-exploration and awareness. Research studies showed red light therapy modulates the activity of the amygdala and contributes to stress reduction. Red light potentially impacts brain structure and function, including the amygdala. The amygdala is the stress guard in the brain. Changes in gray matter directly correlate with stress levels. The larger the amygdala, the higher the person's sense of stress and anxiety. Mediation with red light therapy may calm the nervous system and make the brain fundamentally more resilient to stress. Many people come out of depression with the help of the power of red light therapy and meditation. At the psychological level, it can effectively manage emotions, especially for the improvement of symptoms such as anxiety and depression.

Open Heart Chakra

Chakra is from the Sanskrit language, meaning wheel, and it refers to the seven energy centers that our consciousness and energy system are made of. The first chakra is located at the root of the spine, is associated with the red color, and symbolizes physical and health stability. The fourth chakra (pink color) is the heart chakra, which is connected with the spirit and emotions of compassion and love. As the central point of the chakras, the heart chakra acts as a pump or valve, regulating energy flow through the body system. While meditation can give the whole body a chance to rest, red light therapy exposure can promote the regeneration of the nerves and heal the body internally. Chakra meditation with red light therapy may build a strong, clear, and balanced energy system. This energy is critical for vitality, health, and growth at all levels.

Balance Hormones

Optimized cortisol and serotonin hormone levels are indispensable for attaining a prosperous meditation state. Red light therapy exposure to the body stimulates mitochondrial catalase activity. This can increase glycogen content, protein synthesis, and adenosine triphosphate breakdown, which in turn promotes endocrine metabolism. Research studies suggest that red light therapy regulates cortisol and melatonin production in the body. Chronically elevated cortisol levels in the body damage health and cause stress. Red light irradiation to the body, just like sunlight in the morning, supports the natural production of melatonin and promotes wakefulness and alertness. It balances hormones supporting relaxation and recharges your brain to focus the mind. Red light therapy may enhance the concentration of muscles in the brain's consciousness. It can thicken the brain's gray matter, increase the surface area of the cerebral cortex, and make people smarter.

Bottom Line

Whether seeking relief from a busy life or on the path toward spiritual growth, red light therapy is a guiding light for your mind. Through red light therapy, we can make the body strong, flexible, and powerful, and meditation, as a brain exercise, also makes the mind more open, focused, and balanced. With its grounding energy, red light therapy is a safe, non-invasive, and soul-enlightening therapy. It shows potential for supporting spiritual development and meditation when used contemplatively.

References and Citations:

[1] Kabat-Zinn J, Wheeeler E, Light T, Skilllings A, Scharf MJ, Cropley TG, Hosmer D, Bernhard JD. Influence of a mindfulness-based meditation stress reduction intervention on patients undergoing phototherapy (UVB) and photochemotherapy (PUVA). Psychosom Med. 1998 Sep-Oct;60(5):625-32. doi: 10.1097/00006842-199809000-00020. PMID: 9773769.

[2] Shirkavand A, Akhavan Tavakoli M, Ebrahimpour Z. A Brief Review of Low-Level Light Therapy in Depression Disorder. J Lasers Med Sci. 2023 Nov 11;14:e55. doi: 10.34172/jlms.2023.55. PMID: 38028864; PMCID: PMC10658118.

[3] Eshaghi E, Sadigh-Eteghaad S, Mohaddes G, Rasta SH. Transcranial pbm prevents anxiety depression via changing serotonin including nitric oxide levels in brain of depression model mice: A study of three different doses of 810 nm laser. Lasers Surg Med. 2019 Sep;51(7):634-642. doi: 10.1002/lsm.23082. Epub 2019 Mar 18. PMID: 30883832.

[4] Shirkavand A, Akhavan Tavakoli M, Ebrahimpour Z. A Brief Review of Low-Level Light Therapy in Depression Disorder. J Lasers Med Sci. 2023 Nov 11;14:e55. doi: 10.34172/jlms.2023.55. PMID: 38028864; PMCID: PMC10658118.

[5] Wernner C, Byhahn M, Hessse S. Non-invasive brain stimulation to promote alertness and awareness in chronic patients with consciousness disorders: Low-level, near-infrared laser stimulation vs. focused shock wave therapy. Restor Neurol Neurosci. 2016 Apr 11;34(4):561-9. doi: 10.3233/RNN-150624. PMID: 27080072.