How Infrared Light Heals Wounds and Kills Bacteria

Every horse owner dreads the day when they come home to a gaping wound on their beloved equine.  The first response is to worry about bacteria, infection, and the pain and discomfort that the wound is causing.  After that the horse lover wonders how and if the scarring will affect their horse's movement, their ability to perform, and in some cases their entire show career.  

The use of Infrared Light Therapy can help to allay these worries.
Although light therapy may seem like a recent discovery, the truth is that it has been around since as early as 1903 when Dr. Niels Ryberg Finsen was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize for his use of UV light in healing an assortment of health issues.  Infrared Light Therapy was discovered much later in 2003. 

When pharmaceuticals were introduced into the main stream, the use of light was all but forgotten.  However, now with the escalation of resilient strains of bacteria, and the desire for less harmful forms of treatment, a new interest in the use of Infrared Light Therapy has come forward.

But how does it work in healing wounds and battling bacteria?  Scientists have found that infrared light increases the amount of oxygen in the blood, and kills viral, bacterial, and fungal toxins.  These actions improve the balance of the chemicals in the cells.  Repeatedly, it has been found that using infrared light begins its healing work during the first application and then creates a cumulative effect as treatments continue.  Time and again, infrared light has been proven to kill even the most resistant types of bacteria, and allows it to initiate the killing of pathogens in a wound that has become infected.  It does this by stimulating the free radicals which, in this case, are good because they deliver oxygen that helps to destroy the nasty invaders.
Other studies have shown that cells that have been introduced to these special wavelengths of light develop up to two hundred times faster than cells that have not.  Another benefit is that ATP is increased.  Food must turn into ATP before it can be used as energy.  It is the major form of transport that carries nutrients and dispels waste. Therefore, as it increases and speeds up, it helps the healing of cells by enhancing and increasing the energy that already exists inside the cell.  Another advantage is that circulation is increased, new capillaries are formed which bypass those that need to be replaced or are permanently damaged, toxins are washed out of the body rapidly, and more nutrients and oxygen are delivered to the hungry cells.  Collagen production is increased, and since collagen is the protein that is created to mend or replace damaged tissue, less scarring takes place on the site of the wound.
RNA and DNA synthesis are also enhanced.  This ensures that injured cells will be restored quickly.  Light therapy has been proven to increase the activity of the lymphatic system as well so that both the liquid and the proteins that cause swelling at the site of an injury are more quickly evacuated, which in turn reduces inflammation.  Finally, science has found that when the photons of light enter the area of the wound, they do so as negative ions.  The body responds by sending positive ions to the area.  This aids in stimulating the nerves in that particular area, and thus helps to relieve pain. 

So, if you have been looking for a more effective way to deal with wounds, infections and increase the overall health of your horse, Infrared Light Therapy may be the answer you have been waiting for.  

Author:  D.Overman