www.eisenhowerhealth.org/growth It seems like every week there’s another revolutionary treatment that surfs the waves of the World Wide Web to reach your Facebook feed. Some promise game-changing instant results, while others propose a permanent placement in your daily routine. By the same time next week, many of these fads fade into the endless sea of suggestions leaving you wondering how best to support your ongoing wellness journey. Following the science may be the best place to start. Light therapy, properly known as photobiomodulation (PBM), may have started as an accidental discovery by NASA in the 90s during research on plant growth in space, but it has led to positive results in many areas of wellness. Over the years, studies have strengthened the evidence on how red and near-infrared LED light exposure supports physical and mental health. While red light can improve skin surface, near-infrared light penetrates deeper, giving the combined use of both even more significant impact. Red and near-infrared lights work to stimulate the mitochondria, which power cell function and provide energy to the body. Exposure to light therapy has been shown in studies to positively impact cognitive function, skin and hair, inflammation and sleep patterns.2,3 While research continues, this therapy is becoming more accessible, allowing more people to incorporate it into their wellness routine. With current technology available, there are several methods for delivering this noninvasive treatment. From canopy panels to transcranial PBM helmets, results are best achieved with consistent, timed exposure. Because many of these options are now available for home use, visiting a business that specializes in this therapy is the best way to begin your journey and learn how to customize it to your needs. A standard recommendation for light therapy is two sessions per week. A session can last 15 minutes or more depending on the intensity of the red and near-infrared lights, how long you’re exposed to them and how many pieces of equipment are used. In addition to consistency, remaining hydrated is also important. As exciting and promising as PBM may be, the future only looks (pardon the pun) brighter. Studies are currently underway to explore how red light therapy can transform specific conditions, including eye health. According to the National Library of Medicine, the use of red light “has shown remarkable, multi-faceted effects in ophthalmology: slowing myopia progression, protecting retinal cells in glaucoma, reducing inflammation in AMD, and relieving symptoms of dry eye disease.” With many new products on the market, it's important to verify the science behind what you read and consider trying new approaches to take your wellness into your own hands. India Braemer and Joseph Scherger, MD, are with Restore Health Disease Reversal in Indian Wells and can be reached at (760) 898.9663. References: 1) https://www.mdanderson.org/cancerwise/what-is-red-light-therapy.h00-159701490.html; 2) https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih. gov/articles/PMC3499892/; 3) https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22114-red-light-therapy; 4) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih. gov/40105942/ www.DesertHealthNews.com March/April 2026 Medical News The Valley's Leading Resource for Health and Wellness 4 Science supports red light therapy for mental and physical health. Eisenhower Health is proud to be a community health system in every sense of the word. Not only do we serve our community, but we are actually owned by the community. That means we answer to you. So we carefully assess local health care needs, look ahead at trends and statistics, and plan services accordingly. We consider it our responsibility and our honor to care for the residents of the Coachella Valley. Over the last 20 years, Eisenhower Health has reinvested $1.2 billion to expand and enhance our continuum of care. Examples include: • Establishing a network of Health Centers across the valley for primary and specialty care • Investing in state-of-the-art technology in robotic surgery, imaging, and more • Developing a Graduate Medical Education program to train expert physicians for the future • Continually expanding services in key areas like cardiovascular, cancer, orthopedics, and behavioral health When it comes to caring for the Coachella Valley, we’re all in. And we’re all yours. Our Patients Are Our Priority. “As a Not-for-profit Hospital, Our Only Care Is Caring for You.” ~Marty Massiello, CEO/President EisenhowerHealth.org/Growth Gwen Harville-Washington, LCSW Licensed Clinical Social Worker Specializing in Internal Family Systems Embracing Our Vulnerability Upcoming Offerings: WOMEN’S GROUP Coming together to create community and heal past wounds GROUP FOR CLINICAL THERAPISTS Support for professionals supporting others Groups are limited to 8 participants. To be placed on the interest list and for further information, please contact Gwen at (909) 210-5895 or gwen.alpa@gmail.com. www.movementforlife.com/desert • Orthopedic rehab with board certified PTs to restore mobility and strength • Sports performance to boost your game including pickleball • Work injury recovery to get you back on track Power up your game Cathedral City 35325 Date Palm Dr. Ste 131 Cathedral City, CA 92234 (760) 202-0368 Indio 81557 Dr Carreon Blvd. Ste C4 Indio, CA 92201 (760) 347-6195 Light Therapy: The Science Looks Bright By India Braemer and Joseph Scherger, MD
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