10/29/2026
Light has always shaped how we feel. 🌿
Red Light Therapy, is a non-invasive therapy that uses specific wavelengths of bothred and near-infrared light. Research shows this light is absorbed by the mitochondria, the tiny “power plants” inside your cells. There it may help support your cells’ natural energy production (Spongberg et al.).
Why does that matter for stress? Because the mind and the cells are closely connected.
✨ Stress reaches the cells. Mitochondria help your body respond to stress. In animal studies, ongoing stress has been found to affect how they work. Scientists call this mitochondrial allostatic load. In plain terms, it is stress taking a toll at the cellular level (Picard and McEwen).
✨ It works both ways. Researchers describe a two-way relationship between anxiety and brain mitochondria. Science has not yet shown which comes first (Filiou and Sandi).
✨ Early research is encouraging. A 2025 review of 14 clinical studies found reports of reduced anxiety with red and near-infrared light, and side effects were mild and infrequent (Cidral-Filho et al.). An earlier review of 16 studies rated the therapy as recommended for anxiety disorders (Montazeri et al.).
✨ A field that keeps growing. Researchers are studying red and near-infrared light far beyond relaxation. A 2025 review describes it as a rapidly expanding area of research across many medical fields, including wound healing, pain management, protection of the nervous system, muscle and joint care, and heart health (Shivappa et al.). It is also being studied for skin rejuvenation (Spongberg et al.) and athletic recovery.
Researchers are honest that this work is still evolving. Results depend on the device, the light used, and the dose. In athletes, for example, a 2026 review found results to be inconsistent (Baraniecka).
So, the idea is gentle but promising: care for your cells, and you may be supporting your calm, too.
At The Well & Free Collective, we believe wellness begins at the deepest level, one cell at a time.
Ready to experience the glow? Book your session today. ✨
🔴Works Cited
Baraniecka, Aleksandra. “Photobiomodulation (Red and Near-Infrared Light Therapy) for Mitochondrial Stimulation and Biological Recovery in Athletes: A Narrative Review.” Quality in Sport, vol. 64, 2026, article 73741, https://doi.org/10.12775/QS.2026.64.73741.
Cidral-Filho, Francisco J., et al. “Exploring Photobiomodulation as a Complementary Approach for Mental Health: An Integrative Review.” Lasers in Medical Science, 2025, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-025-04738-8.
Filiou, Michaela D., and Carmen Sandi. “Anxiety and Brain Mitochondria: A Bidirectional Crosstalk.” Trends in Neurosciences, vol. 42, no. 9, 2019, pp. 573–88, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tins.2019.07.002.
Montazeri, Katayoon, et al. “Photobiomodulation Therapy in Mood Disorders: A Systematic Review.” Lasers in Medical Science, vol. 37, no. 9, 2022, pp. 3343–51, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-022-03641-w.
Picard, Martin, and Bruce S. McEwen. “Psychological Stress and Mitochondria: A Systematic Review.” Psychosomatic Medicine, vol. 80, no. 2, 2018, pp. 141–53, https://doi.org/10.1097/PSY.0000000000000545.
Shivappa, Pooja, et al. “From Light to Healing: Photobiomodulation Therapy in Medical Disciplines.” Journal of Translational Medicine, vol. 23, 2025, article 1430, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12967-025-07466-3.
Spongberg, C. V., et al. “What to Look for in Red Light Therapy: A Product Guide Backed by Science.” Cureus, vol. 18, no. 3, 2026, article e105378, https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.105378.
