Red Light Therapy

If you have spent time on the Parelli Campus, or in the Parelli Program you may have heard of Photonic Health, who is partnered with Parelli Natural Horsemanship. It is very common to see these mini flashlight-type tools strapped to those on campus like a fashion accessory. If you have not, I hope to shed some light on this under utilized method of treatment. Don’t worry I was once a skeptic too! However, I have reaped the benefits of this therapy for both myself and my horses. I am now a believer, and want you to know about the amazing ways this tool could change your life. 

What is Red Light Therapy? 

Red Light Therapy is a technology that has both cosmetic and healing effects. The word “healing” is defined as “the natural process by which the body repairs itself.” That is exactly what happens when the body is exposed to Red Light wavelengths between 630-660 nm (nanometers). Upon applying the red light to areas of distress the wavelengths penetrate layers of skin and help to activate ATP or adenosine triphospate in the muscle tissues, releasing more energy for the body to use. Although my exposure to this type of therapy has been mostly individuals treating themselves, or their personal horses, it has recently become a popular trend with many salons and dermatologists.

Red light therapy has been proven to resolve issues ranging from anti-aging, wrinkles, acne, headaches, body pain, muscle tears, and scarring. This is just for people! The list of benefits it has proven to provide animals is equally, if not greater in grandeur. 

My first real life experience with red light therapy was back in 2010 when my mare was kicked and fractured her cannon bone. My mom, who is a researching maniac, was compelled to purchase one after reading the countless success stories online. Not only did it aid in the rehab of my mare, but has since become a staple in my Family’s house and is pulled out whenever someone is afflicted with an ache or pain.

In the past three years it has become my trustee sidekick as I have endured over five operations to remove and reconstruct the lower half of my jaw. After each operation (literally in the hospital bed with nurses looking at my perplexed) I would apply the red light to my face. Despite those baffled looks I have been released from the hospital days earlier than anticipated every time and caused my surgeon and nurses to exclaim “wow, that is looking fantastic!”

I had my most recent operation on March 25th and finally thought to take some before and after photos. 

Hours After Surgery 

Day 11 Back To Riding My Horses! 

Just to give you some perspective, this is what my jaw looks like underneath. Thanks to red light therapy and the most amazing surgeon no one would ever know!

Needless to say the funny looks and teasing from skeptics was a small price to pay for the undeniable results it has offered me in getting through the physical battles of the past few years. 

If this wasn’t enough, I was overwhelmed with another success story this past week. This time using a much handier wand from Photonic Health on Na’vi, the horse I have been riding/showing in Colorado. Upon lacerating her nose Na’vi was bleeding profusely. Although the vet was on his way to sew her back up the amount of blood loss was worrying us. Fortunately Linda’s barn is stocked with a red light and a booklet with graphs on which points to use for what. Upon flipping through this handy booklet we found a graph on the “stop bleeding” points. By the time I got to the last two points the flow of blood had gone from a steady drain to the slow drip of a leaky fossett!

If you are interested in learning more, or ordering a red light click Here. I can tell you that I am a hard sell on this type of product. The mystic of it all, combined with the abstruse simplicity can easily cause skepticism. However, I can now speak from several personal experiences that have changed my life. Thank you Donna Woods and Bryan Owens for helping make the world a better place for horses and humans!