Holistic Healing: Heliotherapy, Sunbathing, and Red Light Therapy
- Cannatan Botanicals - CEO
- Feb 3, 2020
- 5 min read
Updated: Jul 23, 2020
Helios means "sun" in Greek. Heliotherapy is a type of phototherapy that refers to the therapeutic use of sunlight. This term is also applied to the therapeutic use of artificial sources of ultraviolet, visible or infrared light radiation for healing.
Humans have been using light as a form of therapy and healing for thousands of years.
The sun has always governed our way of life. The power of light radiating from the sun provides living things with vital energy essential for life here on earth.
Solar energy has been revered as a supreme power by many cultures. In fact, countless religions and spiritual groups have and continue to center their worship around the sun.
Solar deities, gods personifying the sun, and sun worship can be found throughout most of recorded history in various forms.
In ancient Greek religion and myth, Helios is the titan and personification of the Sun, often depicted in art with a radiant crown driving a horse-drawn chariot through the sky. Homer, a legendary Greek author, described Helios as a god "who gives joy to mortals" and other ancient texts give Helios the byname "gracious", given that he is the Greek source of life and regeneration. Given that Helios is associated with the creation of the world. One passage recorded says of Helios, "the earth flourished when you shone forth and made the plants fruitful when you laughed and brought to life the living creatures when you permitted."
The unmatched genius of ancient Egypt was born under the sun. For the Egyptians, the sun represented light, warmth, and growth. This made sun deities very important to Egyptians, and it is no coincidence that the sun came to be the ruler of all. In his myths, the sun was either seen as the body or Eye of Ra. Ancient Egyptians came to view their pharaohs as incarnations of the supreme solar being, Ra (Wingington 2017). His worship increased massively in the fifth dynasty, when he became a state deity and pharaohs had specially aligned pyramids, obelisks, and solar temples built in his honor. The Ra myth saw the sunrise as the rebirth of the sun, thus attributing the concept of rebirth and renewal to Ra and strengthening his role as a creator god.
How do we practice heliotherapy?
Harnessing the power of solar energy, a timeless therapy, is simple and can be practiced by making a routine of sunbathing, taking a walk in the sunlight, doing sun salutations, or doing any other activity in direct sunlight.
Hippocrates, the father of medicine, routinely prescribed sunbaths as part of his management of a variety of maladies.
In his health facility on the Island of Cos, Hippocrates had a large solarium where he exposed his patients to maximal amounts of sunlight as part of their therapy(Genius 2006).
What are the benefits of Heliotherapy?
Light is the source of all energy on earth. It affects the brain chemistry to produce a sense of happiness. Sunlight deprivation and resulting symptoms - experienced by many due to climate or lifestyle (SAD disorder), result from our body’s biological response to light exposure. In countries where the days are short, people often suffer from an illness called SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). The remedy is daylight.
Sunlight cues special areas in the retina, the back of the eye, that trigger serotonin production (Harrison, Wilson, Tyler, Houle 2015).
Production of serotonin, a.k.a. "The Happiness Hormone", is triggered by specific wavelengths of light within sunlight.
Serotonin helps strengthen the brain’s response to stress and boosts overall feelings of happiness and wellbeing. This may be why people tend to feel happier and more energetic on a bright, sunny day. Serotonin has widespread effects on our mood and behavior, so when we are deprived of sunlight, our mood, energy, and sleep falter.
More Benefits of Sunlight:
1. Helps to warm the body with thermal radiation
2. Stimulates the production of hormones and neurotransmitters which encourage the repair of damage done by oxidative radicals(Adams, 2009).
3. Stimulates production of vitamin D in the surface layer of the skin(Adams, 2009).
4. Strengthens the immune system
5. Stimulates the production of enzymes and neurotransmitters essential for happiness and general health, namely serotonin. (Harrison, Wilson, Tyler, Houle, 2015).
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Heliotherapy and Light therapy are shown to be positively beneficial for the body, mind, and soul. Enjoy the sunlight in moderation and be cautious to avoid burning. The key is to harness the sun’s energy in a healthy way. Case Adams, a California Naturopath and a Board Certified Alternative Medicine Practitioner with a PhD in Natural Health Sciences outlines a protocol stating...
...the goal of healthy sunbathing is to receive the therapeutic benefits of sunlight while avoiding sunburn as much as possible(Adams, 2009).
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What is: Phototherapy
Phototherapy is a type of medical treatment that involves exposure to natural sunlight and artificial sources of light like halogen lights, and light emitting diodes (LEDs) to treat certain medical conditions.
Illustration by Brianna Gilmartin, Verywell
Modern phototherapy, using artificial light sources to treat medical conditions, was first reported by Niels Ryberg Finsen, who is widely regarded as the founder of modern phototherapy. In 1903, Finsen received the Nobel Prize in Medicine in recognition of his phototherapy work. Today, usage of phototherapy in medical fields has grown, techniques have been refined, and medical usage has gained significant acceptance for treating skin and other bodily disorders.
Riverchase Dermatology states "UV light therapy (ultraviolet phototherapy) has been proven for over 100 years...Recent studies show that narrowband UVB lamps (UVB-NB) have virtually NO incidence of causing skin cancer," and that "Ultraviolet phototherapy has been recognized as safe, effective, and economical and has stood the test of time(Casima 2012). Hirsch and Riverchase Dermatology assert, UVB phototherapy therapy, does not raise our risk for skin cancer. Research demonstrates that at-home use of UVB devices is a cost-effective alternative that can be as safe and effective as treatment received in hospitals and clinics when used wisely.
Clinically-proven Phototherapy: Red and Near Infrared Light
Red and near infrared phototherapy supercharge cellular respiration in cellular mitochondria. Cellular respiration is the fundamental process cells use to make energy in the form of ATP. By enhancing cellular respiration, red and near infrared light hold great promise for improving overall health.
Benefits of red and near infrared phototherapy include increased collagen production, reduced joint pain,improved sleep, weight management, enhanced muscle recovery, and boosted athletic performance (Joovv 2020).
Works Cited:
Dr. Charles Camisa, The Camisa Psoriasis Center.” Riverchase Dermatology, 5 Nov. 2012, https://www. atology.com/blog/dr-charles-camisa-the-camisa-psoriasis-center/.
Genuis, Stephen J. “Keeping your sunny side up. How sunlight affects health and well-being.”Canadian family physician Medecin de famille canadien vol. 52,4 (2006): 422-3, 429-31.
Healthy Sun: Healing with Sunshine and the Myths About Skin Cancer Case Adams - Sacred Earth Publishers - 2009
“How Does Red Light Therapy Actually Work?” Joovv, joovv.com/blogs/joovv-blog/how-does-red-light-therapy-work#.
Harrison, S. J., Tyrer, A. E., Levitan, R. D., Xu, X., Houle, S., Wilson, A. A., … Meyer, J. H. (2015). Light therapy and serotonin transporter binding in the anterior cingulate and prefrontal cortex. Acta psychiatrica Scandinavica, 132(5), 379–388. doi:10.1111/acps.12424
Mercola. “Cosmetic Versus Nutritional UV Exposure.” Mercola.com,
Lee, E., Koo, J. and Berger, T. (2005), UVB phototherapy and skin cancer risk: a review of the literature. International Journal of Dermatology, 44: 355-360. doi:10.1111/j.1365-4632.2004.02186.x
‘Ra, Sun God of Ancient Egypt’ Wingington, Patti. Learnreligions.com. March 6, 2017
Science Museum. Brought to Life: Exploring the History of Medicine. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://broughttolife.sciencemuseum.org.uk/broughttolife/techniques/heliotherapy
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