Metabolic effects of red light from fire

[souperhuman]

I recently went backpacking and one of the more pleasurable parts of that was sitting by a campfire at night. Staring at the flames and warming my hands and face was very relaxing, and left me in a good mood for several days after I had returned home. It occurred to me that heat felt by campfires was mostly infrared light. The radiation emitted from a fire is peaked mostly in the infrared spectrum but includes frequencies of red light as well (it really depends on the temperature). Ray has written about the pro-metabolic effects of infrared and red light and there are lots of threads on here about people buying various lamps to achieve the benefits of this light.
Historically, people spent a great deal of time sitting around fires, and thus enjoyed the relaxing and pro-metabolic effects associated with red light. During winter, this would have been even more important as people spent even more time indoors or near a fire. I could even guess that fire, in addition to allowing humans to eat foods that would have required much more developed digestive systems, could have also played a role in the development of intelligence by being a source of pro-metabolic red light.
This everyday use of mankind's oldest invention is absent in our modern lifestyle. I have used the fireplace in my house a handful of times in the twenty years I've lived in it. The closest people get is probably using a gas stove to do their cooking, but California is even trying to ban that lol.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/no-more-gas-stoves-california-prepares-to-require-electric-ready-new-homes/ar-BB1gurRT.

I also found it much easier to fall asleep, and easier to wake up in the morning while backpacking, and I am wondering if this is because of the red light's effects.

 

[pauljacob]

I recently went backpacking and one of the more pleasurable parts of that was sitting by a campfire at night. Staring at the flames and warming my hands and face was very relaxing, and left me in a good mood for several days after I had returned home. It occurred to me that heat felt by campfires was mostly infrared light. The radiation emitted from a fire is peaked mostly in the infrared spectrum but includes frequencies of red light as well (it really depends on the temperature). Ray has written about the pro-metabolic effects of infrared and red light and there are lots of threads on here about people buying various lamps to achieve the benefits of this light.
Historically, people spent a great deal of time sitting around fires, and thus enjoyed the relaxing and pro-metabolic effects associated with red light. During winter, this would have been even more important as people spent even more time indoors or near a fire. I could even guess that fire, in addition to allowing humans to eat foods that would have required much more developed digestive systems, could have also played a role in the development of intelligence by being a source of pro-metabolic red light.
This everyday use of mankind's oldest invention is absent in our modern lifestyle. I have used the fireplace in my house a handful of times in the twenty years I've lived in it. The closest people get is probably using a gas stove to do their cooking, but California is even trying to ban that lol.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/no-more-gas-stoves-california-prepares-to-require-electric-ready-new-homes/ar-BB1gurRT.

I also found it much easier to fall asleep, and easier to wake up in the morning while backpacking, and I am wondering if this is because of the red light's effects.

Excellent observations. Thank you.

 

[revenant]

Hard to say which one is the cause and which one is the effect, but maybe we like to stare into the fire due to its effects on eyesight too:

3 minutes of deep red light once per week may improve vision

Researchers find that a 3-minute exposure to deep red light once per week can improve declining eyesight.

www.medicalnewstoday.com

 

[Inaut]

Hard to say which one is the cause and which one is the effect, but maybe we like to stare into the fire due to its effects on eyesight too:

3 minutes of deep red light once per week may improve vision

Researchers find that a 3-minute exposure to deep red light once per week can improve declining eyesight.

www.medicalnewstoday.com

bump

@Daniel11

 

[Cynthia386]

I recently went backpacking and one of the more pleasurable parts of that was sitting by a campfire at night. Staring at the flames and warming my hands and face was very relaxing, and left me in a good mood for several days after I had returned home. It occurred to me that heat felt by campfires was mostly infrared light. The radiation emitted from a fire is peaked mostly in the infrared spectrum but includes frequencies of red light as well (it really depends on the temperature). Ray has written about the pro-metabolic effects of infrared and red light and there are lots of threads on here about people buying various lamps to achieve the benefits of this light.
Historically, people spent a great deal of time sitting around fires, and thus enjoyed the relaxing and pro-metabolic effects associated with red light. During winter, this would have been even more important as people spent even more time indoors or near a fire. I could even guess that fire, in addition to allowing humans to eat foods that would have required much more developed digestive systems, could have also played a role in the development of intelligence by being a source of pro-metabolic red light.
This everyday use of mankind's oldest invention is absent in our modern lifestyle. I have used the fireplace in my house a handful of times in the twenty years I've lived in it. The closest people get is probably using a gas stove to do their cooking, but California is even trying to ban that lol.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/no-more-gas-stoves-california-prepares-to-require-electric-ready-new-homes/ar-BB1gurRT.

I also found it much easier to fall asleep, and easier to wake up in the morning while backpacking, and I am wondering if this is because of the red light's effects.

Would it be beneficial to sleep with a video of a fireplace playing?

 

[Veritas IV]

Imho fire is an integral part of who we are and how we developed. This includes details posted above as to efficient protein and fat prep/extraction/digestion, warmth, eyesight, general wellness and even protection from predators etc. It likely even helped early man with better starch prep.

Whether we are direct descendants or not, Homo Ergaster utilized fire over a million years ago.

In my mind there is no doubt that the earliest proto-Sapiens used it around ~ 200,000 years ago. Fire was with us every step of the way. Couple that advancement with later ones that changed us metabolically; pastoralism, farming, dairying etc.

Minus smoke inhalation, communal type fire may be a missing ingredient from modern life. We used to congregate around it every late noon or evening for many thousands of years, and now suddenly we don't.

Imho, few things are better than gathering near an evening campfire, stomachs full, small talk and laughs, then the deep sleep that follows afterwards.

Great thread topic OP.

 

[methylenewhite]

There is a type of yoga practice when novice is placed between 4 campfires under the sun to dry out the body. Can't remember the actual name of this practice.

I can confirm your observations

 

[Daniel11]

bump

@Daniel11

I have used orange-red light directly in my open eyes for years, usually for 3-5 min at a time, its important it is a LED bulb and never use Infrared spectrum light, it can overheat the tissue.

I use this one.

Orange & Red - Handheld Device - 610nm - 630nm - 670nm - LGS1

The LGS1 is designed with peak absorption in the orange and red wavelengths.

lifegivingstore.com

 

[DonLore]

I have used orange-red light directly in my open eyes for years, usually for 3-5 min at a time, its important it is a LED bulb and never use Infrared spectrum light, it can overheat the tissue.

I use this one.

Orange & Red - Handheld Device - 610nm - 630nm - 670nm - LGS1

The LGS1 is designed with peak absorption in the orange and red wavelengths.

lifegivingstore.com

I doubt there is any risk of overheating. Thats why we have senses, to warn as of excess heat for example. I have used a strong red heat lamp for 2 years for my face and absolutely no problem

 

[Daniel11]

I doubt there is any risk of overheating. Thats why we have senses, to warn as of excess heat for example. I have used a strong red heat lamp for 2 years for my face and absolutely no problem

I am glad the heat lamp is working for you, but what I’m talking about is not thermal heat, I am discussing Photobiomodulation, this is when you use very specific frequencies of light waves vey close or more effectively directly on the skin, the idea is that the light will penetrate through the skin and reach the cells in your tissue. Specific frequencies of light; orange/red have been proven to enhance mitochondrial functioning, but for this to work the light waves needs to penetrate the skin and even holding the light a few inches away will drastically reduces the amount of light that will reach the cells in the targeted area, there is also theories that when the light reaches the blood and nerves it’s beneficial effects are carried to other parts of the body. Many companies do sell lights in the infrared spectrum but I feel infrared frequency light next to the skin especially the eyes will overheat the cells and is less effective then visible orange/red light.

The original research was with lasers, they obviously could not be used in the eyes or in large arrays, it is the wonderful invention of LED light bulbs that has advanced the effects and research of Photobiomodulation.

In regards to relying on our senses, yes we are in our bodies and of course we need our senses to survive, but we are also our mind. Over reliance on our senses is the cause of addiction to unhealthy food, porn, social media, unhealthy relationships…

As every spiritual tradition I have ever studied teaches over reliance on our senses with out using our intelligence and intuition is unreliable.

“The primary site of light absorption in mammalian cells has been identified as the mitochondria, and more specifically, cytochrome c oxidase (CCO). It is hypothesized that inhibitory nitric oxide can be dissociated from CCO thus restoring electron transport and increasing mitochondrial membrane potential.”

“The first law of photobiology states that photons of light must be absorbed by some molecule (called a chromophore) located within the tissue to have any biological effect.”

Mechanisms and Mitochondrial Redox Signaling in Photobiomodulation

 

[Daniel11]

In regards to general light therapy not Photobiomodulation, the often overlooked but most important thing is the type of light bulbs you use in your house, fluorescent bulbs especially compact fluorescent bulbs are the absolute worst for several reasons, the first is the light spectrum they emit has way to much blue light, the other big problem is they have a in perceivable flicker that has a negative effect on our brain chemistry, the third reason is there made with mercury that can leak and is very dangerous if they break. When families that have autistic children remove the fluorescent bulbs from their homes they report the children become more relaxed and look more comfortable. They also report using laundry soaps that is free and clear with out chemical scents help the children a lot.

The next and far better is LED light bulbs, it’s best to use the bulbs rated at a warmer temperature of 2700.

The very best for your health are incandescent light bulbs, they produce the more red spectrums of light and are very safe. The government several years ago asked manufacturers to stop producing Incandescent bulbs because they use more power then the other options, but they are still available and companies are allowed to produce specialty incandescent light bulbs that come in different shapes and colors.

I have always found that the pink incandescent bulbs give the nicest light, they emit a warm light that is calming and makes people and the environment look more attractive. Also using lampshades that are not white but have warmer colors really helps. And the color of the drapes you use greatly effect the light in your environment.

The Most Flattering Light Bulb Casts You in Lovely Pink

 

[Old Irenaeus]

How about...reading by candlelight with a beeswax candle?

 

[Daniel11]

How about...reading by candlelight with a beeswax candle?

Yeah that be great! Just having beeswax and other nontoxic candles in your environment is wonderful, never use scented candles the fumes are extremely toxic. And always be safe, put a plate under the candles.

 

[Daniel11]

I just want to reiterate when doing photobiomodulation, to get the most benefit you should hold the light firmly against the skin, if even if held one inch away the light wave penetration is greatly reduced.

With getting light in the open eyes you can hold the light 3-5 inches away because there is no skin covering the eyes, and the eyes have so many cell receptors, because our eyes are designed to transfer light to the brain, the light will travel along the optic nerves to the hypothalamus, pituitary gland and other brain regions and enhance cerebral and hormone functioning. I often start with the light few inches from my eyes to get use to the brightness then I will put one of the LED diodes right up against my open eye, it actually feels great, I will do this for couple minutes then do the other eye, afterwards I close my eyes and lay down for a few minutes, after you close your eyes you will experience a beautiful inner light.

It’s also nice after your laying down to rub your palms together and create warmth then put them on your closed eyes for little while. I have been doing this for years and my eyes are healthy.

 

[Daniel11]

One more thing I want to mention about Photobiomodulation is you need to always find your own natural rhythm, especially through the eyes, sometimes I feel like doing it every day, sometimes just a couple days a week, and sometimes I feel like giving it a break for a few months.

We can learn from others but only you can understand how to heal yourself.