What is biohacking? Discover how red light therapy, a key DIY biology tool, boosts cellular energy for better health, sleep & performance
While most of us are familiar with hacking computers, smartphones, or email accounts, few realize the human body can also be "hacked." Enter biohacking.
Although it may sound futuristic, biohacking is simply do-it-yourself biology: individuals make targeted, evidence-based adjustments to diet, environment, or lifestyle to optimize health and performance.
Amid the proliferation of online biohacking protocols, only a handful are supported by robust data—one of the most compelling is red light therapy. By delivering specific wavelengths of red and near-infrared light, this modality enhances mitochondrial function, thereby increasing cellular energy (ATP) and accelerating tissue repair, muscle recovery, and overall physical performance.
What is biohacking?
Let’s delve deeper.
Biohacking is the systematic practice of altering physiology through self-experimentation, science, and iterative feedback. Because human biology is heterogeneous, outcomes vary between individuals; the central premise, however, remains constant: we possess the capacity to modulate our own biochemistry and neurophysiology to achieve peak function.
In essence, biohacking empowers individuals to become the principal investigators of their own biology.
Biohacking with light therapy: mechanisms of photobiomodulation
Whether you confront depression, circadian dysregulation, inflammatory skin disorders, delayed-onset muscle soreness, or sleep disturbances, red-light-based biohacking offers a non-invasive, evidence-backed intervention. Photons in the 600–900 nm spectrum penetrate tissue to activate cytochrome c oxidase within mitochondria, up-regulating ATP synthesis and downstream signaling cascades that resolve underlying pathophysiology rather than merely suppressing symptoms.
A systematic review in The Journal of Rheumatology concluded that red light therapy yields significant pain reduction and functional improvement in rheumatoid arthritis. Separate investigations demonstrate augmented myogenesis and accelerated recovery: a randomized trial in the European Journal of Applied Physiology reported >50 % increases in muscle thickness and strength following photobiomodulation. Moreover, red and near-infrared light entrain circadian rhythms and amplify endogenous melatonin secretion, promoting deeper, more restorative sleep.
Collectively, these data confirm that wavelengths between 600–900 nm trigger mitochondrial biogenesis, reduce oxidative stress, and facilitate cellular repair—validating red light therapy as a cornerstone intervention in evidence-based biohacking circles.
Dave Asprey, a pioneer of the biohacking movement, summarizes: “Light is a massive signal for the brain, the skin, and every cell in your body. Red light, generally, is going to make you feel better and look better.”
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If you’ve been wondering, “Is red light therapy safe for my skin and eyes?”—the evidence-based answer is yes. Red light therapy is a non-pharmacological, non-invasive modality that can be integrated into routine care with minimal adverse events. Nevertheless, we strongly recommend a pre-treatment consultation with your licensed healthcare provider to ensure appropriateness for your individual condition.
Is biohacking the future of health?
An increasing number of consumers and clinicians are seeking evidence-supported, non-pharmacologic strategies to optimize physiologic function and overall wellness. This paradigm shift—often termed “biohacking”—emphasizes patient autonomy, data-driven personalization, and low-risk interventions. Concurrently, photobiomodulation technologies continue to mature, offering reproducible, non-thermal mechanisms to modulate cellular metabolism and systemic health.
At Our, we remain at the forefront of this evolution by engineering MDA-certified and FDA-cleared light-therapy platforms for both clinical and at-home environments, ensuring photon dose accuracy, safety, and therapeutic efficacy.
If you are considering a private-label partnership for professional deployment, we invite you to contact our regulatory and OEM teams. Together we can expand equitable access to evidence-based photomedicine and empower end-users to achieve measurable health outcomes.
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