Home

Blog

Post

Does Science Support Red Light Therapy For Migraines? All Facts Explained

Date

Updated Mar 13, 2025

Reading Time

8 Min

Article by

David Johnson

What Are Migraines?

Migraines are severe headaches characterized by a throbbing pain on one or both sides of the head. The pulsating pain is often accompanied by other symptoms, like nausea and vomiting, blurred vision, and extreme sensitivity to light (migraine photophobia), odor, and sound (phonophobia).

An ordinary headache feels like a belt pressing around your head and can last 30 minutes to a few days. A migraine manifests in episodes of severe, excruciating pain that can last a few hours to days or even weeks.

Because of their impact on nerves, migraines are considered a neurological condition, in fact, the most common of neurological disorders.

It’s no wonder that some experts suggest people who consistently suffer from migraines, with or without prior sensory disturbances (migraine aura), should be assessed for the risk of other cardiovascular diseases.

Chronic migraines can compromise how well you perform your duties, sometimes confining you to bed with pain or the resulting symptoms like migraine hangovers and general weakness. All this can be disabling and greatly affect the sufferer’s quality of life.

Experts don’t have a conclusive answer as to what causes migraines. However, some triggers associated with migraines include:

● Heredity.
● Hormonal fluctuations, especially for women.
● Lifestyle factors, like extreme exertion from work or exercise, alcohol consumption, and lack of sleep.
● Some medications.

There’s no cure for migraines. The management of migraine relies on drugs that relieve pain and control the frequency of migraine episodes.

These migraine management drugs include:

● Over-the-counter pain relivers, like ibuprofen.
● Serotonin agonist drugs, like triptans.
● Antidepressants, anti-seizures, and beta blockers as preventatives when the case calls for it.

Unfortunately, these drugs can cause side effects, especially with prolonged use. Certainly, the over 1 billion people in the world affected by migraines who consistently rely on pain management drugs would well prefer a method without side effects.

So, is red light therapy an effective option for migraines?

Is Red Light Therapy Effective for Migraines?

Existing evidence suggests that red light therapy can help with migraines.

Image Source

However, we need to explain that better by focusing on what studies have shown so far and the possible benefits of red light therapy for migraines when used for general wellness.

1. What Science Says So Far About RLT for Migraines

Studies directly addressing the use of red light for migraines are extremely scarce. In fact, our extensive research suggests they are missing altogether.

Instead, some studies with low-level laser therapy (LLLT) have been quoted when people try to answer the question of whether red light therapy (low-level light therapy) is effective for migraines.

Let’s mention three of those:

● A study that assessed the application of low-level laser therapy for migraine relief found that its positive effects help to reduce the amount of pain relievers consumed. This marks LLLT as a safer option for those seeking a non-pharmacological migraine pain management option.

● A clinical study focusing on the ability of LLT to regulate serotonin levels and enhance blood flow in women suffering from tension headaches concluded that LLLT delivers an immediate positive effect on blood circulation. The therapy also sustains serotonin levels up to 3 days after treatment.

● A third study compared LLLT and Botulinum toxin A (BT-A) in migraine treatments. The results reported that using LLLT resulted in fewer migraine episodes and had long-term positive outcomes for chronic migraines.

Other studies have highlighted green light therapy as the most effective form of photobiomodulation therapy for migraine headaches.

One such study found that green light was the least likely to worsen migraines in 69 patients, compared to amber, red, and blue lights.

Regardless of these study outcomes, experts in red light therapy have underlined ways by which the use of red light therapy for general wellness can help with migraines.

2. Benefits of Red Light Therapy for Migraines

The benefits of red light therapy for migraines include:

● Promote better cellular function.
● Control inflammation.
● Promote pain relief.
● Improve blood circulation and oxygen delivery to the brain and other vessels

So, what’s the science behind these red light therapy benefits for migraines? Let’s explore the details below.

The Science Behind Red Light Therapy for Migraines

Red light therapy is one of the mechanisms of photobiomodulation that uses light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to activate several healing processes.

image Source

Considered for migraines, RLT activates the following biochemical process:

1. Mitochondrial Stimulation and Boosted ATP Production

Our body functions rely on the proper working of the cellular system. If this is not the case, issues like migraines arise.

The primary mechanism of red light therapy is stimulating the powerhouse of cells, the mitochondria, to produce more energy for the body’s cellular processes. As a result, the primary energy-carrying molecule known as Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is also stimulated.

Increased mitochondria energy production and ATP production boost better metabolism and cell function, leading to better cell regeneration and repair.

Although research is still underway, science suggests that cells in blood vessels (vascular cells) significantly contribute to the onset and progression of migraines.

So, for people suffering from migraines, enhanced vascular cell function through red light therapy can prevent the onset of migraines.

2. Vasodilation and Improved Blood Flow

To date, the most supported process at the onset of migraines is the sudden contraction of blood vessels. This leads to poor blood flow to the vessels.

According to experts, blood vessel tightening at the start of a migraine happens because of chemical compounds such as estrogen in women and serotonin in both men and women.

These compounds play a key role in sensitivity to pain and blood vessel contraction. When there are fluctuations in serotonin and estrogen, the result is contracted blood vessels, triggering the throbbing pain characteristic of migraines.

Studies have suggested that light therapy has a triggering effect on serotonin.

Other studies show photobiomodulation promotes stable vasodilation, especially red light at 670 nanometers. This happens because of the production of a vasoactive substance that relies on nitric oxide. Consider that red light photon absorption by the mitochondria increases nitric oxide production.

For migraine sufferers, promoted vasodilation means better blood flow to the head and brain and, therefore, a limited chance of a migraine attack.

3. Modulating Inflammatory Responses

Inflammation plays a significant role in migraines.

Experimental studies have evidenced that some signaling molecules (neuropeptides), especially calcitonin gene-related peptides, are responsible for neurogenic inflammation in migraines.

Similarly, the use of antimigraine drugs like triptans and ergots has shown that they regulate the release of neuropeptides. This not only supports the presence of inflammatory mechanisms in migraines but also the theory that migraine is a neuroinflammatory condition.

It is an established fact that red light therapy promotes the complete reduction of inflammation in body tissues, including the joints and the brain. Also, studies have shown that the irradiance of red and near-infrared light wavelengths controls the production of free radicals, thereby modulating inflammatory gene expression.

4. Modulating Pain Receptors and Blockers

A pulsating pain in the head is the worst of the migraine symptoms. It greatly affects the sufferer’s ability to perform daily activities and their overall quality of life.

Because sufferers need to consistently control migraine pain, a non-invasive treatment without side effects is a preferred option.

Science has confirmed that red light therapy can control nerve sensitivity to pain. It also triggers the release of natural pain blockers.

Studies suggest that RLT at 660nm absorbed through the skin (not its visual irradiance) reduces pain in neuropathies, including migraines.

This implies that red light therapy devices such as panels, which provide targeted or full-body LED light treatment, can deliver pain relief for migraines while promoting overall well-being.

Important Concluding Note

As a concluding disclaimer, the use of red light therapy for migraine is still inconclusive. As such, you should never use any information on the efficiency of red light therapy for migraines as an alternative to medical advice from your healthcare professional.

In addition, always working with an RLT expert or your healthcare provider is a wise safety measure.

Migraine sufferers who experience relief from the use of RLT for its general benefits can contribute to the knowledge around red light therapy for migraine by informing their healthcare professionals.

Sources:

1. Harvard Health Publishing: Shining a light on migraine relief.

2. R Tyler Johnson Chiropractic: Migraine Relief with Red Light Therapy.

3. REGENUS CENTER: Is red light therapy effective for migraines?

4. Chen, D., Willis-Parker, M., Lundberg, G.P. (2020). Migraine headache: Is it only a neurological disorder? Links between migraine and cardiovascular disorders, Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine.

5. Loeb LM, Amorim RP, Mazzacoratti MDGN, Scorza FA, Peres MFP. (2018). Botulinum toxin A (BT-A) versus low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in chronic migraine treatment: A comparison. Arq Neuropsiquiatr.

6. Mokmeli, S., Nesionpour, S., Rasoli, H. (2006). Applying of Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) for Pain Management in Migraine. Conference: 6th International Congress of the World Association of Laser Therapy.

7. Noseda, R. et al. (2016). Migraine photophobia originating in cone-driven retinal pathways.

8. Johns Hopkins: How a Migraine Happens.

9. Jacobs B., Dussor, G. (2016). Neurovascular contributions to migraine: Moving beyond vasodilation. Neuroscience.

10. Weihrauch, D. et al. (2021). Red light stimulates vasodilation through extracellular vesicle trafficking.

11. Malhotra R. (2016). Understanding migraine: Potential role of neurogenic inflammation. Ann Indian Acad.

12. Hamblin, M.R. (2017). Mechanisms and applications of the anti-inflammatory effects of photobiomodulation.

13. Chen, I., Su, C., Fang, C., Fang, H. (2021). Preventative treatment of red light-emitting diode protected osteoarthritis-like chondrocytes from oxidative stress-induced inflammation and promoted matrix gene expression.

14. Cheng, K, Martin, L.F., Slepian, M.J., Patwardha, A.M., Ibrahim, M.M. (2021). Mechanisms and Pathways of Pain Photobiomodulation: A Narrative Review.

Article by

David Johnson

David Johnson is a co-founder of RedliteX and a healthcare professional with extensive experience in red light therapy. He specializes in the research and application of red light therapy panels for therapeutic and wellness purposes, with a deep understanding of the science behind light-based treatments. Committed to education and evidence-based insights, he focuses on how red light therapy can support healing, pain management, recovery, and overall well-being.

RedLiteX RL1200

🔥 Limited-Time Deal — Just $999 ✨

4.9