In a series of conferences on The Healing Brain Masterclass by Dr. David Jockers, DNM, DC, MS, Connie Zack, Co-owner Sunlighten, explains the benefits of infrared light therapy.
In a hurry? Here are the key takeaways:
- Infrared light stimulates mitochondrial function:By interacting with cytochrome c oxidase, increasing ATP production and triggering a downstream anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective cascade.
- Wavelength specificity matters:Near-, mid-, and far-infrared each penetrate tissue differently and exert distinct biological effects, requiring clinical discernment in product selection.
- Engineering quality influences outcomes:Concentration of infrared output, EMF mitigation, and dedicated electrical circuitry are critical considerations when advising patients on home-use devices.
In the 1990s, Connie Zack’s brother Jason struggled with chronic fatigue, vertigo, and symptoms linked to heavy metal toxicity until his dentist suggested infrared therapy as a detoxification tool. After experiencing significant improvement from infrared sauna use, Connie Zack left her role at Procter & Gamble and joined him in developing his company, Sunlighten. Together, they aim to bring clinically grounded infrared technology to a wider audience.
Not surprisingly, infrared light therapy is gaining renewed attention in clinical and wellness circles, but according to Connie Zack, the science behind it is anything but new. Speaking during The Healing Brain Masterclass hosted by Dr. David Jockers, Zack described infrared as a foundational biological input, one that modern indoor living has largely displaced.
“There were so many studies,” Zack said, recalling her early research into infrared therapy more than two decades ago. “Using infrared on heart disease, coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure… lowering blood pressure, changing triglycerides. I was shocked that nobody knew about it.”
The company, Sunlighten, has since positioned itself as a manufacturer of full-spectrum infrared sauna systems and light-based wellness devices. But during the Masterclass, the focus shifted from consumer trends to cellular biology, particularly how infrared light interacts with mitochondria and neural tissue.
Today, Sunlighten operates at the intersection of wellness technology and evidence-based biohacking. The company has expanded beyond sauna systems to include red light therapy products and, more recently, cold immersion through its acquisition of Ice Barrel Inc.. Consumer interest in red light therapy masks—such as those reviewed in lifestyle and functional health media—illustrates growing demand, but Zack repeatedly returned to a central message: clinical understanding must guide application.
For medical professionals, the question is no longer whether light affects biology, but how.
How Infrared Light Works: Wavelengths, Penetration, and Clinical Implications
Infrared radiation occupies the invisible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum just beyond red light. Zack explained that understanding wavelength distinctions is critical for clinicians.
“Infrared is broken down into light energy,” she said. “It’s multi-dimensional. It works with your molecules and your cells in a different way.”
She described three primary bands—near, mid, and far infrared—each with different biological targets:
- Near-infrared (NIR): ~700–1,400 nm
- Mid-infrared (MIR): ~1,400–3,000 nm
- Far-infrared (FIR): ~3,000 nm–1 mm
Near-infrared (NIR), delivered primarily through LEDs, penetrates most deeply.
“There’s some great studies on using light to alter cellular function, especially within the brain,” Zack noted. “Near is the wavelength that goes the deepest. It helps increase your mitochondrial activity, helps with neural protection, helps activate brain cells.”
Mid-infrared, she said, is often associated with joint and soft tissue recovery, while far-infrared plays a central systemic role.
“Far infrared really is the key component of transforming your cells in so many different ways,” she explained, emphasizing its effects on circulation and inflammation.
Unlike traditional saunas that heat ambient air, infrared systems deliver radiant energy directly to tissues.
“Regular heat heats the air directly,” Zack said. “With infrared, it heats your body directly. It’s a more gentle source of energy.”
That distinction may be particularly relevant for patients who cannot tolerate high ambient temperatures but may still benefit from thermal stress and mitochondrial stimulation.
Historically, infrared therapy gained clinical traction in Japan. In 1965, Dr. Tadashi Ishikawa’s research led to the development of ceramic infrared heaters, initially used in hospital settings. By the late 1970s, infrared saunas were introduced to the public. Zack pointed to Japan’s integration of infrared therapy into cardiovascular care, noting, “In Japan, it’s the first line of treatment” for certain heart-related conditions, referencing long-term studies demonstrating reductions in hospitalization and mortality.
The Cellular Mechanism: Mitochondria, Nitric Oxide, and Neuroprotection
For medical professionals, the most compelling discussion centered on cellular mechanisms. Zack described infrared therapy as “energy medicine,” explaining that it interacts with intracellular water and mitochondria.
“It’s vibrating your water molecules, energizing them, activating them, and moving them around,” she said. “It provides this huge biochemical cascade of events where it allows the body to repair, to perform better, to be stronger.”
At the mitochondrial level, near-infrared light is known to interact with cytochrome c oxidase, facilitating increased ATP production and displacing nitric oxide. The resulting vasodilation improves tissue perfusion, including cerebral blood flow.
Dr. Jockers noted that infrared exposure may increase mitochondrial melatonin production—distinct from pineal melatonin associated with sleep. Zack agreed, adding that mitochondrial resilience is central to anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects.
“When you’re increasing your circulation, you’re increasing your blood flow, and you’re allowing those endothelial cells to get stronger,” she said. “You’re getting your system back to the way it should be, which is helping to reduce inflammation.”
Inflammation, she emphasized, is a root driver of many chronic and age-related diseases. Infrared therapy also functions as a hormetic stressor, a form of positive stress that builds resilience within the body.
“Yes, it’s a stress on the body,” Zack acknowledged. “But it makes us stronger and more resilient.”
She recommends gradual exposure for new users.
“Start slow—10 to 15 minutes. See how you feel,” she said. “The key is consistency. It works on the body very similar to exercise.”
Importantly, sweating is not the sole indicator of therapeutic benefit.
“You’re going to get a lot of benefits even if you’re not sweating,” she explained. “The whole benefit is receiving the wavelength into your body.”
Downstream effects include:
- Improved cerebral blood flow via nitric oxide–mediated vasodilation
- Reduction in pro-inflammatory cytokines
- Upregulation of antioxidant defenses
- Enhanced neurogenesis signaling pathways
Device Selection and Engineering: What Clinicians Should Know
As infrared devices proliferate in the consumer market—from full-body sauna systems to red light masks—Zack cautioned that not all products are equivalent.
“The number one thing is the concentration of infrared,” she said. “Just because it’s infrared doesn’t mean you’re going to get all these great things.”
She likened it to nutritional supplements:
“You want the highest concentration of the active ingredient that you’re trying to use to impact your cells.”
Sunlighten claims a patented system delivering high infrared concentration, and Zack referenced a 2005 double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study comparing its technology to another infrared sauna. According to her account, the study showed statistically significant reductions in blood pressure and toxin levels in the Sunlighten group. Beyond wavelength concentration, she highlighted practical considerations for clinicians advising patients on home installation.
“Your electrical aspect is really, really important,” Zack said. “It requires a lot of power. You want to make sure you have the right outlet… it may need a dedicated circuit.”
She also addressed concerns about materials and electromagnetic fields.
“A lot of people want to make sure they have safe saunas when it comes to the wood and EMF,” she said, noting third-party testing to ensure minimal electromagnetic exposure.
The company has expanded beyond sauna systems, including red light therapy devices and, more recently, cold immersion following its acquisition of Ice Barrel Inc.. The move reflects broader interest in contrast therapy and biohacking trends among health-conscious consumers. Still, Zack returned to fundamentals.
“If there was a drug that would do all of that,” she said of infrared’s combined cardiovascular, anti-inflammatory, and cellular effects, “people would be taking it every day.”
For medical professionals, the message from the Masterclass was clear: infrared therapy’s promise lies not in spa-like appeal, but in its interaction with core biological systems. Whether incorporated into integrative neurology, cardiometabolic care, or recovery protocols, its value will depend on informed clinical application—and continued scientific scrutiny.
