Bart Wolbers
Bart Wolbers
- 11 min read

1,064nm (1,060nm) Wavelength Health Benefits: Everything You Need To Know

In this blog I'll explain all the 1,064nm health benefits, including the 1,060nm benefits. You'll learn what is proven in humans, animals, and only in vitro

1,064nm (1,060nm) Wavelength Health Benefits: Everything You Need To Know
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Introduction

So I wanted to write a blog about the 1064nm health benefits. At the start of 2022, there were about 120 papers about the 1060nm health benefits (actually it's more like 1,064nm.

Now, at the end of 2023, there are almost 180 papers. So there's been an explosive growth of the research on the 1060nm health benefits. If you didn't know, I've published a few blogs about similar topics that you can read here:

Also, as I've always said, my approach is far from perfect. There are many scientifically methodological issues with my approach that I've described in many blogs before. I just recommend reading my previous blogs if you want to know about that topic, because I don't want to type out the same message again in different wording to keep the Google Gods happy.

So just read the links I've posted above and go to the advanced section if you want to know more about my scientific methodology. And, email me or comment if you disagree above all!

Below, I've also added a summary of the 1,060nm health effects. In the full blog post, you can click the link to all individual studies. I will also say that you don't want to be 100% trusting of my categorization, because I've just used Vladimir Heiskanen's categorization of whether a study has a positive, neutral, or negative outcome.

Heiskanen has an excellent Excel document with most available red light therapy or more aptly scientically called "photobiomodulation" studies. I took the 1,06nm health effect studies or the 1,064 health effect studies (more apt) from that document.

There's no research on 1,063nm or 1,065nm. So if a company tells you they incorporate 1,060nm light, they really mean 1,064nm. And, if you chose to use 1,060nm light, you'd probably get the benefits of 1,060nm light. So I'll keep the topic with laser focus on 1,064nm light, not on the more or less 10nm wavelength range I typically choose.

My overall message about this wavelength is extreme excitement. There is a much higher percentage about the 1,060nm health benefits or rather 1,064nm health benefits than many other wavelengths. So we have decent evidence here for many effects despite not having many studies.

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I do warn against taking this information at face value though. These health benefits cheatsheets I've created are a tool to make exploring what effects each wavelength has much easier. However, you still have to think for yourself. The categorization I've made in selecting studies that are either "positive", "neutral", or "negative" directly comes from the amazing Excel sheet that Vladimir Heiskanen has created.

Vladimir's Excel Sheet contains 9,000 red light therapy studies. And by going through all these studies myself and categorizing them on different tissues and goals made exploring this topic much easier. But, if you really want to know why a study is positive, neutral, or negative, and what the context of that judgment is, you'll have click on the reference and actually read the study.

Summary Of 1,064nm (1,060) Health Effects

So if you're short on time, here's a summary of the 1,064nm health effects, which are really the 1,060nm health effects:

Strong Evidence For Health Benefits: 3+ Human Studies With 65%+ Positive Outcomes

  • Bone, Osteoporosis, so bone density if you lose it
  • Brain, Cognitive performance
  • Brain, EEG - so apparently you get better EEG patterns
  • Brain, Functional connectivity - meaning brain areas communicate more effectively
  • Joints, Osteoarthritis - explains itself! Although you'll need to read the studies to know the exact result.
  • Joints, Osteoarthritis (knee) - a problem a lot of us have when we get older!
  • Mechanisms, Original research - if you want to compare 1,064 studies to other wavelenghts, read these papers!
  • Oral, Dentin hypersensitivity - teeth health, even the dentin. Good!
  • Oral, Osteonecrosis - read the papers to learn about the implications.
  • Oral, Tooth extraction - want to pull a tooth? Use 1,060nm light for pain relief!
  • Pain, Back pain - sore back? Use 1,064nm health benefits of the light
  • Pain, Heel pain - similar
  • Pain, Shoulder - similar
  • Tendons, Tennis elbow - I had patients with this problem as a physical therapist for over a year. Often there was no solution. 1,064nm light may help here!

Some Evidence: 1-2 Human Studies Either 100% Positive Or 50-50% Positive/Neutral

  • The some evidence category includes about 30 different benefits that are too extensive to list here. If we'd had more positive studies on the benefits in this category using ~1,060nm light (and thus more confirmation of an effect) they would move to the "strong evidence" category above.

Insufficient Or Neutral Or Conflicting Evidence - Therefore Not To Be Included In The Other Human Categories

  • In this category, you'll find 5 different benefits too extensive to summarize. In these cases, the evidence is either contradictory or insufficient research is done. And sometimes there's simply no effect to be found.

1,060nm Animal Study Evidence Outcomes

Strong Animal Study Evidence: 3+ Animal Studies Available And 65%+ Positive:

  • Bone, Bone repair
  • Dermatology, Skin rejuvenation
  • Immunity, Vaccine adjuvanting

Good, nice, but we'll see with the human studies! Other animal and in vitro studies can be read below. The evidence there is not overwhelming as it is with other wavelengths.

What is best about the 1,060nm (1,064nm) wavelength is the amount of new human evidence.

1,060nm Human Evidence Outcomes (The 1,064nm Wavelength To Be Precise)

Strong Evidence For Health Benefits: 3+ Human Studies With 65%+ Positive Outcomes

Bone, Osteoporosis - (9, 1064, human RCT, negative), (10, 1064, human RCT, positive), (11, 1064 vs 633+904, human, positive).

Brain, Cognitive performance - (17, 852 vs 1064, human RCT, positive), (18, 1064, human RCT, positive), (19, 1064, animal, neutral), (20, 1064, human, positive), (21, 1064, human, positive), (22, 1064, human, positive), (23, 1064, human RCT, positive), (24, 1064, human RCT, positive), (25, 1064, human RCT, positive).

Brain, EEG - (27, 1064, human RCT, positive), (28, 1064, human RCT, positive), (29, 1064, human RCT, positive), (30, 1064, human RCT, positive), (31, 1064, human, positive).

Brain, Functional connectivity - (32, 1064, human RCT, positive), (33, 1064, human RCT, positive), (34, 1064, human RCT, positive).

Joints, Osteoarthritis - (66, 1064, human RCT, negative), (67, 830 vs 1064, human RCT, positive), (68, 1064, human RCT, positive).

Joints, Osteoarthritis (knee) - (69, 1064, human, positive), (70, 1064, human RCT, positive), (71, 1064, human RCT, positive), (72, 830 vs 1064, human RCT, positive), (73, 1064, animal, positive).

Mechanisms, Original research - (76, 380 vs 450 vs 530 vs 650 vs 808 vs 1064, in vitro, positive), (77, 800 vs 810 vs 850 vs 1064, human RCT, positive), (78, 660 vs 808 vs 1064, in vitro, positive), (79, 1064, human, positive), (80, 1064, human, positive), (81, 1064, human, positive).

Oral, Dentin hypersensitivity - (93, 660 vs 1064 vs 1340, human, positive), (94, 810 vs 1064, human, positive), (95, 1064, human RCT, positive), (96, 633 vs 633+1064, human RCT, positive).

Oral, Osteonecrosis - (106, 1064, human, positive), (107, 1064, human, positive), (108, 1064, human, positive).

Oral, Tooth extraction - (123, 1064, human RCT, positive), (124, 1064, human RCT, positive), (125, 1064+2940, human RCT, positive), (126, 1064, human RCT, positive), (127, 808 vs 1064, human, positive).

Pain, Back pain - (129, 850+1064, human RCT, positive), (130, 1064, human RCT, positive), (131, 785 vs 1064, human, negative), (132, 1064, human, neutral), (133, 650 vs 810 vs 810+980+1064, human, positive), (134, 810+980+1064, human, positive), (135, 1064, human, positive), (136, 1064, human RCT, positive), (137, 1064, human RCT, neutral).

Pain, Heel pain - (138, 1064, human, positive), (139, 785 vs 1064, human, positive), (140, 1064, human RCT, negative), (141, 904+1064, human RCT, positive).

Pain, Shoulder - (145, 904 vs 1064, human RCT, positive), (146, 1064, human RCT, positive), (147, 1064, human RCT, neutral), (148, 1064, human, negative), (149, 1064, human RCT, positive), (150, 1064, human RCT, positive), (151, 1064, human, positive), (152, 1064, human RCT, neutral), (153, 1064, human, positive).

Tendons, Tennis elbow - (170, 1064, human RCT, positive), (171, 1064, human RCT, positive), (172, 1064, human, positive), (173, 1064, human RCT, positive),

Some Evidence: 1-2 Human Studies Either 100% Positive Or 50-50% Positive/Neutral

Brain, Brain injury - (14, 1064, human, positive).

Brain, Circulation - (15, 1064, human, positive), (16, 1064, human, positive).

Brain, Depression - (26, 1064, human RCT, positive).

Brain, Metabolism - (35, 1064, animal, positive), (36, 1064, human RCT, positive), (37, 1064, human RCT, positive).

Carpal tunnel, Carpal tunnel syndrome - (39, 1064, human RCT, neutral), (40, 830+1064, human RCT, positive).

Dermatology, Herpes zoster - (50, 1064, human, positive).

Dermatology, Scars (clinical) - (54, 830+1064, human, positive).

Hearing, Tinnitus - (58, 810 vs 1064, human RCT, positive).

Joints, Cartilage - (62, 1064, human, positive), (63, 1064, in vitro, positive), (64, 1064, animal, positive)

Joints, Haemophilic arthropathy - (65, 1064, human, positive).

Joints, Rheumatoid arthritis - (74, 1064, human RCT, positive).

Joints, Systemic lupus erythematosus - (75, 1064, human RCT, positive).

Nervous system, CNS: Bell's palsy (and other paralyses) - (84, 1064, human, positive).

Nervous system, CNS: Bell's palsy - (85, 830 vs 1064, human RCT, positive).

Oral, Analgesia - (90, 1064, human RCT, positive).

Oral, Aphthous stomatitis - (91, 1064, human RCT, positive), (92, 1064, human RCT, positive).

Oral, Maxillary sinus - (100, 1064, human RCT, positive).

Oral, Nerves: Infraorbital - (101, 1064, human, positive).

Oral, Pericoronitis - (109, 660 vs 808 vs 1064, human RCT, positive).

Oral, Periodontium: Chronic periodontitis - (110, 1064, human RCT, positive), (111, 1064, human RCT, positive).

Oral, Periodontium: Surgical treatments - (112, 1064, human RCT, positive), (113, 1064, human RCT, positive).

Oral, Safety - (119, 1064, human, positive).

Oral, TMD - (120, 1064, human, positive), (121, 1064, human RCT, positive).

Oral, Wound healing: palatal wounds - (128, 1064, human RCT, positive).

Pain, Myofascial - (142, 1064, human RCT, positive), (143, 1064, human RCT, positive).

Pain, Neck - (144, 1064, human RCT, positive).

Pain, Surgical - (154, 1064, human RCT, positive).

Reproductive system, Dysmenorrhea - (157, 1064, human, positive), (158, 1064, human, positive).

Spinal column, Lumbar disc protrusion - (160, 1064, human RCT, positive).

Spinal column, Spinal disk herniation - (161, 1064, human RCT, positive).

Tendons, de Quervain's tenosynovitis - (169, 1064, human RCT, negative).

Wound healing, Burns (clinical) - (174, 1064, human, positive).

Wound healing, Chronic - (175, 1064, human RCT, positive).

Insufficient Or Neutral Or Conflicting Evidence - Therefore, Not To Be Included In The Other Categories Of Human Evidence

Brain, Bipolar disorder - (13, 1064, human RCT, neutral).

Dermatology, Onychomycosis - (51, 1064, human RCT, positive), (52, 1064, human RCT, negative), (53, 1064, human, neutral).

Oral, Endodontics: Direct pulp capping - (98, 1064, human, neutral).

Oral, Oral mucosa - (102, 1064, human, neutral), (103, 1064, animal, neutral), (104, 660 vs 810 vs 980 vs 1064, animal, positive), (105, 660 vs 810 vs 980 vs 1064, animal, positive).

Spinal column, Lumbar disc degeneration - (159, 1064, human, negative).

Strong Evidence For Health Harm: 3+ Human Studies With 65%+ Negative Outcomes

Fortunately, this category is empty!

1,060nm Animal Study Evidence Outcomes (1,064 nm Wavelength To Be Exact)

So below you'll find all animal research, where there are no human studies available on these topics:

Strong Animal Study Evidence: 3+ Animal Studies Available And 65%+ Positive:

Bone, Bone repair - (2, 1064, animal, positive), (3, 1064, animal, positive), (4, 1064, animal, positive), (5, 1064, animal, positive).

Dermatology, Skin rejuvenation - (55, 1064, animal, positive), (56, 1064, animal, positive), (57, 595 vs 1064 vs 1320, animal, positive).

Immunity, Vaccine adjuvanting - (59, 1064, animal, positive), (60, 1064, animal, positive), (61, 1064, animal, positive).

Insufficient Or Neutral Or Conflicting Animal-Based Evidence:

Brain, Stroke (preclinical) - (38, 1064, animal, positive).

Circulation, Arterial restenosis - (48, 1064, animal, positive).

Circulation, Vasoconstriction - (49, 633 vs 1064, animal, positive).

Nervous system, Cranial nerves: Facial nerve - (86, 361 vs 457 vs 514 vs 633 vs 720 vs 1064, animal, positive).

Nervous system, PNS: Sciatic nerve injury - (87, 1064, animal, positive).

Oncology, Tumor growth - (89, 1064+1270, animal, positive).

Oral, Dentin mechanical sensitivity (neural) - (97, 633 vs 1064, animal, positive).

Oral, Tongue ulcer - (122, 830 vs 1064, animal, positive).

Wound healing, Excision (secondary intention) - (176, 808 vs 880 vs 1064, animal, neutral), (177, 1064, animal, neutral).

Animal-Based Evidence For Health Harm: 3+ Studies With 65% Or More Negative Outcomes

This section is fortunately empty. For a good reason, I hope! Light generally heals and doesn't hurt, if you use it appropriately!

In Vitro Studies

"In vitro" literally means "in the glass" - so these are foundational laboratory studies. Whether you attribute much meaning to these studies or not depends on your philosophy of medical science. Some people think these studies are valuable while others don't:

Strong In Vitro Evidence With 3+ Studies And 65%+ Positive:

Oral, Periodontium (in vitro) - (114, 1064+2940, in vitro, positive), (115, 1064, in vitro, positive), (116, 1064, in vitro, positive), (117, 810 vs 1064, in vitro, positive), (118, 1064, in vitro, neutral).

Insufficient Exclusive In Vitro Evidence (Not Included In Categories Above Or Below)

Adipose tissue, Adipocyte hypertrophy - (1, 1064, in vitro, positive).

Bone, Cell proliferation - (6, 633 vs 830 vs 1064, in vitro, positive).

Bone, Osteoblasts - (7, 1064, in vitro, positive), (8, 1064, in vitro, positive).

Brain, Alzheimer's Disease - (12, 808 vs 1064 vs 808+1064, in vitro, positive).

Cells, Fibroblast function - (41, 532 vs 1064, in vitro, positive), (42, 1064, in vitro, positive).

Cells, Nitric oxide - (43, 808 vs 1064 vs 1270, in vitro, positive).

Cells, Proliferation - (44, 405 vs 450 vs 635 vs 980 vs 1064, in vitro, neutral).

Cells, Protection - (45, 633 vs 830 vs 1064, in vitro, positive), (46, 633 vs 830 vs 1064, in vitro, positive).

Cells - (47, 1064, in vitro, positive).

Micro-organisms, Protozoa: Paramecium - (82, 1064, in vitro, positive).

Micro-organisms, Yeast: Candida albicans - (83, 1064, in vitro, negative).

Oncology, Tumor cells - (88, 1064, in vitro, negative).

Oral, Endodontics (in vitro) - (99, 447 vs 532 vs 658 vs 810 vs 980 vs 1064, in vitro, positive).

Penetration, Thermal effects - (155, 650 vs 810 vs 980 vs 1064, in vitro, positive).

Research methods, High-throughput single-cell live imaging - (156, 1064+1270, in vitro, positive).

Reproductive system, Uterine wall - (158, 1064, in vitro, neutral).

Stem cells & regeneration - (162, 1064, in vitro, neutral).

Stem cells & regeneration, Adipose-derived stem cells - (163, 1064, in vitro+animal, positive).

Stem cells & regeneration, Adipogenesis - (164, 1064, in vitro, neutral).

Stem cells & regeneration, Bone marrow stem cells - (165, 1064, in vitro, positive), (166, 1064, in vitro, positive).

Stem cells & regeneration, Osteogenesis - (167, 1064+2940, in vitro, positive) , (168, 1064, in vitro, positive).

Strong Exclusive In Vitro Evidence With 3+ Studies And 65%+ Negative, Implying Health Harm:

No studies found here, fortunately!

Best 1,064nm Wavelength Products - Panels And Helmets

So I've included the best 1,064nm or 1,060nm products below. Very few are available right now though.

First up, there's the Neuronic Neuradiant 1070. Alex has reviewed that product in the video below:

Then, there's the new PlatinumLED BioMax generation eight that has now incorporated 1,060nm light into their product. We don't have a review of this product yet but you can see the review of generation seven below:

Soon, when it's available, we'll post the BioMax 900 review as well!

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Lastly, I want to make you aware of our Light Therapy Insiders shopping tool. That tool is continually updated, unlike this blog post. So if new 1,060nm or 1,064nm or 1,070nm products come out on the market, you will find them in the shopping tool once Alex has reviewed them!

Conclusion: The 1,060nm Wavelength Health Benefits Are Very Impressive!

The 1,064nm health benefits are extremely impressive - which can be extended to the 1,060nm health benefits and arguably the 1,070nm health benefits too.

Fortunately in this case, even though there aren't too many studies on this topic, there are tons of human studies. So you can draw stronger conclusions because of that reason.

Overall brain health and different types of pain seem to be especially benefitted by 1,064nm light. Hopefully many other benefits will join that list in the future once more research emerges.

This is a post by Bart Wolbers. Bart finished degrees in Physical Therapy (B), Philosophy (BA and MA), Philosophy of Science and Technology (MS - with distinction), and Clinical Health Science (MS), has had training in functional medicine, and is currently chief science writer at Lighttherapyinsiders.com

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If you wish to find the best product for your goals, check the Light Therapy Insiders Shopping Tool. There you can filter for the exact specifications of a 1,064nm red light therapy panel or other product that you need!
Science & Benefits