Alex Fergus
Alex Fergus
- 2 min read

THOR CEO James Carroll On Red Light Therapy

How do the pros really use red light therapy? THOR CEO James Carroll shares deep insights on dosing, irradiance, wavelength selection, and advanced protocols—including how red light therapy is used by elite institutions like Harvard and the U.S. military.

THOR CEO James Carroll On Red Light Therapy
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Introduction

If you’ve ever wondered whether 660nm and 850nm are truly the “right” wavelengths, how dosing works, or why measurement in photobiomodulation is so complicated, this episode is for you.

I sat down in London with James Carroll, CEO and founder of THOR Photomedicine, one of the leading voices in the red light therapy field. With over 30 years of experience, countless presentations, and collaborations with Harvard, the U.S. Special Forces, and top medical centers worldwide, James brings deep insight into the science, controversies, and future of red light therapy.

Show Notes

James Carroll, CEO of THOR Photomedicine, breaks down the real science behind photobiomodulation. We cover mechanisms, dosing, wavelength debates, spectrometer measurement challenges, and the future of medical-grade light therapy.

Whether you’re curious about pulsing vs continuous light, systemic effects, or THOR’s upcoming innovations, this interview is packed with insights.

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My team and I have extensively researched the benefits of red light therapy. Be sure to check out the articles on my website. Here's one article: Red Light Therapy For Neuropathy: The Promising Science

Key Topics

  • What Is Photobiomodulation? – A Star Trek–style analogy, plus a clinical explanation.
  • Biological Mechanisms – How red and near-infrared light reduce oxidative stress, inflammation, and promote regeneration.
  • THOR’s Journey – James’ 30+ year history, from early lawsuits to today’s global medical partnerships.
  • Handheld vs Bed – When targeted lasers outperform full-body beds, and why both matter.
  • Wavelengths Explained – Why 660nm and 850nm remain the gold standard, and the issues with comparing studies.
  • Measurement Challenges – Why many published device specs can’t be trusted.
  • Penetration Depth – Surprising insights into how far red light travels inside the body.
  • Beyond Cytochrome-C-Oxidase – Alternative mechanisms involving water and cell membranes.
  • Pulsing vs Continuous Light – What the evidence really shows for tissue repair and analgesia.
  • Systemic Effects – How light applied to one area can influence blood flow and the brain.
  • Overdosing & Joules/cm² – Why “more is better” doesn’t always hold true.
  • THOR’s Future – From reimbursement codes to tackling serious medical conditions.
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Be sure to head over to my Facebook group. I look forward to hearing your ideas, observations, experiences, questions, and requests for future interviews, so please share them with our LTI community.

Resources Discussed

✨ Learn more about THOR Photomedicine and their clinical devices: https://www.thorlaser.com
✨ Event info for PBM 2024 in the UK: https://pbm2024.com

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