From Pain Relief to Brain Health: The Power of Targeted Red Light Therapy, Photobiomodulation and Precision Dosing with Forrest Smith

Welcome back to the Superhumanize Podcast. Today, we step into the radiant realm of healing, where ancient light meets modern science. My guest is Forrest Smith, a visionary at the intersection of wellness innovation and technology.

As the founder of Kineon Labs and a former extreme athlete, Forrest brings decades of insight, both as a high-performing human and as a pioneering entrepreneur. His journey spans continents, from the rugby fields of South China to the tech corridors of North America. Along the way, he has built and sold multiple companies, delved deep into Chinese medicine and philosophy, and emerged with a powerful mission: to make cutting-edge red light therapy accessible, effective, and rooted in science.

In this conversation, we explore what makes red light such potent allies for recovery, inflammation, performance, and even emotional well-being. We discuss photobiomodulation, how light interacts with our tissues at the molecular level, and why precise dosing truly matters. We also touch on the exciting future of light therapy for brain health, mood support, and energy optimization.

Whether you are curious about pain management without pharmaceuticals, or interested in how light can nourish and heal the body, this episode will light the path.

Episode highlights:

02:00 – Forrest's journey from China-based tech entrepreneur and extreme athlete to mission-driven wellness innovator.

04:00 – The founding vision of Kineon Labs: making high-quality red light and laser therapy devices accessible for home use.

05:00 – Explanation of red light therapy and photobiomodulation—how light interacts with the body at a molecular level.

07:00 – Why precise dosing matters: understanding the biphasic dose curve and photon absorption.

09:00 – The role of nitric oxide and hemoglobin in increasing oxygen delivery and blood flow through light exposure.

10:30 – How light affects mitochondrial function, oxidative stress, and inflammation on a cellular level.

13:00 – Use of red light therapy in stroke recovery: extending the life of cells deprived of oxygen.

14:00 – Designing devices backwards from desired biological outcomes instead of product features.

17:00 – Why lasers outperform LEDs for dosing depth and precision.

19:30 – Real-world outcomes from Kineon’s Move+ device: high performance athletes, military, and aging populations.

21:00 – Sustainable pain relief and mobility improvements for osteoarthritis and chronic injuries.

24:00 – Long-term cardiovascular effects of untreated joint injuries—and how light therapy reverses them.

27:00 – The power of stacking light therapy with stem cells, PRP, and shockwave treatments.

31:00 – Protocols for joint pain and recovery: knees, backs, and sprains.

39:00 – Forrest’s favorite protocol: “Proximal Priority Therapy” for systemic inflammation and mood enhancement.

41:00 – Transcranial light therapy and its promise for brain health, neurotransmitter balance, and immune resilience.

44:00 – Future innovations: EEG and vagus nerve stimulation to support PTSD and autonomic regulation.

50:00 – What’s next: real-time brain energy mapping with single photon avalanche diodes.

51:00 – Where to find Kineon products and community resources.

Resources mentioned:

Kineon Labs website – https://kineon.io

Move+ wearable laser therapy device – https://kineon.io/products/move-plus

Kineon Therapy Quiz – https://kineon.io/pages/quiz

Kineon Facebook Community Group – https://www.facebook.com/groups/kineonusers

Guest's social handles:

TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@kineon_labs

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/kineon_labs/

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/the-forrest-smith/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Kineonlabs

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@Kineon_Labs

P.S. If you enjoy this episode and feel it helps to elevate your life, please give us a rating or review.

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When we help heal One, we help heal All.

Much gratitude and love.

Yours,

Ariane