SOUTH OGDEN — Jeff Guthrie was sick, weak, tired and depressed. After being infected with COVID-19, his symptoms persisted. The Eden resident couldn’t even walk 20 feet without having to sit down and catch his breath.

“It’s awful,” Guthrie said. “It left me with lung problems and really bad depression. That’s when Laura called and told me to come over and try a therapy session. I can’t believe what a difference it’s made in my life.”

The machine, called ReGen Pod, uses red light and near-infrared laser light therapy to improve overall health, according to the manufacturer’s website.

Laura Warburton is the owner of The Wellness Center, which has one location in Huntsville and another, which recently opened, in South Ogden. She said the therapy has worked so well for her that she wanted to share it with others.

The therapy uses low-level wavelengths of red light, which can have a biochemical effect on the body’s cells, and, in turn, help reduce inflammation and pain in the body. The website states that the therapy can even have positive results with anxiety and depression.

“My depression is like night and day,” Guthrie said. “I have more energy. All I can say is that I lay in there for 20 minutes and I feel better.”

Warburton’s journey to The Wellness Center began when she was diagnosed with terminal hydrocephalus, a condition in which fluid builds up in the deep cavities within the brain. The condition was the result of an accident she suffered years ago.

“Primary symptoms are dementia, incontinence, uneven walking, and extreme fatigue,” she said. “Over the last five years, I’ve learned to accept it and do my very best. I have gone through two brain surgeries. I had a shunt placed which resolved most of my symptoms, but still left me fatigued and foggy brained most of the time.”

Warburton did everything she could think of — she even moved to Mexico for a while to be closer to sea level, but missing her family brought her back to Utah.

“About that same time, a Facebook ad caught my attention. It was for a center helping those with concussions,” she said. “I wanted to know more to help others, not necessarily myself.”

Warburton, a Huntsville resident, said she learned more about the whole body pods and did a free session.

“I was blown away,” she said. “I have had so much energy — enough to get off the La-Z-Boy and start two businesses. My brain is doing so much better. I am equally more calm. My arthritis is gone.”

According to the Cleveland Clinic, red light therapy is ever-growing and is showing promise in several areas of medicine, including treatment for acne, scars, skin cancer and other medical conditions. However, the clinic states the full effectiveness for some conditions has yet to be determined, and to date, there is no scientific evidence to support weight loss or cellulite removal.

Warburton opened her first business in her home and business exploded, she said. That’s when she decided to open her second location in South Ogden this June.

“We don’t claim to cure anything, and we don’t diagnose,” she said. “Without a doubt, the pod reduces inflammation. Inflammation causes pain. There are other whole body pods available, none in Weber County. However, there is only one pod that is programmable and pulses frequencies into the body. The ReGen Q8 pod. Simply put, everything is energy and when measured, it’s called frequency.”

Warburton added that the process, when they pulse frequencies via the beneficial four spectrums of light, is similar to acupuncture with light.

“This literally reaches every cell in your body, stimulating them to their highest and best use,” Warburton said.

Jason Smith, a chiropractor with a master’s of clinical neuroscience who practices in Bountiful, said he’s used laser light therapy for over 15 years. He said light therapy helps accelerate cell division so people heal faster.

“There are thousands of research papers on the subject,” he said. “Light therapy can help with everything from post surgery recovery, wound healing, concussions and acne. It has shown to improve brain function and reduce pain. I have used it myself and I feel more energetic and more creative. It sounds like a magic bullet, but it does make the body function better.”

The only contradiction to using the pod, Warburton said, is those undergoing immunosuppressive therapy for cancer or other diseases.

“The pods boost your immune system, so we never allow someone with cancer without a written doctor’s approval,” she said. “There are interesting studies for every possible ailment on the google scholar site. Simply look up ‘photobiomodulation’ and insert the ailment and a number of peer reviewed studies are available to read.”

Webmd.com also states that, while more studies are needed, red light therapy may help with dental pain, hair loss, dementia, osteoarthritis and tendinitis.

The pod looks similar to a tanning bed. Once inside, the machine is programmed to deliver a light pulse at varying levels, depending on the reason for its use. The maximum time for each session is 15 to 20 minutes. The first session is always free. After that, a discounted package price of six sessions would cost $275. A drop-in session costs $65.

Janice Hill of Clinton used the pod to help with knee pain, headaches and anxiety.

“I didn’t have any pain when I got out of the pod the first time. I had relief for quite some time,” she said. “I have gone back a few times and when I finish, the pain is typically gone. It’s very relaxing and definitely has other benefits as well. I feel more energy and more clear in my thinking.”

Guthrie said he’s been so happy with the results, he’s sent dozens of people to try it out for themselves.

“I’ve had people ask me if it’s snake oil,” he said. “Well, if it’s snake oil, it sure worked for me.”

The Wellness Center is located at 1724 Combe Road in South Ogden and also Warburton’s home in Huntsville. For an appointment, people can call 801-800-2484.

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