Dr. Roger Seheult, MD, co-founder of MedCram, recalls how he routinely gave vitamin D supplements to patients during the pandemic. He even took it himself.

“What have you got to lose, right? But in the hospital, giving a tablet didn’t seem to help.”

That was the turning point.

Seheult noticed something: patients with higher vitamin D levels consistently fared better. But the key wasn’t the pill—it was the sunlight.

timber pergola with fire pit and people gathered around — Friends gather beneath a timber pergola around a glowing fire pit, enjoying warmth, shade, and connection in a beautifully crafted outdoor space.

“They were simply outside more. Sunlight made the difference.”

Vitamin D wasn’t the cure. It was a signal—a sign that someone had been in the sun. And sunlight, Seheult explains, offers something even more powerful than vitamin D alone:

The Healing Power of Infrared Light

Infrared light penetrates the body and activates healing at the mitochondrial level. It lowers oxidative stress. It helps cells repair.

“When you’re outside, you’re getting both. You don’t just get ultraviolet B to make vitamin D, you’re absorbing the full light entire biological spectrum.”

Even when the seasons shift—when the sun drops low in the sky and UVB can’t reach you—infrared still does. That’s why light matters year-round.

The takeaway is clear:

“Maybe hospitals should be outside.”

Or at the very least, healthcare should be built around one of our most vital medicines: light.

Woman lifts a baby into the air with joy under a timber frame pavilion at sunset. — A tender moment between generations beneath the shelter of a timber pavilion—where wellness, sunlight, and heartfelt connection come together in the open air.

It’s Not Just the Light—It’s the Life You Build Around It

The science is extraordinary. Red and infrared light—though invisible or barely visible—can influence mitochondrial health throughout the body. Studies led by Professor Glenn Jeffrey at University College London showed that just 15 minutes of targeted red light can activate a powerful cellular response.

Mitochondria begin working more efficiently. Glucose is metabolized faster. Even the skin responds with renewed collagen production.

That part is especially exciting—because collagen is what keeps our skin firm, smooth, and youthful. As we age, our body naturally produces less of it. The fibroblast cells that build collagen start to slow down. But red and infrared light reignite those cells, helping them produce fresh collagen again.

The result? Skin that feels tighter. Smoother. More vibrant—naturally.

This isn’t a cosmetic gimmick. It’s a cellular response. And it’s not limited to one area. Although red light therapy devices are often used on the face, the same mitochondrial activation happens throughout the body. One study even showed that applying light to the back impacted blood sugar and metabolism system-wide.

That means red and infrared light aren’t just about skin. They’re about whole-body health.

And here’s the key: You don’t need a gadget to unlock this power. The sun delivers it daily, through a natural spectrum that includes both red and infrared wavelengths—especially when you’re outside.

That brings us back to Dr. Seheult’s bold insight:

Maybe hospitals should be outside.

And maybe homes, offices, clinics, schools, and gathering spaces should be designed to bring people outdoors more often, or bring natural light in.

Designing Spaces That Invite the Light In

That’s exactly where Western Timber Frame® structures come in.

Timber frame pergola in Beach Sand stain beside a red brick commercial building, providing shade over a red picnic table on a concrete patio. — A Beach Sand–stained pergola offers cool, inviting shade at a Holiday Oil location — proving that timeless timber style works beautifully in commercial settings, too.

Whether it’s a residential pergola, pavilion, or cabana, or a commercial-scale timber canopy, entryway, or outdoor classroom, these solid timber designs are engineered to bring people outside—safely and comfortably. They invite sunshine, airflow, and nature back into everyday life.

You’re not just creating shade. You’re creating an environment that welcomes infrared and red light naturally—turning everyday moments like lunch, prayer, conversation, or rest into moments of cellular restoration.

Imagine:

A medical clinic or school courtyard with open-timber gathering zones that support mental and physical health.
A restaurant patio designed for morning light and calm airflow.
A backyard pavilion where family can work, play, and relax—with all the wellness benefits of outdoor living still in reach.
A corporate break space or employee retreat deck under a timber canopy that boosts sunlight exposure—without excess heat or glare.

More Than Shade It is Preventative Design

Red light therapy is trending. But nature has offered its version all along. The key is exposure—and architectural spaces can either restrict or release that healing potential.

Even on cloudy days, over 90% of infrared light still reaches the earth’s surface—because longwave infrared penetrates cloud cover much more effectively than ultraviolet light.

Infrared radiation from the sun is only slightly reduced by clouds, as longer wavelengths penetrate atmospheric water vapor more effectively than shorter UV rays.” — NASA Earth Observatory

With the right outdoor structure, you don’t just improve aesthetics. You create a lifestyle shift—one where people live longer, feel better, and yes—look better.

Timber frame park pavilion with exposed trusses and arched braces, surrounded by trees at Heritage Park. — A handcrafted timber pavilion at Heritage Park, featuring exposed trusses, curved braces, and a natural finish—designed for public gatherings and built to last.

Close-up view of a commercial timber pavilion’s central post and truss system, showing decorative knee braces and exposed roof framing. — Heavy-duty timber posts and precision joinery provide long-term durability and architectural elegance in this open-air commercial shade structure.

Because when your environment supports your body, it shows in your energy, your glow, and your skin.

And sometimes, all it takes is 15 minutes in the right light.

What’s more, infrared light can pass through most fabrics—even long sleeves and hats While ultraviolet light is easily blocked by fabric. Laboratory tests show that fabric blocks only 3–14% of UV, but lets through 83–88% of infrared radiation. This means your mitochondria continue to receive healing light—even when you’re covered. And unlike circadian light, this infrared effect doesn’t depend on skin exposure—your body still benefits while fully dressed. Simply being outdoors matters.