Several studies have shown profound benefits of photobiomodulation for autoimmune hypothyroidism
- A recent 2013 randomized, placebo-controlled study in hypothyroid patients demonstrated that in people who got near-infrared light therapy, thyroid function dramatically improved, and remarkably, that thyroid antibody (TPOAb) levels were massively reduced. Amazingly, 47% of patients were able to stop medication completely! Moreover, the researchers also followed up 9 months after treatment and found that the effects were still evident! https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10103-012-1129-9
- They even published a 6-year follow-up, which basically said that even at 6 years, some of the benefits still remained, but periodic sessions were recommended to maintain all benefits. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6247385/
- "The levothyroxine dose required by group L was significantly lower than that required by group P (P = 0 002). The anti-TPO and anti-Tg levels did not differ between the groups. Conclusion. LLLT, by the methods described, has been shown to be safe for the treatment of hypothyroidism resulting from CAT" (CAT = Chronic Autoimmune Thyroid)
- (It is NOT suggested to use red/NIR light as a one-time treatment that is expected to last long-term. For optimal benefits, most research indicates that sessions be done with red/NIR therapy at least once a week consistently.)
- "The levothyroxine dose required by group L was significantly lower than that required by group P (P = 0 002). The anti-TPO and anti-Tg levels did not differ between the groups. Conclusion. LLLT, by the methods described, has been shown to be safe for the treatment of hypothyroidism resulting from CAT" (CAT = Chronic Autoimmune Thyroid)
Symptoms of Hypothyroidism
Some of the more common symptoms of hypothyroidism, or deficiency of thyroid hormone, include:
- Slower metabolism leading to weight gain
- Forgetfulness
- Feeling cold or cold intolerance
- Depression
- Fatigue
- Dry skin
- Constipation
- Loss of ambition
- Dry, coarse hair
- Muscle cramps
- Stiffness
- Joint pain
- A loss of the outer third eyebrow
- Heavy menstrual periods
- Infertility
- Muscle aches
- Puffy face
- Slow heartbeat
- Brittle nails
- Arthritis
Additional Studies on photobiomodulation's effect on hypothyroidism
- A 2010 study found that photobiomodulation helped 38 %of study participants reduce their hypothyroid medication dose, with a whopping 17% being able to stop taking the medication altogether!
- A 1997 study done in Russia included some data on people with autoimmune hypothyroidism who underwent a thyroid surgery. They found that red/NIR light therapy improved thyroid hormone levels enough that they required, on average, roughly half as much thyroid hormone medication.
- A 2003 study done in the Ukraine showed that red light therapy can decrease thyroid medication needs by 50-75% in people with postsurgical hypothyroidism.
- A 2010 Russian dissertation study gave red light therapy on the thyroid gland to a group of people with hypothyroidism and found that 17% of people could completely get off thyroid medication and 38% could decrease the dose by 25-50µg.
- A 2014 study used the light therapy for 10 sessions with 347 women with subclinical hypothyroidism. At baseline, the average TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) was 9.1 mIU/L. (Note: Higher TSH is a sign of hypothyroidism). After ten sessions of light therapy, the TSH was normalized in 337 (97%) of these women. Their TSH averaged at 2.2 mIU/L after just 10 light treatments.
Compilation of additional studies source: Heiskanen V. "Valtsu" (205) Hypothyroidism: Could it be treated with LIGHT
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