From the Desk of Dr. Karl R.O.S. Johnson, DC.....

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.) 

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Tendonitis in any area of the body can be quite painful and debilitating, often interfering with your daily lifestyle.

I often see patients who have tendonitis and the challenge is to help the patient understand the various steps and procedures that need to be undertaken in the healing of this type of injury. Of course there are many different places in the body a tendon can be injured but the wrist, knee, and achilles tendons are the most common ones I have seen. In this blog post I outline a few aspects about tendon construction, tendon healing, and natural methods (drug-free, surgery-free) that I and others have found to be helpful and effective to enable patients to get back to their normal lifestyle.  

Tendonitis refers to inflammation of a tendon, which is the tough rope-like tissue that attaches muscles to bones. Tendons vary in form, and can be rounded cords, strap- like bands or flattened ribbons. [1]

Overuse, injury, and various systemic inflammatory conditions of the body can cause tendonitis. Some medical researchers state that the term tendonitis should be reserved for use only after performing a biopsy and then examining the tissue under a microscope and instead, the term tendonopathy should be used until a biopsy is performed. Regardless of the term used, a good understanding of how to best approach a tendon injury is important.

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