Can You Use Red Light Therapy for Thyroid Health?

• Red Light Therapy|
• RLT for Thyroid|
• Safety|
• Science-Based Protocol|

New and exciting research trials suggest that red light therapy (RLT) could help 30–50% of people with hypothyroidism come off their thyroid hormone medication 1 2.

As thyroid issues are a concern for many of our clients in the clinic, we’re seeing that red light therapy for thyroid health is a worthy tool to tap in after foundational gut-healing measures.

Before I share the impressive research on red light therapy for thyroid health, I’ll help you understand what it is and how it can work to improve thyroid function. I’ll also offer an evidence-based, at-home RLT protocol.

What is Red Light Therapy?

Red light therapy, also called photobiomodulation or low-level laser therapy (LLLT), uses red and near-infrared light (600–1,100 nanometers) to energize cells and improve their function without producing heat 3 4.

Originally, NASA studied RLT for plant growth and for wound healing in astronauts 5. Newer RLT research has found some impressive human health benefits, such as:

• Energizing the mitochondria (the powerhouses of cells) to produce more energy, or ATP (adenosine triphosphate) 3 6
• Freeing up nitric oxide, an important molecule in the body, to improve blood flow and circulation 7
• Reducing inflammation by triggering the body’s antioxidant defenses 8 9 10

RLT works similarly to exercise—it creates a mild challenge for the body, helping it to become stronger, repair itself, and better defend against damage. 

People are excited about RLT because it may help with skin aging and offer other skin health benefits, which seem pretty impressive 11 12. But I’m most excited to share with you recent research on RLT’s ability to improve thyroid function in people with thyroid diseases, such as hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. 

Does Red Light Therapy Help Thyroid Conditions?

First a little background on thyroid conditions: Hypothyroidism (low thyroid hormone level) and Hashimoto’s disease (chronic autoimmune thyroiditis that damages the thyroid gland) are distinct thyroid disorders, but they can sometimes overlap.

In both hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s disease, the thyroid gland isn’t functioning properly. This means the thyroid may be breaking down faster than it can heal, resulting in inflammation and increased oxidative stress (free radical damage).

One reason thyroid hormone replacement medication (levothyroxine) is so helpful for people with hypothyroidism is that it reduces strain on the thyroid. By supplying the needed hormones, thyroid hormone medications allow the gland to focus on healing and slow down the breakdown process. 

What does this have to do with RLT? Like thyroid hormone replacement medication, red light therapy may help the thyroid gland maintain a better balance between breaking down and healing.  

It’s true, there aren’t many research trials studying red light therapy for thyroid health issues. But so far, it appears that RLT may benefit the thyroid by improving thyroid hormone production and decreasing thyroid antibody levels 2 13.

Red Light Therapy and Hashimoto’s Disease

Several clinical studies suggest that RLT may improve thyroid function in people with Hashimoto’s disease, especially when they combine RLT with supplements like iron, vitamin D, and selenium. Benefits may include 1 2 13:

• Better thyroid hormone levels: increased T3 and free T4, lower TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone)
• Lower thyroid antibodies against thyroid peroxidase (TPO) and thyroglobulin (Tg)
• Lower body mass index (BMI)
• Weight loss

In addition to these impressive possible benefits, RLT can reduce the need for thyroid hormone replacement enough that some people may stop taking their thyroid medication altogether 2. 

We don’t fully understand why RLT can correct thyroid dysfunction, but it probably helps that the thyroid gland is located close to the skin, making it an accessible target for red light therapy.

However, though the benefits of RLT can last for almost a year, they aren’t permanent. This means regular treatments may be necessary to maintain results—I’ve built that into the protocol I’ll share later 14.

Red Light Therapy and Hypothyroidism Symptoms

Although research shows that RLT can improve thyroid hormone levels and antibodies, there haven’t been any studies directly looking at how RLT affects the symptoms of hypothyroidism. 

But research showing that 30–50% of Hashimoto’s patients who used RLT were able to stop taking thyroid hormone replacement suggests that RLT could improve hypothyroid symptoms, too 1 2. 

We can also look at studies of RLT for other conditions with symptoms similar to hypothyroidism to better understand how it might help with hypothyroidism symptoms. The table below highlights how RLT may improve hypothyroid-like symptoms in other conditions.

Using red light therapy is an example of a science-based—not science-limited—approach. The lack of studies specifically on how RLT affects symptoms in people with hypothyroidism (or hyperthyroidism) doesn’t mean it can’t be beneficial. It just means more research is needed to confirm its effects.

Bottom line: Based on studies in Hashimoto’s disease and other conditions with similar symptoms to hypothyroidism, RLT seems like a promising, non-invasive treatment for people with thyroid disorders. 

Is It Safe to Use Red Light Therapy on Your Neck?

Red light therapy is generally considered safe, with very few reported side effects. In studies specifically focused on thyroid health, no side effects have been reported. 

For example, a clinical trial confirmed that RLT applied to the neck (for wrinkles) did not negatively impact thyroid function or hormone levels 11. 

Rare side effects (that go away once you stop RLT) can include 18: 

• Skin redness and irritation
• Dark spots on the skin (hyperpigmentation)

There’s a theoretical concern that RLT could cause or worsen cancer, but there’s no evidence of this in humans 19. In fact, studies have shown that RLT can help reduce side effects from cancer treatments and even improve cancer survival 19 20.

One disclaimer to keep in mind: As with many treatments and medications, it’s safest to avoid RLT during pregnancy 15.

How to Use Red Light Therapy for Thyroid Health

Given the research and our clinical experience, we recommend a protocol that combines red light therapy and supplements that support the thyroid gland. 

The light therapy protocol below is based on the wavelengths used in thyroid research and on common guidelines for how often, how long, and from what distance to use an RLT device.

Since the effects of RLT aren’t permanent, I recommend performing the above protocol for 3 months, at least once per year 14. 

When it comes to choosing a red light therapy device, there are many on the market, and more expensive doesn’t always mean better. All you need is an FDA-approved device with the appropriate wavelengths (810–850 nm) for thyroid support. 

If you have hypothyroidism and take thyroid hormone (LT4), it’s very important to follow up with a healthcare practitioner to monitor you regularly when using RLT. You may need to reduce your medication dose and eventually discontinue it if RLT works well. 

Thyroid Support Supplements

To maximize results, we encourage our clients to take the following supplements to support thyroid health:

• Vitamin D3. Supplemental vitamin D can decrease TPO and Tg antibodies 21 22 23 24.
• Selenium and Myo-inositol. Combined, these support healthy TPO antibodies, Tg antibodies, and TSH levels, as well as thyroid ultrasound results 25.

The following table shows the science-based treatment plan our clients typically follow:

Probiotics are an additional supplement that can 26:

• Reduce the dose of thyroid hormone medication 
• Improve TSH levels
• Reduce fatigue

We find our clients with hypothyroidism improve their thyroid symptoms even more when they add probiotics to their supplements. We use our triple therapy probiotic approach, which means we combine three effective categories of probiotics. 

Adding one category of probiotic at a time can be helpful for sensitive clients who need to go slowly, but we’ve seen the best results when our clients use all three together, as shown in the following table.

Red Light Therapy: A Win For Thyroid Wellness 

Red light therapy can help boost cellular energy, improve blood flow, and reduce inflammation. 

Although research on red light therapy for thyroid health is limited, early studies suggest it can reduce thyroid antibodies, improve thyroid hormone production, and reduce the need for thyroid hormone replacement. 

For best results, we combine weekly RLT sessions with thyroid support supplements like vitamin D, selenium, myoinositol, and probiotics.

RLT is safe and cost effective. However, pregnant women should avoid it, and those taking thyroid medication must be monitored by a physician.

We’d love to partner with you on your thyroid healing journey. Check out my thyroid self-help course for a step-by-step guide. We are also accepting new clients in the clinic if you prefer a one-on-one appointment.

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