For those of you using red/infrared light therapy, did you have any short-term (or long-term) side effects? Yesterday was my first day using the duo coronet light therapy and I did both a morning and evening session. It's pretty comfortable and easy to use. However, I had a dull headache all day, a bit of nausea and just felt off. I never get headaches and have been well so perhaps it was my brain getting used to the therapy or it could have been completely unrelated. This morning no headache thus far but still feeling a little off. Would love to hear others' experiences.
Thank you!
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Elevated oxidative stress, but you can use a potent antioxidant such as NAC, Alpha Lipoic Acid or Melatonin to counter it to make the treatment more effective.
Art. I'm sorry but I'm not quite following you. Are you saying that the light therapy is causing oxidative stress and I can counter it by an antioxidant? Thanks.
Yes, the 2021 PBM Chinese study showed that PBM increased oxidative stress and used hydrogen water, a potent antioxidant, to reduce ROS/oxidative stress.
Thanks, Art, for clarifying. This is very interesting with encouraging results. As LehartLover62 asked, I would love to know if anyone is drinking the H2 water.
I take 10-15 mg Melatonin at night. Do you think that is enough or would I need to take a higher dose of it or another antioxidant to counter the ROS?
Right! Another antioxidant supplement that crosses the blood-brain barrier is Fisetin. In addition to supplements, you can eat a plant-based diet; plants have 64 times as much antioxidant power as meat, dairy, or eggs. Blueberries, for example, are absolutely fantastic in oatmeal. Antioxidants don't need to be boring. Just search for "foods with most antioxidants".Everyone with PD should be taking in as many antioxidants as possible already since it's an inflammatory disease and you want to keep that "fire" as small as possible. So, just do more.
I've had mine for about 2 weeks now. I remember seeing very brief flashes of white light while I was watching TV during a session. I also remember feeling a bit "off" and I had the thought that, at least for me, I might feel better if I didn't watch TV at the same time.
My theory is that because the lights are pulsed at 40 Hz, which is the wave rate our brains use during meditation), maybe watching TV while my brain is trying to meditate might be a source of discomfort? Since then, I've been closing my eyes and relaxing, and afterward, I feel just fine.
"A gamma wave or gamma Rhythm is a pattern of neural oscillation in humans with a frequency between 25 and 140 Hz, the 40-Hz point being of particular interest."
I wonder if the same could apply to hand held vibrators for tremor reduction ? I have been using one for about 2 months. It worked well, but lately I notice much more hand and thumb shaking lately that's driving me crazy. I have also been using the Coronet Red Hat Duo on and off for the past year.
You might want to try titrating up slowly instead of jumping to 2 sessions a day from the start. I experienced a headache with my red light device with a higher radiance so I lessened the time and then later increased the time gradually. Listen to your body.
Good suggestion, rescuema. I’m going to stick with one session a day for a bit before moving to two. I am happy to report that I’ve not had a headache today but still feeling a bit off. Thank you!
The same happened to me for a few days but got better slowly and then I noticed I was sleeping better except when I used it near bedtime it disturbed my sleep . Use it in the AM or during the time Sun's up to avoid disturbing the circadian rhythm and skip a day if you don't feel well. It's a marathon! 😉
Definitely! I never use it after the sun's down. I am also sleeping much better, getting to bed earlier and "up with the sun", as my mother used to say.
Maybe take it as a positive sign that 'something' is happening. I agree maybe you should start slowly. Of course it may indeed just of been a coincidence.
The first time I tried to use the Coronet I felt nauseated and chalked it up to a rather stressful time and waited a couple days before trying it again. I used it one time each day and then for a month or so went up to two times a day but was feeling not so great. Headaches, which I figured had more to do with my neck spasms and bad posture than anything else and little bit nauseated, which could have just been life. Anyway I quit using the light for the last week and my headaches have gone away and I can't say I feel especially chipper but I also am hesitant to start using it again. I'll keep you updated on this adventure if I start using it again.
I'm sorry to hear that you haven't been able to incorporate the light therapy into your regimen. I'm wondering what would happen if you start with shorter sessions and build up to the full length programmed into the coronet? I suppose if you do start it again and the headaches come back immediately, you'll know it's related. Keep me posted. Thank you!
As I mention in another post: The lights are pulsed at 40 Hz, which is the rhythm our brains use during meditation, so maybe watching TV while the brain is trying to meditate might be a source of discomfort? Since then, I've been closing my eyes and relaxing, and afterward, I feel just fine.
"A gamma wave or gamma Rhythm is a pattern of neural oscillation in humans with a frequency between 25 and 140 Hz, the 40-Hz point being of particular interest."
Thank you for that information. I do think the headaches are from pinched nerves in my neck. Cervicogenic headaches. I'll get back to the red lights soon.
As a time-saving measure, I decided to do my Coronet sessions while working on my laptop. However, the flashing lights reflected off the laptop screen and keyboard, and the nearby wall. This bothered me.
I solved the problem with the addition of an A4 sheet of thin cardboard, cut lengthways into 2 pieces. I punched 4 holes into both pieces (holes lining up with the plastic wingnuts), and used the wingnuts to hold the 2 overlapping pieces of cardboard in place. The light can no longer shine on the laptop screen and keyboard, nor the nearby wall.
I forgot to mention that I also used all of the supplied self-adhesive sponge (i.e. not just some of it), to stop any light from getting on to the keyboard.
This is very interesting as I have also been using my laptop while using the coronet and there is light bouncing off of the screen. I will consider this if my side effects don't resolve soon. Thank you!
I've solved the same problem by resting my eyes and listening to soothing music during my sessions. It's funny, because, as an "alpha" for most of my life, I used to solve similar problems the way you do (and my wife still does). Almost 14 years of PD has taught me something: sometimes it's best to "go with the flow" and not fight it. Or at least pick my battles better.
On the other hand, I've been a bad boy and have been taking 3 sessions a day. I figured that 14 years with PD might require more of a boost. I don't recommend it to anyone, but I've seen no other side effects and believe that I've started seeing and feeling some good results.
My wife says that I'm definitely improving in several ways and that I should yell it from the mountaintops (a phrase I've never understood, unless it's to encourage trouble-makers to go somewhere unpopulated and very far away before beginning to yell?)
However, cooler heads (another curiously appropriate turn of phrase) have prevailed. I've seen too many miracles slowly fade away over the years to get too excited just yet. BTW, now my wife wants to use the Coronet to ward off Alzheimer's. Our heads are shaped quite differently, which brings up a slight problem with their design.
I am smiling as I read your last comment. Yes, I have heard that a lot of PwP have a similar personality that doesn't typically include "going with the flow"! My symptoms definitely get worse with any kind of "stress" - even if it is just rushing around. I am trying to change that through meditation...
My wife, bless her, has made it her life's work to improve my comfy chair in the living room, despite my pleas to leave well enough alone. She began by getting me a gaming chair that vibrates. I don't play games and already vibrate. Then came the small chest of drawers she put next to the chair, with a swivel top that I can put my laptop onto. That, I admit, was nice, until her very heavy cat jumped up and proved that momentum, center of mass, and overly-large cats still work the way they always have. The cat could care less, which just proves my point. He picked his battle and it had nothing to do with the crashing laptop.
As they say, when it comes to relationships, would you rather be right or happy? The obvious lesson here is to be happy, lick my paws, and check to see what's outside.
I know exactly what you mean. Just talking to a friend on the phone - no pressure at all - no possibility that things could get ugly or dangerous, yet after a short time, my PD comes roaring in. I haven't solved that one yet.
Yeah, it's pretty amazing how immediate the response is for me. I can be completely calm - no tremor at all - and within milliseconds of a stressful or emotional encounter the tremor sets in. It confirms how the brain/body is incredibly complex and fantastic!
My husband started red light hat 10 minutes twice a day on each setting and built up to 20 minutes twice a day on each setting. Now does 15 minutes on each setting twice a day. Never had a headache, sometimes finds the bucket hat lights catches his hair a bit, if he hasn’t quite got the angle right on his head, other than that no side effects at all. Been doing it since last September. Yesterday he decided to oil our decking, it isn’t huge but he was determined to complete it in a day, forgot about lunch and a PD pill but felt great he had done it.
I wasn’t much use as I’m still getting over second knee replacement, have over done it with physio and Consultant told me to rest up as muscle pain unbearable!
I also started my use at 10 mins in the morning and titrated up. I only use once a day as it keeps me awake in the evening. When I started using it I felt a strange feeling in my head (sorry really can't describe!) but that's stopped. No headache though.Mine is home made not the coronet though.
Thanks for sharing your experience. Do you feel it is helping your PD symptoms? For your 2nd session, did you try to do it late afternoon? I heard from someone that after dinner it affected their sleep but when they did it about 5 hrs before bed, it was ok.
Hi there the second session was after about 4pm. I will need to try again but am wary of losing another night's sleep!! It was weird, I was totally fine and happy - and completely awake. I watched a few episodes of a box set. Not unpleasant but I was pretty tired afterwards.
Definitely don't want to lose sleep! I wonder what would happen if you shorten the session. For example, you could do 6 min on the red nm, remove from head and then put back on when it changes to the infrared and use for 6 min, or something like that.
I HAVE BEEN USING IT FOR just a couple of days ad i have been using it any place i have a problem ikefoor instance my feet are sore a nd so i have been treating them AND this has given me some relief so i am continuing in that way other than that i have been attacking the micro biome in my abdomen and my head i have been using it there to.....but its- to soon tell if there is any changes in my condition..however i have something to report about the device itself....it comesonfor 12 minutes only and then i have to unplug and replug it and it is only infra red no white light at all;;;;i have contacted themanufacturer and awaiting their recommendation
I hope the manufacturer is responsive to you. Is your product from Wellred or another company? Wellred sells a pad (for abdomen or other locations) in addition to the helmet. I hope you begin to find some benefit. Keep me posted. I am only on day 6 and dropped to once per day, so too early to tell if it is doing anything. The good news is that I am no longer getting a headache or nausea.
OK WELL it appears as though they are investigating the problem and the company is well red but in the mean time...I'm enjoying it as much as i can i put it on my feet and y tummy and on the small of my back and i'm going to see if anything works right now my feet are a whole lot better than they were and my head is the last place I use it believe it or not... take care
and i will report back when i know something new - JIM
WELL apparently I was under the impression that the led lights come on after you are done with the first 12 min and they did and have been operating just as they said they would the problem for me was that I thought the led lights were going to be laser like in appearance and o when I didnt see that happening I shut it off and is I was missing the best part and that is the infra red which is coming o n but is a much much subtler light anyway the point is that the machine was and is operating perfectly and that it was my perception that it wasn't was where the error occurred ...so Im using it every day and enjoying it more now that I know what to
I started using the duo coronet five days ago . I had initial problems with ‘hot spots’ which I sorted out with Dr Catherine’s help. I am only using it once a day so far but seem to have a muzzy headache quite often but not necessarily immediately after use. Today I notice that my scalp feels a bit sore. It is difficult to gauge how it is effecting me otherwise and it is very early days. My stress levels are through the roof at the moment as I am doing a particularly difficult house move (from a safari park to a rabbit hutch!) with legal complications, so I am not expecting miracles until I am happily settled in my new home with a bunch of dandelion leaves (or preferably Gymbag’s butter tarts - sorry that is from a different thread). Any feedback about the sore scalp would be useful, please. Sarah
Sounds like you have lived/will live in an interesting part of the world - safari park to rabbit hutch! Good luck with your move.I have not had a sore scalp but thinking it could be caused by the helmet being too tight and/or the LEDs touching or too close to scalp.
My headaches, nausea, and feeling a bit weird are gone. I am a little tired but don't know if that's related. I am still once per day but plan to bump up to twice per day starting next week.
Good thought. I am going to give my scalp a break for a couple of days and then will loosen the coronet up a bit and try again. Where there’s a will …. Thank you. Glad to hear your side.effects are settling down and good luck with phase two,
I've been using red light therapy twice a day for 4 days. Today I developed a headache which is not my usual thing so I know it is caused by the RLT. Wondering if I should be concerned.
I recall experiencing some headaches and nausea at first but they went away. I've been using the RLT for about 3 years now and do not have any negative side effects (at least that I am aware of :))
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It's funny, because, as an "alpha" for most of my life, I used to solve similar problems the way you do (and my wife still does). Almost 14 years of PD has taught me something: sometimes it's best to "go with the flow" and not fight it. Or at least pick my battles better.
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