Red Light Therapy (Photobiomodulation) for Chronic Kidney Disease

[NoStatinsForMe]

Does anyone have any experience with Red Light Therapy helping to improve CKD? My 85 yr old father was diagnosed with Stage 3 CKD about 6 months ago. I’m a retired pharmacist starting to research alternative and natural therapies, and came across this article on photobiomodulation & it’s potential to help correct mitochondrial dysfunction, which is believed to be one of the main underlying causes of CKD.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/358...

[allene7]

I have never heard about light therapy but if you find helpful information or studies please share.

[userotc]

Excellent find!.

Whilst mum (ckd 3) has not yet taken up my suggestion to increase the use of our home red-light sauna, there should be no damage as per link below. But the mechanisms listed in the paper you showed (incl gut) are consistent with our Nutritional Therapy (NT) beliefs.

Mum has only ever adopted NT on her 14y CKD journey. No drugs since weaning off a BP medication in favour of NT several years ago. Her BP is consistently ~123/78 🤞

Whilst we are always wary and cognisant of potential set-backs 🤞, her nephro just says "continue with what you're doing". Sadly he never asks what it is!

You may find some relevant interest in my kidney posts by clicking on my name. For example, the one on "single kidneyers" refers to a blog outlining some key aspects of mum's NT protocol though sadly an admin removed the blog link so it may be less clear than originally.

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi...

[TableTennisMama]

Hello. By the way I really love your title, And totally agree.

I am curious about this red light therapy you have brought up. If you did decide to try this for your father’s CKD, how exactly do you envision applying it? Would you apply on the back over the kidneys?

For quite a few years my husband and I have used PEMF therapy (Bemer). The kit included some kind of red light therapy applicator which I have never taken out of the box to try. I don’t know if it’s the same thing that you’re talking about - probably not.

I do hope you keep us posted on your discoveries as you research alternative therapies for CKD. Blessings to you and your father on this journey.

[NoStatinsForMe in reply to TableTennisMama]

🙏🏼 Thank you. I recently purchased a red/nir light therapy panel from Block Blue Light for myself for its overall health & wellness benefits, including occasional muscle & joint pain, and am using it now to help heal a broken toe, lol.

In the article I shared, I believe it mentioned the potential for applying it downstream, like over the rat’s tibia, but also potentially applying it in vicinity of target area. Certain light wavelengths can penetrate the skin, muscle, bone deeper than others (ie, nir penetrates deeper than red), and some wavelengths of red, and, or nir light have been found to be more therapeutic for different conditions. This was the first medical journal article I had come across, so I thought I’d reach out to folks here to see if anyone had tried it or had any experience with it. It is clearly not medical advice, as I am not a doctor, but am attempting to gain more knowledge/insight from others.

I have my red light therapy panel hanging over a bed currently. It’s 36 inches, so it covers a good portion of the body. My Dad is very conservative by nature & justifiably cautious with his new CKD diagnosis, so I plan to do more research on this subject, and will update this post if I find additional relevant information.

[qd91746]

I've never heard of this but am very curious. Please keep us updated, especially how long you have to stay under the light

[Hibiki]

No Statinforme

I have been using Infrared Sauna for over 10 years. I feel great after each treatment.

I belive that the internal swetting reduce the internal toxins. my numbers are stable for nearly 20 yoears.

Hibiki

[NoStatinsForMe in reply to Hibiki]

Yes, we invested in an infrared sauna a couple years ago to aid in detoxing from exposure to unwanted toxins/chemicals. I don’t believe infrared sauna operates on Photobiomodulation principals though, but definitely offers significant health benefits. We love ours, I just can never seem to drink enough water, otherwise, I’d use it every day!

[WinJ3]

While Red Light Therapy (RLT) or Photobiomodulation (PBM) shows promise for Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), it's important to approach this treatment cautiously and under professional guidance. Here's how you can explore RLT for your CKD:

1. Consult your nephrologist: Before trying any new treatment, discuss RLT with your kidney specialist. They can evaluate if it's appropriate for your specific condition and stage of CKD.

2. Seek a qualified practitioner: Look for healthcare providers or clinics that offer RLT and have experience treating kidney-related conditions. They can administer treatments safely and monitor your progress.

3. Consider at-home devices: Some companies offer RLT devices for home use. However, only purchase from reputable sources and follow usage instructions carefully.

4. Be aware of potential interactions: RLT might interact with certain kidney disease medications. Inform your doctor about all treatments and medications you're taking.

5. Monitor for side effects: While generally considered safe, watch for potential side effects like skin irritation or fatigue, especially if you have advanced kidney disease.

6. Combine with conventional treatments: RLT should complement, not replace, your current CKD management plan, including dietary restrictions, medications, and other therapies.

7. Set realistic expectations: Research on RLT for CKD is still limited, particularly in humans. Be cautious of claims promising miraculous results.

Remember, while RLT shows potential benefits for kidney function, including improved circulation and reduced oxidative stress, more research is needed to fully establish its efficacy for CKD in humans. Always prioritize evidence-based treatments recommended by your healthcare team.🙂

[NoStatinsForMe in reply to WinJ3]

Excellent advice.