Red-Light Therapy and Hashimoto’s: My Two-Month Experiment

In my journey to try to reduce my thyroid antibodies and lower my TSH, I have been experimenting with different interventions to see what might help.

My most recent test involved a red-light therapy device. Since December 25th 2025, I have been using a Bon Charge Mini Red Light Therapy Device. I used it in near-infrared 850 nm mode over the thyroid for 10 minutes in the morning, three times per week.

850 nm near-infrared light penetrates deeper into the body than 660 nm red light, which is primarily used for skin applications, and can reach tissues such as the thyroid gland.

After a few weeks, I developed a sore throat. However, this resolved after a few more weeks of continued treatment.

Blood Test Results After Two Months

At the end of February 2026, after two months of using the red-light device, I completed a blood test using Medichecks Advanced Thyroid Function.

Below are my results compared with two months earlier:

• CRP HS: 0.39 mg/L (< 3) — up 26%

• Ferritin: 118 µg/L (30–518) — up 15%

• Folate (serum): 25 nmol/L (> 7) — up 88%

• Vitamin B12 (active): >150 pmol/L (> 37.5) — no change (top of measurable range)

• Vitamin D: 125 nmol/L (50–250) — up 25%

• TSH: 3.02 mIU/L (0.27–4.2) — up 11%

• Free T3: 4.3 pmol/L (3.1–6.8) — no change

• Free T4: 13.8 pmol/L (12–22) — up 1%

• Thyroglobulin (Tg) antibodies: 121 kIU/L (0–115) — up 30%

• Thyroid Peroxidase (TPO) antibodies: 75.1 kIU/L (0–34) — up 15%

Based on these results, I can infer that red-light therapy did not work for me.

However, I had stopped taking selenium, myo-inositol, and pycnogenol supplements during this period, which may have affected my results. I also consumed more dairy and eggs, increasing my iodine intake. It is also possible that I have an undiagnosed dairy allergy that could have influenced the outcome.

What Does the Research Say?

I could not find any meta-analyses examining red-light therapy and the thyroid. Meta-analyses are the highest tier of evidence because they combine the results of multiple randomised controlled trials. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) are considered the second-highest tier of evidence.

I did find three RCTs investigating low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in autoimmune thyroid conditions:

1. 2024 Study – Oxidative Stress and Quality of Life

This study examined the combination of LLLT and levothyroxine in patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Forty-six patients were randomised to active or sham treatment twice weekly for three weeks.

The study found significant improvements in oxidative stress markers and quality of life in the treatment group. However, there were no changes in thyroid function or autoimmunity between groups. LLLT was considered safe and more effective than sham treatment for oxidative stress and quality of life.

2. 2014 Study – TGF-β1 Concentrations

This study found a significant increase in serum TGF-β1 levels in patients treated with LLLT. The authors suggested this increase may have contributed to improvement in autoimmune thyroiditis, though further research was needed.

3. 2013 Randomised Placebo-Controlled Trial

In this trial, patients with hypothyroidism due to chronic autoimmune thyroiditis received either 10 sessions of LLLT (830 nm) or a placebo.

After nine months of follow-up:

• The laser-treated group required significantly lower levothyroxine doses.

• TPO antibodies were lower in the treatment group.

• Thyroid echogenicity improved.

• No difference was observed in Tg antibodies.

These findings suggested LLLT may improve thyroid function, reduce TPOAb-mediated autoimmunity, and improve thyroid tissue characteristics in some patients.

My Conclusion

Despite some promising findings in randomised controlled trials, my own two-month experiment did not produce improvements in TSH or thyroid antibodies.

Given that I had also stopped selenium, myo-inositol, and pycnogenol — and made dietary changes — I cannot conclude definitively that red-light therapy alone was ineffective. However, based on my blood results, it did not produce measurable benefits for me.

What’s Next?

For my next experiment, I plan to try acupuncture, as there is a meta-analysis indicating that it is effective in treating Hashimoto’s.

I also considered trying a Prunella vulgaris supplement, but I found it difficult to source in the UK.

I visited a health food shop in Ashbourne, Derbyshire, called Natural Choice, where the shopkeeper, Steve, recommended a glutamine supplement to support gut health. Since removing gluten had previously helped me, he suspected my problems might be gut-related.

He recommended NaturesPlus GI NUTRA powder, which contains:

• L-glutamine

• Prebiotics

• Probiotics

• Enzymes

• Minerals

• Antioxidants, including vitamins E and C

• Selenium

• Zinc

  
  

A 30-day supply costs £40. I may try it for 30 days and then repeat blood testing, as I do not want to continue the supplement if it does not work. I plan to begin this experiment after completing the acupuncture trial.

Supplements & Diet (Current)

Supplements:

• Vitamin D3 – 75 mcg (3,000 IU)

• Thorne Basic B-Complex

• Selenomethionine – 200 mcg

• Myo-inositol – 2 g

• Magnesium glycinate – 200 mg (evening)

• Daily tadalafil – 10 mg

• Arginine – 6 g in three split doses

• Pycnogenol – 100 mg

Diet:

A whole-foods, gluten-free diet including:

• Dairy, eggs, meat

• Fruit and vegetables

• Maca and oysters

• Crystallised ginger and beetroot

• 90% dark chocolate and cacao powder

• Coffee and chamomile tea

• Potatoes, rice, and honey

I will continue to test and document what works — and what doesn’t — as I look for ways to reduce thyroid antibodies and optimise thyroid function.