Photobiomodulation Devices and Research (including Long COVID) 

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When I had Covid in May of 2020, I made a point to spend a significant amount of time outside in the sunlight. Tried to maximize my sunlight exposure, and went to bed at a very early hour. In my single data point study, I always felt better after a sun filled day with good sleep. Your videos were the catalyst for me making this decision.

I was involved with red and infrared light therapy in late 1990s. It was developed to treat horses because not fda approved. However it was of course used on people who were interested. Amazing results. These original devices also had a pulsing setting. We used the device in relationship to the acupressure meridian system. I still have and use my original device all these years later. It was also found that the use was more efficient with an every second day usage. Over stimulation of cells can be somewhat detrimental to. Thank you for your videos on health.

My dog had blown her knee out last year and had surgery for it. Her treatment was 6 sessions of red light therapy for healing along with some meds. My friend had knee surgery last year and she asked about red light therapy for healing and the doctor just laughed at her request. 🤷🏼‍♀️

I'm so glad to hear you share about Low Level Light Therapy or cold laser. As a quadriplegic, I got COVID last August, and a few weeks later, I was lightheaded whenever I sat in my wheelchair, so getting physical exercise was extremely difficult. Two open wounds on my right foot continued getting worse, as I had bilateral occlusion of the abdominal arteries. I had 4 minutes of K-Laser LLLT on my right leg and foot, and within literally 5 MINUTES my leg and foot veins filled with blood, and my formerly cold leg warmed up. I continued K-Laser and MLS robotic laser therapy, and within 2 months, my foot wounds completely healed. My dizziness completely disappeared, my blood circulation improved, formerly violent leg spasms reduced to infrequent mild spasms, I had increased mental clarity, and increased endurance & energy while exercising. So I can vouch for cold and warm laser therapy having improved post-COVID and paralysis related problems.

I have early-stage Dementia, at one point a year ago I began to be unable to complete a sentence. I researched Photomodulation. I read up on different inferred treatments and settled on a Vielight head-worn device. After about six weeks my speech got better and eventually totally came back to normalcy. However, I'm starting to trip over words when speaking casually. These treatments are six days a week, under a timer on the device for seven minutes per treatment. And I recently had a CT of my brain and it was normal for my age. I did have COVID almost two years ago. I lost my sense of smell during it.

Thank you for continuing to "shine the light" on light as a healing tool. This is a fascinating area of research.

In early Covid, I listened to you and many other physicians, I did my research using Pubmed and other universities studies, old and recent studies. I have Autoimmune hemolytic anemia & cold agglutinins, I had been taking multivitam/minerals, Vitamin D3, K2, B-complex, long before covid hit. Through my research, I added Glutathione, zinc (short term). I traveled by car and plane between the midwest and San Diego numerous times during covid. I never was ill from covid. The last time I had seasonal flu was in the late 1960s. It appears that many illnesses/diseases are caused by and/or contributed to from lack of sunlight, poor nutrition (I am referring to consuming foods with lack of optimal natural vitamins/minerals.), lack of physical exercise, environmental factors, etc. Even when a person does all the right healthy things, it doesn’t mean they won’t become ill, hopefully it would minimize the severity of the illness. In 2006, when Mom was DX; Glioblastoma, she had said she felt better after I wheeled her outside in the morning sun.

I use my red light panel twice a day. I have MS and treat it using diet and exercise (no meds) as well as sauna, red light, and some supplements. On top of the internal repair I get, my skin and hair are amazing! Bonus!

I have a bit of an odd recommendation. Reptile lighting! Especially arcadias deep heat projector. It is made to emit a lot of IR-A and IR-B has a pretty wide area of effect and is cheap compared to many other things. Getting 2 or 3 of these mounting them above you can expose great amounts of your body to high quality infraredlight

Wife is a professor that works in this field, we both loved watching this video, thank you. Her father sent us one of the Neuradiant helmets. Will be sending him a photo of myself with an afro wig showing how well it worked for hair follicle stimulation (joking aside it is a great helmet).

I feel like you listened to me in Twitter! Another cloudy day in London, no sun. But i just got done with a 30 min session in front of my NIR lamp! Been sick this week so it’s been a real treat to be able to use it

Thank you. I have been using healthlight (tm) for about 15 years. They are very expensive but the power and frequencies are critical. Really helped me heal from osteomyelitis and sepsis. That was a very difficult path.

I just listened to this while using my red light therapy device

Dr I work for a company Outside inc. Our mission is to get everyone outside. Great video

I have the MITO pro 1500 red light panel and have been using it for two years. It has improved my sleep, SAD and joint pains.

Thanks very much for doing this video. Due to some cognitive impairment with Long covid, as well as a family history of Alzheimer’s, I have been considering getting one of the Vielight devices. The study finding similar Long Covid benefits of the Neuronic helmet vs the a 660/850 nm PBM bed makes me think that the 1070 nm feature on the Neuronic isn’t necessary. The Vielight nasal clip and vagus nerve devices also offer more ways to get the light into the body. Glad to see that Neuronic is getting research with their own device though, as that is one area in which Vielight seems to be an industry leader. I suspect that either system is likely to help with neurodegenerative brain conditions though, so I am grateful they are available before FDA approval.

This video discusses the growing field of photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy, which utilizes light to produce biochemical reactions in living cells for therapeutic benefit. The number of published research studies on PBM has been increasing exponentially in recent years. PBM is also known by other terms like biostimulation, cold/cool laser therapy, low-level laser therapy, soft laser therapy, and low power laser therapy. In 2015, the term photobiomodulation therapy was officially added to the National Library of Medicine MeSH database. In PBM, a light source is placed near or in contact with the skin, allowing the light photons to penetrate tissue and interact with chromophores in cells. This leads to photophysical and photochemical changes that cause physiological reactions to accelerate wound healing, reduce inflammation and pain, and restore normal cellular function. Recent research suggests PBM can also enhance performance in normal tissues. The video examines PBM in the context of treating COVID-19 and post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (long COVID). Oxidative stress plays a key role in the pathophysiology of severe COVID-19. The SARS-CoV-2 virus downregulates the ACE2 receptor, disrupting the balance between oxidative and reducing molecules. This leads to an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS), blood clots, and hypoxemia. Glutathione deficiency and markers of oxidative stress and damage are elevated in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Mitochondrial dysfunction caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection appears to be a major contributor to long COVID symptoms like brain fog and fatigue. Boosting the antioxidant melatonin is one way to counter excessive ROS. Near-infrared (NIR) light in the 800-1000 nm range can penetrate deep into bodily tissues. In early 2020, the narrator began advocating for NIR light exposure, through sunlight or devices, as a way to increase melatonin and reduce oxidative stress in COVID-19 patients. A 2023 randomized controlled trial found that 15 minutes per day of 940 nm NIR light for 7 days improved outcomes in hospitalized COVID-19 patients, reducing hospital length of stay and improving lung function and blood tests. The narrator incorporated NIR light exposure into their treatment protocols. Many people are not able to get sufficient natural sunlight exposure due to weather, living circumstances, or being hospitalized. This has driven interest in developing artificial PBM devices that emit NIR light. PBM research has examined the effects of transcranial (through the skull) NIR light on various brain-related conditions like traumatic brain injury, dementia, depression, anxiety, and the cognitive deficits seen in long COVID. One study found that long COVID patients had persistently impaired cognitive test scores and elevated blood markers of brain injury 1-26 months after the initial infection, regardless of severity. The cognitive deficits resemble those seen after concussions. Transcranial PBM is thought to work by activating neuronal mitochondrial metabolism, shifting energy production from glycolysis to oxidative phosphorylation. This prompts neural stem cells to migrate from their hypoxic niche and differentiate into mature neurons to repair damaged brain tissue. PBM also appears to stimulate the brain's waste clearance and regenerative pathways. Two companies, Vielight and Neuronic, are developing transcranial PBM devices resembling helmets that emit pulsed NIR light, mainly at a wavelength of 1070 nm. Their devices allow the frequency, intensity, duration and location of the light to be customized. A head-to-head study found that the cognitive benefits from the Neuronic transcranial PBM helmet were comparable to those from whole-body PBM beds. This suggests the helmet is sufficient and the whole body does not need to be irradiated to get the brain effects. The dose-response of PBM is often biphasic rather than linear - there is an optimal therapeutic dose range above and below which the benefits diminish. Some evidence suggests pulsing the light at certain frequencies like 40 Hz produces better cognitive outcomes than continuous light. These PBM devices are still investigational and not yet FDA-approved to treat any medical condition. However, they are considered low-risk general wellness devices. The companies are currently running clinical trials in hopes of eventually getting FDA approval for specific indications. The devices are expensive, costing around $2000-3500. A 3-month consultation on proper use of the customizable settings is included or recommended. The narrator suggests the devices are complex tools that are best utilized under the guidance of knowledgeable experts, comparing it to a surgeon wielding a scalpel. In conclusion, photobiomodulation is a promising emerging therapy that utilizes red and near-infrared light to stimulate healing and regeneration at the cellular level by boosting mitochondrial function. It has wide-ranging potential applications for a variety of inflammatory, degenerative and neurological conditions. While sunlight is the ideal natural source of therapeutic red/NIR wavelengths, practical considerations are driving the development of artificial PBM devices. Transcranial PBM helmets may prove helpful for the persistent brain fog and cognitive dysfunction associated with long COVID, which appear to stem from mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress induced by SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, more clinical research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms, optimal treatment parameters, and limitations of PBM. The PBM devices are still early in the regulatory approval process. Patients and practitioners are recommended to follow the evolving science closely and consult PBM experts when evaluating whether to utilize this novel therapeutic modality.

I have been following your channel and videos since 2020. Thanks for the update Doc.

Thank you for sharing this and continuing to keep this subject alive as a serious resource for healing infections. The interaction with normal organic chemistry should help people to devise long term immune system boosting strategies.

Watching this with a red light "belt" on my leg and sitting with a red light device shining on my throat for the thyroid benefits. Last night I used a gynecological red light device to help with post-menopausal estrogen issues.

This is absolutely fascinating to me. I would like to know the ramifications on other inflammatory diseases, because I have an inflammatory condition that can cause blood clots (along with other terrible symptoms) and I feel much better when I get outside in the sun. I live in the Pacific Northwest, so much of the time the sun is blocked so getting sun is not possible. Thank you very much for sharing this exciting research

I've been using red, 660 nm & Near infrared, 850 nm for over 10 years. I would never want to be without them! At 70 I'm on no medications and have resolved issues western medicine cannot. They work on so many levels and all tissue. There is a lot to learn about using them. There are many studies at Pubmed showing their effectiveness. Blue light is also amazing! Thanks for spreading the word!

Great update, shared to my SM.

Awesome information !! Thank you.

Fascinating. Terrific.

very interesting and encouraging developments. Thank you.

This is fantastic information Dr. Seheult. This is something I have been personally looking into for a while and have played with some of this in the past. I kind of look at the study that compares the helmet to whole body IR or NearIR light in the opposite manner. Whole body light was as effective as the helmet in looking at their limited neurological outcomes. Helmets are much more expensive than compared to red light devices which cover large portions of the body using LED lights between 630 and 850nm range. This fact opens up the options for treatment to be potentially less cost prohibitive, i.e. overpriced commercialization. It also makes me consider the mechanism as possibly, and significantly, involving potentiation of mitochondrial activity and stem cells in the more superficial soft tissues and flowing blood that is then reaching the brain rather than actual skull penetration. Skull penetration may be possible at longer and longer wave lengths but the shorter wave lengths nearer the 700nm mark used in whole body dosing are almost certainly not penetrating the skull, suggesting alternate mechanisms. At the 700nm mark almost all light is attenuated in the skin within the first 4 or 5 mm. The skull is a significantly stronger refractor than the skin and it would be several more mm to reach the dura of the brain to have any direct neurological effects.

Fantastic, thank you very much, very informative.

Excellent information!

Thank you, thank you for the chart!! ❤

Well .... u r certainly thorough! (Coming from a retired Respiratory therapist) !.

Your entire light series of vids is outstanding. PBM is still treated as "junk science", but the momentum of emerging research, as you nicely show, will ultimately change this. I see the difficulties with optimizing the multivariable dosimetry (wavelength(s), pulse frequency, energy delivered, site(s) of application, etc., etc) as being the most difficult problem to tackle. It's pretty awesome if a "non-invasive" technique might provide a meaningful therapeutic outcome in a plethora of potential applications. Keep it coming. One thing I wonder about is a possible downside of PBM in cancer states, not causing, but exacerbating. Comment ?

Fantastic video! Thank you!

Ever since you and your partner discussed the Zimmerman, Reiter Study over a year ago, I have been out in the Sun each morning facing East after getting up, to anchor my circadian rhythm. My sleep has never been better plus being outside more has, no doubt, improved the mitochondria ROS cleanup by melatonin. I live in a green area where the reflection is powerful reducing the need of being in the Sunlight as much, although I like that as well!! It's all free and this requires no doctors.

Thank you for this

Immensely informative immensely educational thank you very much

Thank you for this. Please share insight on red light for Emphysema and osteoarthritis 🙏

Wow, this is amazing

Excellent info

Great presentation, thank you! We use PBM in our brain training program.

As now, I use my red light panel daily - thanks Dr Seheult! Your videos on light therapy saved me from months of prednisone followed by chemo with uncertain outcome (which I decided to refuse in favor of Nattokinase+NIR) to treat post Covid symptoms that are now mostly gone.

Thank your for the info and link xx n

Need to add diabetes. Mine stabilized with lights and allowed me to begin to lower blood sugars.

Light was alteady used for pnemumonia as early as 1855. Maybe sanatorium should be actually called SUN-atorium?

Is there anything about the way these devices work that make them better than 15 min/day in the sun? Thanks so much for another fascinating report, doctor!

Allready in the 1890’s Niels Finsen researched this in Copenhagen and was later awarded the Nobel Prize. But then penecillin was found and the work with light vanished… it’s a fascinating story ❤

Gembared has as a very affordable soft helmet with very relevant wavelengths

I've been following and using photobiomodulation approaches since reading NASA research on the subject in the early 2000s and combining the growing amount of research on the topic with well established photbiomodulation modalities in from the salt-water/reef aquarium communities, specifically in the use of 420nm Actinic blue light, and 650nm to 940nm NIR light. The evolution from low-power fluorescent lamps to LED and laser diodes has made the use of these technologies more accessible to broader biohackers and researchers. In recent months, I've combined low-dose pharmaceutical methylene blue with the NIR therapy with the intent of improving mitochondria efficiency and metabolic health. As always, YMMV, when in doubt always consult a qualified medical expert or physician before using any experimental protocols.

Hi Dr. Seheult, that is a very interesting video. I've always thought that long covid brain fog was a brain injury. I've seen another RU-vidr that had a traumatic brain injury describe his day-to-day experience with it and it was right down the line what I was experiencing. Your videos helped with the light. I also increased my DHA intake to help with repair, NAC too, also of note my LDL was high, could that be how the brain is repaired? As someone with decades of electronics and firmware experience, professionally, I found the device you had very interesting, I could see the construction of it using flexible circuit boards and it made sense to me what they were doing and how they were doing it. A bit pricey, but it's cool what it does. Thank you again for bringing us information and keeping us informed... I greatly appreciate it.

Love this evolving science. I have also been involved with acoustics and sound energy is another evolving science that may be used for health and healing purposes.

Loving this information! From your previous video I learned to get natural sunlight every day, and as a result I’ve been sleeping well, with dream-filled nights like when I used to take melatonin as a supplement before sleep.

In 1993 I had cesarean and the wound did not close as should. Of the 4 of us in the ward mine did not close on outside and was glowing hot and red. The dr came often to look and i could see he was worried and next the nurses came with a red lamp. I felt it was ridiculous unscientific but complied as it gave me closed curtains and peace for short times (its too long ago for me to remember durations) Two days later wound was closed and no angry red colour. Was this pbm?

I use Bioflex red/infrared SLD arrays and class 3B laser probes. I also use a Weber infrared transcranial helmet. Red light will not get through the skull to the brain. Only infrared light can penetrate that deep. However, red light can assist the depth the infrared can penetrate. I've started using my ionic detox footbath as well.

Brotha thank you so much got myself one 1️⃣

Another terrific update about light therapy applications from MedCram! Thanks Doc & I am going to send this video to my cousin (M.D.) for viewing. He already uses Hyperbaric Chamber therapy on his patients. Perhaps he can incorporate this therapy as well. Now I am wondering what the benefits of using both therapies together would be? Interesting concept. 🤔🤔👍👍

I work in electronics and honestly nothing about this helmet is non-trivial. I understand that a company must make money, pay bills, pay for certifications, etc. But $3.4k is just a bit ridiculous. We need to drastically cut down costs to a level that allows treatments to be accessible by anyone. This device consists of IR-LEDs (10cents a pop) on a flex pcb and probably a bluetooth connected (uC that can do that are dirt cheap) and battery driven (because that makes certification cheaper, if you don't have to prove that your device won't turn you into a part of national grid). Come on. $500 would be stretching it to a point where one could defend the price, but $3,395... Well i guess the some parts of the world will just have to wait for chinese products.

I wonder if the LED masks for skincare such as Current Body would help too? (Primarily made for anti ageing the skin)

Thank you so much for this very helpful presentation. Did I understand rightly that there was no difference between a helmet and whole body light treatment? If so, a panel would be more affordable. Is a helmet better (with intranasal light) for TBI? Thank you!

Thank you for your summary. I’ve been following closely over the past three years. Last year I developed severe radiation injury from treatment of prostate cancer involving the bladder and colon. I considered using red light therapy internally, but didn’t relish the thought. I was approved for hyperbaric oxygen therapy and went through two months whichdid completely resolve all of my symptoms over four months. I wonder if anybody’s doing studies on red light therapy for Radiation injury. The hypoxic effects are the same but they are due to blood vessel destruction.

It helps me with Ehlers Danlos and Long Vaccine/Covid. Great for mood. Also slowed right down my perimenopausal hair loss.

What about full spectrum LED grow light, would it be useful as sun replacement? My plants seem to love it.

Another great video. I was wondering what your thoughts on novothor red light beds?

Thank you for your great info! I was wondering if you might have a quick link to some of the studies for Pulsed light LED benefits? I keep finding red light "lasers", but not specific to LEDs on the subject. In which it seems just the LEDs are available for the general consumer to use. This has been such a fascinating topic and I'm still learning. Thank you again!

Thank you for your ongoing watershed work on light science and therapy. I have Long COVID. The only time I fell normal is when I'm relaxing and resting in the sun. My wife's chiropractor uses "cold" laser on her torn rotator cuff which gives her significantly more pain relief than any other treatment.

Circadian effect. No results if used afternoon. Great effects before 10am. This was a study on eyesight using 670nm for 3 minutes.

I’ve been using near red light therapy for migraines with excellent success. I have a wand that I use on my face for about 5 minutes every other day. I started seeing results almost immediately. I was having migraines 27 out of 30 days. Now I’m only taking Ajovy once a month and no other migraine meds. Note I was previously using migraine meds about every 10 days so as not to get rebound headaches.

@medcram Will you PLEASE do some research and a video on hyperbaric oxygen therapy and any possible benefits or lack thereof for post viral syndrome/Long Covid?

1918, soldiers who were in tents and put outside when they had the Spanish flu survived significantly >50% better than patients indoors. Theory, fresh air, sunlight and Vit D.

Looking at all these NIR research videos lately, i feel like another bit of Star Trek tech is incoming, where they just treat you with different lightning devices :)

Interesting

I forgot to add, you can use PEMF to improve the outcomes with laser in multiples. I would suggest a NeoRythm pillow it will penetrate the plastic helmet and can penetrate a pupil low as well. It gets an 18cm effective range from the Tesla coils. Closer is better of course…

You can look at the EE system, which uses monitor screens as a light source, which is another technology unto itself.

thank you so much! Also, I couldn't Find the link to the database spreadsheet!

i purchased a small device that consists of 2 nasal probes, uses red light at 630 mm+20 mm, pre set for 10 minutes per session. makes many claims, was most interested in it for possibly preventing or treating respiratory infections and since it is up my nose, given the proximity to the brain, maybe some added positive effects there.

Hi there. Thanks for doing a video discussing red light devices. I have commented here a few times about them. Now with spring and summer approaching I'll be getting more natural sunlight, but I have used my device regularly throughout the winter. I have not gotten sick at all while everyone around me has gotten sick multiple times (my little N of 1 study) I do think there is value in people considering buying a red light panel. there are many companies that make them. Many can be purchased for under $1000 depending on the manufacturer and size.

Thank you for your hard work in researching and delivering this vital information. During your research did you come across studies using photobiomodulation and skin cancer patients? I was diagnosed at 44 with melanoma 3 years ago so I wear sun block and longs sleeves, sun glasses, etc every time I leave the house. But I’m concerned if there is any risk in using the devices mentioned for a skin cancer patient? I cannot find any papers that mention that. Thank you!

The most important question is, what wavelength should we use for brain, neural healing, memory and anti-alzheimer benefits?

Correction: At the 25:24-minute mark, you state that Vielight is "a German or European company." It is not. Vielight is based in Toronto, Canada.

Can you do a video on MB-PDT for cancer?

I wonder if those devices are much different compared to red light hair loss therapy caps which seems to be available at much cheaper price.

Have there been similar studies on FIR (Far Infrared Light)? It's also present in sunlight, and penetrates far more deeply than any of NIR bands tested.

Wouldn't trade my lights & what they do. Stabilized blood sugars, reduced body inflammation

Is red light therapy similar/helpful?

Where do I get the helmet? Take my money

I'm 71 with optic nerve damage due to autoimmune effects from sarcoidosis. I'm planning on experimenting with NIR lighting that claims to provide a variety of IR frequencies. I have yet to find any studies that suggest there is a "downside". Also, dosing will be something that I have to determine, so it will be extremely unscientific!

Thanks for the video. You seemed to skip “red light therapy” as a synonym. There are several FDA-approved devices for that, including panels (some with 7 different wavelengths that can be adjusted for different purposes).

I believe my husband would be a good candidate for the trial How do I get more information about that and see if it can be done that's kind of injury service ago and thank you for qualify to test the product

I have MCAS and long COVID. I got a mito light (cost over $300) and used it every day for 20 minutes for a few months and it seemed to do not one darn thing for me. Now I have this $300 useless light taking up space in my home. 😢

thank you sir for the information ,i have tow questions 1 what is the best time to get more of infrared light it's is in sunset sunrise when the sun is orange color or in midday when the sun is yellow 2 does the infrared light have the same benefits of infrared light devices like skin benefits and muscle and how much we should stay in sun to get that benefits Knowing that i live in very sun contry

As you stated previously, incandescent light bulbs should continue to be made available for the health benefit.

How about wearing a tennis visor while day dreaming outside in the sun doing yard work to help block the sun rays rays from damaging your face but still allow cranial exposure. Or even better, play tennis in the sun with a visor to double the health effect.

I really apologize, but I really cannot find the link to the Finnish NIR database. Would you mind add the link once again please? I'm a follower from Sweden, reg physiotherapist and I really find your condensed and high value educational videos awesome!

Welcome to the party!

I’d like to know the effects of home devices with NIR lights? Many now include NIR lights but not necessarily at the same wavelength you’re speaking of here..

Curious if any of these companies have thought to test products in cases of epilepsy. Brain repair stimulus sounds very interesting.

Is there a study comparing long covid effects/frequency on vaccinated vs non- vaccinated individuals?

Photonodulation with this frequency and pulsing at a specific Hz frequency has been studied in Alzheimer’s Disease.

Does the hot metal in a traditional Finnish Sauna emit infrared radiation, and if so, at what frequencies and power levels? How would its output, if any, compare with the devices you have discussed?

How about late stage lyme disease? I had a positive lyme test after 2 years of chronic fatigue. After years of treatment, I still suffer from chronic fatigue. I then came down with covid and after antivirals, I didn't get better and was diagnosed with long covid. I think you need to look at all diseases that cause long term chronic conditions. Actually this is nothing new, it has just been ignored for years. Lyme, EBV, Covid are all examples of diseases that can lead to chronic sickness. What is it in the body that gets turned on or turned off or just becomes stuck. Most people recover from these diseases with the right treatment but then you have those that don't. The only reason you have so much interest is because this one disease, covid make millions sick. Some died, some lived and recovered and some lived and became chronically ill.