Red Light Therapy for Hormone Balance, Thyroid Health, and Testosterone Production

Emerging research shows positive results for improving hormone health with red light therapy. This informative article gives thyroid and testosterone clinical results with red light therapy, plus details about other hormone health topics like estradiol, progesterone, and DHEA.

What is Red Light Therapy?

Red light therapy is a simple, non-invasive treatment that delivers concentrated natural light to your skin and cells. Emerging clinical research is showing how red light therapy can have a positive effect on hormone health and regulation.

Red light therapy treatments are quick and simple: you just sit or stand in the light for 5 to 15 minutes, ideally every day. This stimulates your mitochondria and gives your cells the natural light they need to make energy.

Red Light Therapy for Hormone Health

Emerging research on red light therapy (also called photobiomodulation and LLLT) is showing positive results for hormone balance, like improving thyroid health, testosterone production, and overall sex hormone levels. This informative article is an overview of the research on red light therapy and its impact on hormone optimization. Additional clinical studies are in progress, but keep in mind, Joovv’s devices are not currently approved by the FDA for hormone treatments.

Joovv and Bristlecone Medical are Conducting Studies on Red Light Therapy, Keto, and Hormone Health

Joovv teamed up for a series of studies with Bristlecone Medical, to evaluate how red light therapy treatments and a ketogenic diet affect men and women’s hormone health. To date, we have preliminary results showing very positive gains for both men and women.

For the first study, adult women were broken into two groups. One group received full-body light therapy treatments and followed a ketogenic diet, while the other group received the same LED light therapy treatments, but ate a standard, non-ketogenic diet.

Women See Increased Progesterone, DHEA, and Estradiol: All the women in the study—which includes pre- and post-menopausal women—have seen increased levels of DHEA, which is vital for synthesizing sex hormones and producing progesterone, estrogren, and testosterone. As ovulation declines, women rely on the adrenal production of DHEA to sustain progesterone levels and prevent estrogen dominance.

The women on the keto diet saw the most significant uptick in estradiol production, nearly a 20% increase. You can see the details on these impressive initial results in the table below.

Men See Improved Testosterone (T-Levels): Adult men in both the control (standard diet) and experimental (keto diet) groups in the Joovv-Bristlecone study saw increases in their testosterone levels after consistent, daily red light therapy treatments. Men who received only light exposure saw healthy increases in their T-levels, in the range of 25% to 45% increases. But the men who did both red light treatments and ate the keto diet saw even larger increases, at least doubling their free testosterone levels. While the experimental group (red light and keto) was small, the initial results are very promising.

Benefits of Red Light Therapy and Boosting Testosterone

There is also a growing base of evidence showing natural wavelengths of light may boost men’s testosterone levels.

Promising Initial Research on Testosterone and Red Light Therapy: Initial research is showing promise for red light therapy as an effective, natural aid for men’s hormone health, including improving testosterone levels.

A randomized, placebo-controlled pilot study was conducted by the University of Siena in Italy in 2016, analyzing 38 men with a diagnosed low sexual desire. One group of men received red light therapy treatments in the mornings, while the other group did not receive light therapy at all. In addition to higher sexual satisfaction, the men in the group treated with light therapy saw their T-levels rise significantly. The control group did not see testosterone rises, but the active light therapy group showed a huge increase from about 2.1 ng/ml to 3.6 ng/ml in just 2 weeks. [8]

Joovv and Bristlecone Medical Study Showing Increased Testosterone: As mentioned previously, the studies Joovv has been conducting with Bristlecone Medical on hormone health and the ketogenic diet included male patients and testosterone readings.

World-Class Trainers like Ben Greenfield See Red Light Therapy Work for Testosterone

World-famous trainer Ben Greenfield first tried red light therapy for an infamous Men’s Health article, to see if shining natural red and near infrared light on his testicles could boost his testosterone levels. According to Ben’s lab results, it did. And without quoting Ben, it also had a nice effect on his sex drive and skin tone.

Ben Greenfield became a daily user of red light therapy. He found that light energy improved his health at a cellular level, increasing his ATP (adenosine triphosphate) energy production. This has led to all sorts of health benefits for Ben. He has written more about the testosterone, sex drive, and performance benefits he gets from his red light therapy device. He’s also talked about other benefits like hair growth, reducing joint pain, and improving skin tone and skin conditions.

Other health leaders and trainers have followed Ben Greenfield’s lead and taken up daily red light therapy treatments to improve their hormone health. One of them is Mike Mutzel, aka Metabolic Mike. After working with Ben, Mike tried red light therapy for himself. He was skeptical of Ben’s testosterone gains, so he tested his T-levels before and after he started doing red light therapy every day. He reported similar gains, and even documented his lab results in this video.

Red Light Therapy for Enhancing Thyroid Function

Clinical research on red and near infrared light therapy for thyroid health is still in its initial stages, but the early results are extremely positive.

Emerging Research Shows Impressive Results for Thyroid Health and Red Light Therapy: Over 5% of the population has some kind of thyroid disorder, and one of the most commonly prescribed drugs in America is levothyroxine. [1,2] Given the risks and side effects of surgeries and prescriptions, many people with thyroid conditions are looking for effective, natural solutions.

Clinical studies on red light therapy’s effects on hormone and thyroid function are still in their early stages, but results from the first peer-reviewed trials have been extremely encouraging. Producing more cellular energy has improved thyroid results for people with hypothyroidism. In some cases, patients with hypothyroidism have been able to lower their dose of prescription thyroid medication, or even stop taking it altogether.

Other Natural Health Benefits of Red Light Therapy

More research is underway on red light therapy for various aspects of hormone health, like sexual performance, testosterone production, and thyroid regulation. But the initial trials and studies that have come out, including the one with Joovv and Bristlecone, have been very positive. 

To read more about light therapy, visit our Learn Library or check out these pages on collagen production, muscle recovery, pain relief, weight loss, circadian rhythm and melatonin production, and anti-aging skin health benefits used in dermatology, like reducing fine lines and stretch marks.

Side Effects and Risks of Red Light Therapy Treatments

Red light therapy has been tested and analyzed in thousands of peer-reviewed trials. The consensus among medical researchers and the clinical community is that natural light treatments are safe, well-tolerated, and produce little to no side effects. Research teams have concluded this in study after study.

Researchers from Harvard Medical School conducted a review of red light therapy in 2013 and praised its “noninvasive nature and almost complete absence of side effects.” [9]

Red light therapy does not use heat to induce a biological reaction like some therapies, and is not a heat risk to skin. People with specific photosensitivity concerns should check with their healthcare provider.

Disclaimers and Considerations: The information on this page is meant to educate readers about the science and research behind the hormone health benefits of red light therapy. Consult a trusted health care professional for the diagnosis and treatment of specific medical conditions.

Joovv’s light therapy products are registered with FDA as class II medical devices for the treatment of pain, strain, and inflammation. Other health benefits mentioned in this article are for educational purposes only and not intended to support the safety or effectiveness of Joovv’s devices, and not meant to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent a disease. The information presented is based on peer-reviewed clinical research, including information about emerging studies and scientific inquiries.