Dr. Izabella Wentz, PharmD

Thyroid Pharmacist

Lasers for Thyroid Tissue Regeneration

Lasers for Thyroid Tissue Regeneration

Medically reviewed and written by Izabella Wentz, PharmD, FASCP

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Is it possible to get off thyroid medications or regain thyroid function without taking medications when you have Hashimoto’s?

An excerpt from Hashimoto’s Protocol:

Most physicians and endocrinologists will say that in Hashimoto’s, hypothyroidism is irreversible and ends with complete thyroid cell damage, leading to a lifelong requirement of thyroid hormone medications.

However, this isn’t always true! One study reported that thyroid function spontaneously returned in 20% of patients with Hashimoto’s. These individuals will return to normal thyroid function even after having taken thyroid hormone replacement for many years and may be weaned of thyroid hormones safely [1,2]

Studies show that once the autoimmune attack ceases, the damaged thyroid has the ability to regenerate. Thyroid ultrasounds will show normal thyroid tissue that has regenerated, and the person will no longer test positive for thyroid antibodies. [3]

In some cases, the person will become hyperthyroid, and the dosage of their medications will need to be reduced. In other cases, other individuals may find that the thyroid hormones become “built-into” their physiology and that the presence of the external hormones will suppress their internal thyroid hormone production. Thus, the recovery of thyroid function in these individuals becomes more difficult to “catch.”

Physicians can perform thyroid ultrasounds to look for normalization of thyroid tissue as well as check for thyroid antibodies. If thyroid appearance on ultrasound normalizes and antibodies are in the remission range, a trial of slowly tapering thyroid medications may be attempted.

Additionally, researchers report that a test can be done by administering TRH (Thyroid Releasing Hormone), which will cause an increase in T3 and T4 if the thyroid has recovered.  While this test is the best tested to determine if the person can be weaned off thyroid medications safely, it is rarely used outside of research.

My experience

I personally haven’t seen too many reports of these “spontaneous regenerations of thyroid tissue,” rather, I work with clients who take action to induce remission of their conditions, and in some cases, these clients also show a regeneration of thyroid tissue. In addition to the people I’ve worked with directly, I’ve corresponded with readers who have induced remissions and regenerations of their thyroid glands.

Just to back up here, I want to state that weaning off thyroid hormones is never the first thing I recommend for people with Hashimoto’s. Rather, my first recommendation is often to optimize thyroid hormones by using thyroid medications!

This is because your first plan of action should be to make yourself feel better. You are not going to feel better if you are thyroid hormone deficient. Optimized thyroid hormones play an important role in your body and will accelerate your healing. The fastest way to optimize your hormones is to take them externally, as a medication.

I’ve written a great deal about optimizing medications, and my new book Hashimoto’s Protocol has an entire chapter on optimizing thyroid hormones that also addresses the latest innovations, old school remedies for tissue regeneration, and the common questions asked by readers!

As you’re optimizing your hormones, it’s also important for you to adjust your lifestyle and address any imbalance in your body that has resulted from your condition and/or has led you to develop the conditions.

This is where eliminating toxins like fluoride from your life, addressing your stress response, and improving your digestion and nutrition come into play.

With these interventions, you will feel significantly better, and in many cases, you may be able to reduce or eliminate the attack on your thyroid. This can be measured objectively by your thyroid antibodies. You should see them reduced to under 100 kU/L. The lower the better, but under 100 kU/L seems to be a good number where there is more healing than damage happening.

If the attack is not fully eliminated, you will also need to follow advanced protocols like clearing infections, toxins, and traumatic stress, until the autoimmune attack is fully addressed.

Only then, when you no longer have thyroid antibodies, and your body is healing at a faster rate than it is destroying itself would I ever consider weaning off medications.

At that point, you would gradually reduce the dose of medication UNDER PHYSICIAN’S SUPERVISION.

Weaning thyroid medications

Some people will present with hyperthyroidism as their bodies begin to heal and they begin to absorb more of their thyroid medications or begin to produce more of their own hormones as thyroid tissue regenerates.

Seeing a person with palpitations and a suppressed TSH will encourage most physicians to lower the dose of thyroid medications.

Thyroid medications should never be stopped abruptly, due to the complicated feedback mechanisms of our hormones. You want to give your body an opportunity to slowly get used to producing thyroid hormones thus, thyroid medications should be reduced very gradually under the supervision of a physician. A dose reduction of 25 mcg equivalent of levothyroxine every 4-6 weeks, supported by lab tests is the safest bet.

Coming off thyroid hormones too early when you still have symptoms, triggers, and antibodies on board, and when your thyroid has not regenerated can be devastating and delay your healing.

So now that you know the warnings, precautions, and order of operations, let’s go deeper into the factors that predict success in weaning off thyroid medications that I’ve observed.

  • A younger age (children seem to regenerate thyroid tissue faster, as do younger people)
  • Diagnosis during the subclinical state, i.e. starting lifestyle changes sooner than later
  • A short duration of the disease/taking thyroid hormones

Some of the interventions that can help you successfully wean off thyroid hormones include getting off gluten, getting thyroid antibodies in the remission range (under 100 kU/L, but the lower the better), getting plenty of rest, using an infrared sauna, resting/physical relaxation that helps your body go from fight and flight to rest and digest, getting your nutrients (especially selenium, vitamin D and ferritin) in balance and eliminating of toxins/infections within the body/gland.

My book, Hashimoto’s Protocol focuses on helping you to identify and remove your triggers, like gluten sensitivity or a nutrient deficiency, adjusting your nutrition to support your blood sugar and nutrient deficiencies, helping your body eliminate toxins, and reducing your stress response.

However, even with all of your ducks in a row, not everyone will be able to reduce and eliminate the need for thyroid medications. Even in doing everything right, not everyone heals at the same rate. This is where interventions for accelerating thyroid tissue healing can really help!!

Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT)

Researchers in Brazil have been studying the effects of low level laser therapy on the thyroid gland in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, and the results have been astonishing!

Most significantly, they found that all patients who received the therapy were able to reduce their levothyroxine dose, while 47% were able to discontinue levothyroxine and have normal thyroid function during the 9-month follow-up.

Additionally, LLLT can increase Transforming Growth Factor B (TGF-B), which is a cytokine that helps to induce and maintain the tolerance of self thus, also reduce thyroid autoimmunity.

Lasers that emit LLLT are also known as “cold lasers.” and have shown to regenerate various tissues when the therapy is applied directly over an organ. This therapy is known as “photobiomodulation” and can be achieved using a laser or an LED device.

LLLT can increase circulation in the thyroid gland and increase thyroid hormone levels in animals. While most body organs are not accessible to laser therapy, the thyroid gland is close enough to the skin surface so that the laser will be able to penetrate it.

Additionally, this therapy is painless, non-invasive, and low-cost and carries a low risk as it does not use ionizing radiation!

Here’s a brief summary of four different studies that were done with LLLT in Brazil:

In their initial pilot study, researchers tested LLLT on 15 patients who had Hashimoto’s and were treated with levothyroxine. Patients received 10 applications of LLLT (830 nm, output power 50 mW) in continuous mode, twice per week for 5 weeks over the thyroid gland.

Thirty days after the LLLT intervention, they began to see improvements on the thyroid ultrasounds. Thyroid antibody levels began to decrease within two months of the LLLT, and thyroid function began to improve and continued to improve until it reached a peak at 10 months post treatment.

Thirty days after the LLLT treatment, medications were discontinued and then reintroduced, if needed. Researchers tested levels of thyroid hormones, TPOAb, and TgAb, at 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, months after stopping the levothyroxine. 47% of the patients were able to stop levothyroxine all together and maintain normal thyroid function. The rest were able to reduce their dose of medication.

  • The average levothyroxine dose dropped from 96 +/- 22 mcg/day, to 38 +/- 23 mcg/day.
  • Out of 15 people, 10 saw a reduction in thyroid antibodies, while two did not see a change, and three saw an increase. The mean TPO level reduced from 982 to 579 over the course of the study. The greatest improvement was from 2354 to 135.
  • With respect to TG antibodies, 8 people saw a reduction, 5 people did not see a change, and 2 saw an increase. The mean TGAb dropped from 650 to 517, while the greatest reduction was from 966 to 35 in one person.
  • Before the treatment, 20% had reduced thyroid volume, 27% increased volume and 53% normal volume. After the treatment, 43% of the people who had an abnormal thyroid volume saw that their thyroid size normalized. The remainder also saw an improvement towards normalization, reaching near normal values. Thus this therapy may also be helpful for reducing goiter size.

This group also performed a randomized, larger placebo-controlled trial, of 43 patients in 2011.

The results showed:

  • a reduction of levothyroxine dose from a mean of 93 mcg to 38 mcg (with 95.7% of treatment group being able to reduce or stop medications…47.8% no longer needing thyroid medications)
  • a reduction in TPOAb, mean 1289 to 656 (around 50% reduction)
  • a reduction in TG antibodies, 720 to 656
  • a normalization of thyroid volume (in 66%)
  • and less infiltration of the thyroid gland on ultrasounds (meaning fewer inflammatory cells were present). Echogenicity index on thyroid ultrasound was improved in 95% of the study group, meaning that their thyroid gland had less damage and fewer white blood cells on ultrasound.

The materials and methods used in the study

Patients received thyroid ultrasounds and a surgical pen outlined the boundaries of their thyroid gland. They received 10 applications of LLLT (830 nm, output power 50 mW) in continuous mode, twice per week for 5 weeks over the thyroid gland (707 J/cm2 for 40 seconds in each spot). The laser that was used was from Thera Lase, DMC, San Carlos, Brazil, Beam area of 0.02827 cm cubed. Similar lasers are used in dental procedures. [4-7]

At present moment, this therapy is still considered experimental and only performed at the Thyroid Outpatient Clinic of the Endocrinology and Metabolism Department at the Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Sao Paulo in Brazil. The therapy is not FDA approved, however, individual doctors may be able to utilize this therapy with their patients as an “off-label” use. The researchers noted that the effects of the therapy may not last forever; a person may need to go in for “maintenance” on an annual basis. However, when used along with the Root Cause Approach of removing triggers, this therapy can potentially result in a functional cure of Hashimoto’s for additional people.

Please note, this therapy has not been tested on people who take immunosuppressants like corticosteroids, in those with thyroid nodules, nor in those with hypothyroidism from postpartum thyroiditis or Graves disease.

Furthermore, there is some evidence that taking antioxidants, like vitamin C, selenium, and N-Acetylcysteine (three supplements that are normally really helpful for Hashimoto’s), may negate the effects of the LLLT. Steroid medications and anti-inflammatory medications may also make it less effective. This is because the therapy works to produce healing by initially increasing oxidative stress in the thyroid gland. The antioxidants/anti-inflammatories may block this initial upregulation that sets off the healing cascade. [8]

Additionally, if you have had your thyroid gland destroyed, removed surgically or if you were born without a thyroid, the LLLT is not likely to work. However, stem cells may be a helpful tool that can regenerate a thyroid gland that has been damaged, and even surgically removed! More about that to come in future posts! [9]

I have been working with laser companies, clinicians, and research institutions to attempt to facilitate the introduction of this therapy into the United States and Europe. I even thought about starting my own medical device company [until I found out that I would need a billion dollars to do so, lol- if you know any billionaires, send them my way :-)].

While we’re making progress, the process has been slow and challenging.

I hope that this information helps you on your journey!

PS – I share more strategies for regenerating thyroid tissue in Hashimoto’s Protocol.

PPS – If you are a clinician that is offering this therapy, please let me know, as I am starting a database 🙂 If you’re not yet offering this therapy, let this be a call to action for you to start offering it!

References

  1. Nanan R, Wall JR. Remission of Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis in a twelve-year-old girl with thyroid changes documented by ultrasonography. Thyroid 20(10), 2010
  2. Davies, TF. Pathogenesis of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (chronic autoimmune thyroiditis) Ross, DS. UpToDate
  3. Takasu N et al. Test for recovery from hypothyroidism during thyroxine therapy in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Lancet 1990 Nov 3 336 1084-1086
  4. Hofling DB, et al. Effects of Low-Level Laser Therapy on the serum TGF-B1 Concentrations in individuals with autoimmune thyroiditis. Photomedicine and laser Surgery, Vol 32, 8, 2014
  5. Holding DB et al. Low-level laser therapy in chronic autoimmune thyroiditis: A Pilot Study. Lasers in Surgery and Medicine 42: 589-596 (2010)
  6. Hofling DB et al. Low-level laser in the treatment of patients
with hypothyroidism induced by chronic autoimmune thyroiditis: a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Lasers Med Sci (2013) 28:743–753
  7. Hofling DB. Assessment of the Effects of Low-Level Laser Therapy on the Thyroid Vascularization of Patients with Autoimmune Hypothyroidism by Color Doppler Ultrasound. ISRN Endocrinology, 2012
  8. de Freitas, Lucas Freitas, and Michael R Hamblin. “Proposed Mechanisms Of Photobiomodulation Or Low-Level Light Therapy”. IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics 22.3 (2016): 348-364. Web.
  9. Anita A. Kurmann et al. Regeneration of Thyroid Function by Transplantation of Differentiated Pluripotent Stem Cells. Cell Stem Cell, October 2015 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2015.09.004

Resources

Dr. Kirk Gair from West Covina, CA, who is also a Hashimoto’s patient, has used cold lasers in his clinic since 2004 and has developed protocols that combine LLLT with chiropractic modalities and is working to train other doctors and spread awareness about low level laser therapy with autoimmune thyroid disease. Dr. Kirk Gair’s website: http://www.laserpainreliefinfo.com/

Laser Therapist Listings

LLLT Companies

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Disclaimer: The information contained herein is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Please consult your physician for any health problems and before making any medical or lifestyle changes.

Lifestyle changes can result in improved thyroid function and/or an increased absorption of thyroid hormone medications, leading to a lower required dose and possible symptoms of hyperthyroidism at a dose that was previously stable. Please discuss lifestyle changes with your physician and ensure that your thyroid function is monitored every 6-8 weeks while making lifestyle changes. Symptoms of overmedication include, but are not limited to: rapid or irregular heartbeat, nervousness, irritability or mood swings, muscle weakness or tremors, diarrhea, menstrual irregularities, hair loss, weight loss, insomnia, chest pain, and excessive sweating. Do not start, change, increase, decrease or discontinue your medications without consulting with your physician.

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  1. I am a board certified medical doctor and have been treating hashimotos with functional medicine for over 15 years and use the approach you describe. I also have a cold laser but have not utilized it for thyroid but will now. Referrals are appreciated,

    Rejuv Medical Louisville
    502-785-7480
    Louisville, Ky

    Reply

  2. Dr. Wentz:
    I have been following you for several years now; officially for 2. I got your book The Root Cause, several years ago and it’s tabbed and doggy-eared from use. I now have your Secrets books and DVDs, cookbook and the latest book just published (whose name escapes me at the moment).
    My comment on this article is that I am currently going through LLLT for my hair regrowth and recently while under the “hood”, I was thinking, “could this possibly help my thyroid?” You answered my question, albeit the LLLT is probably as different strength that what I am using now.
    I believe I have done all I can with this. Diet change, supplements, vitamins, etc. I go to a Functional Medicine Doctor as well as my current MD.
    I do believe I can get this straightened even if it’s just a remission. I have Faith and I thank you, for all the hard work you have put in over the years even using your own body as a test subject. You’re a God-send to us suffering from this disease.
    Thank you so much and God bless you and all your efforts to help those of us affected.

    Reply

  3. This is interesting. How does all this information apply to someone with simple hypothyroidism, not Hashimoto’s? I don’t have those antibodies. Is it still possible to wean off of thyroid meds?

    Thanks so much,
    Debra

    Reply

  4. I researched the use of LLLT last year and also thought it looked promising. It’s nice that others have discovered it may prove useful in the battle against Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.

    Reply

  5. I am currently trying a red LED light/infrared light from RedLightMan in England, who lists thyroid issues as something that could possibly be addressed using LED light. I’ve been a fan of red LED light for years. I also read the Facebook LLLT page and the Photobiomodulation page. I need to go on the Hashimoto’s 911 page and see if anyone there has tried laser or LED therapy on their thyroid. Thank you so much for writing this article. I will be posting it on the two Facebook pages, as well as enlightening (ha) my nurse practitioner and Nucca chiropractor. I hope you will be writing more about this in the future. I love your books.

    Reply

  6. I had a hair mineral test done and it showed that I lack selenium and iodine. they are below range. I have hashimoto. I took selenium but not all the time, now I do it everyday with zink for 4 months. Can I take small amount of iodine ? I notice when I take it my brow hair grow back and I loose less hair from my head. especially when hair mineral test showed a lack of it.
    Thank you.

    Reply

    • Zoya – I’m very hesitant in recommending iodine in Hashimoto’s. Although iodine serves as fuel for our thyroid and is very important in iodine deficiency hypothyroidism, Hashimoto’s is a different mechanism. It’s like pouring gas into an engine that’s on fire… that’s essentially what’s happening in Hashi’s, thyroid inflammation, and adding iodine to the mix before putting out the fire and fixing the engine may result in further damage to the thyroid. In those with a predisposition to autoimmunity, this has been documented time and time again, animal and human studies. I have spent 4 years researching this and have seen too many people suffering the consequences of adding iodine too soon. My approach is, let’s fix the engine first (usually a gut issue), and then add the fuel once we know that the engine is no longer on fire. Hope that you will check out my book. I have an entire chapter on the iodine controversy that references numerous studies as well as the work of Abraham and Brownstein.

      AMAZON
      Hashimoto’s Root Cause
      http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0615825796?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=0615825796&linkCode=xm2&tag=thyroipharma-20

      Hashimoto’s Protocol
      thyroidpharmacist.com/protocol

      Reply

  7. Dear Dr Wentz,
    Dr Michael Hamblin at Harvard states that there is no difference between red/infrared light from a laser vs from LED lights. Are you sure only a laser is effective?

    Reply

  8. Hi Dr. Izabella,
    I love your work (I feel like I can relate to you–I was diagnosed as a young married woman in my 20s and was healthy before), and no matter what I believe I will heal my hashi’s! If you were in my shoes, who would you go for to get lazer therapy? I am recently diagnosed. My antibodies are pretty high but lost 30 pounds! Eating like you say to!

    Reply

  9. Hi Dr. Wentz. First let me say THANKS! for all you do and the information you put out. I just wanted to make a suggestion in case you were really interested in creating your own laser, the way to handle the cost is through investors. That is such a great idea. Thank you! 🙂

    Reply

  10. Thank you for all of your research and information regarding Hashimoto’s. Years ago there was nothing available now the internet is rampit with information. One question I have is why is it not beneficial for Hashimoto’s patients to eat a vegetarian diet? I don’t recall seeing an article from you regarding this so was just curious.

    Will be looking into the cold light therapy. Is the red light therapy beds at the tanning salons the same thing??

    Reply

    • Tara – thank you for following this page and for your support.

      Recovering from adrenal fatigue and hypothyroidism when following a vegetarian diet is very challenging, as vegetarian diets are often carbohydrate heavy.

      Vegetarian sources of protein such as legumes (beans), dairy, grains, soy and some seeds may be incompatible with trying to heal a leaky gut, which is almost always present with Hashimoto’s. Pea protein is an alternative that may be easier to digest and is less likely to cause food sensitivities (I use NOW Foods brand).

      Eggs, some seeds, and nuts would be the preferred sources of protein for vegetarians. However, some people with Hashimoto’s may be intolerant to those as well, especially in the early stages of starting a healing diet.

      Being a vegan is even more challenging, and nuts and seeds would be the go-to source of protein, which are usually too difficult to digest for many in the beginning of their thyroid healing journeys.

      While vegan and vegetarian diets have been reported to be extremely helpful with autoimmune and chronic conditions, I have not been able to find reports of people recovering from Hashimoto’s by following a vegan diet. Even devout vegans who are nutritionally conscious still struggle with low body temperatures, hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s.

      Additionally, many former vegans have reported improved symptoms of Hashimoto’s following transitioning to a Paleo diet. Based on this, I believe that animal proteins must play an important role in building back the health of people with Hashimoto’s.

      That said, while meats and fats are important for healing, eating them exclusively will produce an acidic environment in the body; hindering healing, and thus the diet should be balanced with plenty of nutrient rich vegetables (suggested ratio may be 20% meat/80% veggie).

      Additionally, vegan and raw vegan diets can be extremely helpful for cleansing and detoxifying, especially for those with persistent protein digestion issues. A vegan diet can be followed for a few days to a few weeks and may help the body detoxify. B12 and iron or ferritin supplements should be utilized at this time to prevent deficiency.

      AUTOIMMUNE PALEO DIET
      https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/autoimmune-paleo-diet

      Reply

  11. Hi Izabella, just received your book, thank you. Haven’t read it yet but went straight to the most needed information for me. In the triggers defining part you list hep C and hep C treatment separately. What did you mean by that? I am about to start HepC treatment with ZEPATIER medication but am very concerned with side effects, being Hashimoto. What is your view on this matter, please?
    Warm regards for your dedication.O.

    Reply

  12. I have hashimotos and nodules, but am not currently on medication. So this is or is not helpful for reducing nodules? I would love to reduce them as they keep growing. :(. Thanks!

    Reply

  13. After reading about the Brazilian research in January this year and doing some further searching online I started using red 650nm lasers on my thyroid – I have tested for hashimotos antibodies (TPOAb 175) and have some nodules on my thyroid – Really, I did nothing complicated – I started overlaying the lasers over the Thyroid for a few minutes a day – in less than 6 weeks my TSH had dropped from 10.5 to 5.3 in addition to improvements in T3 RT3, FSH etc. I have regular blood tests every 2 -3 months with a Integrative Medical Doctor and the only thing that I altered in between testing was using the LLLT – My next test are in another 6 weeks – I have to say I feel remarkably good, a lot more positive vibrant and energetic- dare I say stronger. The total cost of the laser and power supply was under $20 – I think this is worth investigating further – I found some interesting information on Danny Roddy’s website, which primarily deals with hair loss and how its involved with Thyroid etc… will keep you posted on my next test results

    Reply

  14. Dr. Wentz,
    I am one of the 10-20% that has normal TPO and TG antibodies, but thanks to your book, I urged my doctor to check my thyroid with ultrasound, and the damage was clear, and my diagnosis of Hashimoto’s was made. I am following your protocol (I’m in week 2 of the the liver protocol), and I started taking the suggested supplements, including selenium and NAC. I found a provider that will do the LLLT, but I’m wondering if I should stop taking these supplements before I start the LLLT. If so, should I stay off of them for the 5 week LLLT process? Your books have helped me find the reasons why my health was so poor, and I’m excited to get on the road to remission! Thank you.

    Reply

    • I’m starting LLLT in Germany and I’m also wondering how long to avoid the supplements you mention in the article. For instance, my iron is combined with vitamin C, and I have issues with low iron. Should I discontinue through the whole 5 weeks or after as well?

      Reply

      • Jessica – thank you for following. It’s best to discuss you questions and concerns with your practitioner who will be providing your treatment. I do hope you will keep me posted on your progress. <3

        Reply

      • Hi Jessica,
        I’m also in Germany (Berlin) and looking for a professional to try this – can you share who your practitioner is?
        Thanks!

        Reply

  15. Hi, dr Wentz!
    Can you please tell me where could I find in the European Union, appropriate devices for LLLT ?

    Thank you,
    Ionela.

    Reply

  16. I have Graves Disease but I have been following you. I have gained 35 pounds instead of losing weight. Have gone down in my medication from 20mg,to 15mg.,to 10mgs., and I’m now on 5 mg of Methimazole..My GP thinks I may be able to go of my meds completely depending on what my ENDO says and what my numbers are. I don’t know if you deal with Graves Disease patients I’m gluten-free, eat whole foods but I’m a little leary about going off my meds. Would I lose weight? Can you Help Me? Thanks for your time! Karen Vicchiollo (karenvicchiollo@yahoo.com)

    Reply

    • Karen – thank you for following this page. I’m sorry to hear that you are struggling. 🙁

      Graves and Hashimoto’s are both autoimmune conditions that affect the thyroid. They are thought to be closely related. Sometimes one turns into the other. The difference is the site of the antibody attack. In Hashimoto’s, the antibodies are found to thyroglobulin (in 80%) and thyroid peroxidase (TPO) enzyme (in 95% of people)-Hashimoto’s results in hypothyroidism and is usually treated with Synthroid and replacement hormone.

      The same antibodies may be present in a smaller percentage of people who have Graves, but the main antibody is to the TSH Receptor (TSHR-Ab). Usually, people with Graves have hyperthyroidism, and they are treated conventionally with thyroid suppressing drugs (methimazole) or radioactive iodine to destroy the thyroid. At that point, the thyroid will no longer produce hormones on its own, and these people end up on Synthroid as well.

      Most thyroid conditions result from the immune system attacking the thyroid because the immune system is out of balance. Even when the thyroid is taken out surgically or treated with radioactive iodine the autoimmunity still persists in most cases. Many people will have their thyroids removed, and will develop new autoimmune disorders such as Lupus, Rheumatoid arthritis, etc. The immune system just finds a different target.

      We need to rebalance the immune system to prevent this (sometimes the autoimmunity can be reversed as well! The gut determines your immune system. With the exception of discussing proper thyroid medication dosing, the majority of my website and my book focuses on balancing the immune system. The info I present is based on my own research and journey for overcoming my autoimmune thyroid condition.

      Hashimoto’s Root Cause
      http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0615825796?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=0615825796&linkCode=xm2&tag=thyroipharma-20

      Hashimoto’s Protocol
      thyroidpharmacist.com/protocol

      Reply

      • Dr Wentz, my friend, 53 yo, has just been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism or Graves disease and she has been all her adult life with PCOS disease. We are assuming that this is been one cause that’s led her to Graves but she hasn’t talked to the doctor yet. I am curious if the LLLT light therapy would help her and she is not on any meds currently for her thyroid symptoms. I know she does not want to remove or radiate her thyroid so I can only assume that she may go on that medication that would depress the thyroid production. Is there a protocol to follow that can help her thyroid go back to normal production and get off the medication if that’s what they give her? Her daughters, one has lymphedema in her legs and the other has Scleroderma terminal but she has been in remission for 12 years under the care of an MD Chinese medicine doctor. She was diagnosed at 16 and given no hope by the main stream Medical doctor. She is now 30 years old and occupational therapist and getting married this next month. So there is hope for even the darkest diseases. Anyway, we would like to know if near infrared therapy would be good for hyperthyroidism.

        Reply

        • Karen – thank you for following this page and sharing that! Graves and Hashimoto’s are both autoimmune conditions that affect the thyroid. They are thought to be closely related. Sometimes one turns into the other. The difference is the site of the antibody attack. In Hashimoto’s, the antibodies are found to thyroglobulin (in 80%) and thyroid peroxidase (TPO) enzyme (in 95% of people) – Hashimoto’s results in hypothyroidism and is usually treated with Synthroid and replacement hormone.

          The same antibodies may be present in a smaller percentage of people who have Graves, but the main antibody is to the TSH Receptor (TSHR-Ab). Usually people with Graves have hyperthyroidism and they are treated conventionally with thyroid suppressing drugs (methimazole) or radioactive iodine to destroy the thyroid. At that point, the thyroid will no longer produce hormones on its own and these people end up on Synthroid as well.

          Most thyroid conditions result from the immune system attacking the thyroid because the immune system is out of balance. Even when the thyroid is taken out surgically or treated with radioactive iodine, the autoimmunity still persists in most cases. Many people will have their thyroids removed, and will develop new autoimmune disorders such as Lupus, Rheumatoid arthritis, etc. The immune system just finds a different target. We need to rebalance the immune system to prevent this (sometimes the autoimmunity can be reversed as well). The gut determines your immune system. With the exception of discussing proper thyroid medication dosing, the majority of my website and my book focuses on balancing the immune system. The information I present is based on my own research, in my journey for overcoming my autoimmune thyroid condition.

          Hashimoto’s Protocol
          thyroidpharmacist.com/protocol

          Hashimoto’s Root Cause
          http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0615825796?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=0615825796&linkCode=xm2&tag=thyroipharma-20

          You might also find this article helpful.
          LASERS FOR THYROID TISSUE REGENERATION
          https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/lasers-thyroid-tissue-regeneration/

          Reply

  18. Dear Dr. Wentz,
    Thank you for being the advocate on illness that so many of us are struggling with! You are a wonderful resource! Your books are eye-opening and amazing!
    I have had Hashimoto’s since I was a child probably. Didn’t know I had gluten intolerance, and back home in the Balkans bread and pasta is the main staple, and so I was starting to develop somewhat of a goiter. Out of concern, my mother took me to the endocrinologist some 20 years ago when I was only a teenager. Upon receiving the liquid, iodine (guessing it was radiated iodine), little did I know combined with Hashimoto’s I am having to take synthetic hormone for the rest of my life (this was the standard procedure back than in former Yugoslavia it seems). While I have been successful in lowering TPO from 360 to only 52 over the years with diet and supplements, I am wondering whether this promising laser therapy could be of any use for someone like me? Radiative iodine (if that is what I got) renders the thyroid gland completely non-functioning? Is such case equivalent as hot having a thyroid gland at all? And also, I am very curious, is there a way to test whether my thyroid would be able to absorb Iodine at all? I just don’t know how much damage the radiated iodine has had on my thyroid, since i can’t remember how much i had from it, it was very long time ago.
    Many thanks in advance for your valuable guidance,
    Sabina

    Reply

  19. I’m very interested in LLLT for treating my hypothyroidism as I’ve had issues with dosing and optimizing thyroid medication for years and would love a non-drug treatment.

    One concern I have though is that LLLT might cause cancerous lesions that might be in the thyroid to grow, and I’m wondering if it would be advisable to have some sort of screening for thyroid cancer before undertaking this therapy. I haven’t seen this mentioned by anyone recommending LLLT, but I have seen at least one study (in mice… https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27078192) showing that LLLT promoted tumor growth. So now I’m wondering if this is a valid concern and would love to hear your thoughts on this.

    Reply

  20. Hi Izabella,
    First, I wanted to thank you for all your efforts in promoting the treatments nad giving hope to all Hashimoto patients (and their parents).
    I have a 12 yo daughter with Hashimoto and according to the ultrasound her thyroid tissue is almost gone. So needless to say I am very interested in LLLT. I started searching the internet and found out that there have been dozens of studies done in Rissia and Ukraine regarding LLLT for Hashimoto patients with 86-96% success rates. Studies go all the way back to 1990s and include both animal and human clinical trials. Various LLLT protocols are patented and recommended as a “treatment of choice” for Hashimoto and hypothyrodism. Most of the information is in either Russian or Ukranian, but I do speak Russian so it was not a problem for me to read it. The devices they use are manufactured in Russia.
    In the studies they do not recommend this treatment for thyroid cancer patients or for patients with thyroid nodules (these have not been tested as far as I could find). But other than that there was 0 side effects reported.
    It is very sad that a highly successful treatment that has been used in other countries for decades is just barely finding its way to US. Most alarming is that conventional endos look at me as if I have two heads when I mention it and STRONGLY advice against it without having any info as to why not.
    I will definitely contact the doctor in West Covina you mentioned in your book and hope I will see positive results with my daughter. Fortunately he is not that far away from me. But please keep promoting the LLLT. It obviously has a huge potential and hopefully one day it will become an integral part of the hypothyrodism treatment in US as it is in other parts of the world.

    Reply

  21. First of all I want to thank Dr. Izabella sincerely for all your her efforts for people who suffer from thyroid issues. I had a phone conversation with a foreign doctor who uses several methods in treatment of thyroid and one of them is LASER. After speaking with him I found this website. I am open to go visit the foreign doctor I found, but obviously I would much rather visit one here in the US – preferably NY or NJ area. Dr. Izabella can you please share information about such doctor? If this is something that cannot be posted here – please email me. If there is absolutely nobody in the US can I please have a referral to Brazil University? I will keep you updated on the progress and will share as much from my experience as possible to help others.
    Sincerely,
    Mike

    Reply

  22. Hi there

    I have been using LLLT for autoimmune thyroiditis for a few months with amazing results.
    Just wanted your opinion for use in a non-toxic, euthyroid goitre to help shrink goitre size?
    Many thanks
    Leah

    Reply

  23. Where can I find a list of pracctioners that use low level light therapy or good LLL devices that I can use?

    Reply

  24. Hi
    I’ve just ordered your most recent book, Hashimoto’s Protocol and look forward to having a good read and potentially some positive life changes.

    Would there be any benefit in ordering your other book, Root Cause? I know it maybe tempting to say yes as it means more sales, but is there much overlap with the new one?
    Thanks

    David

    Reply

  25. Just to let you know, someone in London is helping me with this. I am wondering if there is any other supplements I should quit like B12 during treatment?

    Reply

  26. Hello. I am from Trinidad W.I. (in the caribbean) I am interested in trying the laser therapy to help with my hypothyroidism and hashimoto. Can u recommend a doctor who works with these type of patients please. Thank you.

    Reply

  27. Is there any hope for a Graves patient who had radioactive iodine treatment to regain thyroid function and getting rid of Synthyroid? I know my thyroid was not totally destroyed by RAI, because lab test 6 months after RAI showed some thyroid function, just not enough so I need Synthyroid. I had RAI 10 years ago. The weird thing is that I have had two 6 months periods after RAI of being able to go without Synthyroid – and my hormone levels were normal at those times! My doctor could not explain why this happened. I have not heard of anyone else having this kind of on-off thyroid recovery post-RAI. Is there hope for me? Can I try LLLT?

    Reply

    • Mariah – thank you for reaching out. Graves and Hashimoto’s are both autoimmune conditions that affect the thyroid. They are thought to be closely related. Sometimes one turns into the other. The difference is the site of the antibody attack. In Hashimoto’s, the antibodies are found to thyroglobulin (in 80%) and thyroid peroxidase (TPO) enzyme (in 95% of people)-Hashimoto’s results in hypothyroidism and is usually treated with Synthroid and replacement hormone.

      The same antibodies may be present in a smaller percentage of people who have Graves, but the main antibody is to the TSH Receptor (TSHR-Ab). Usually, people with Graves have hyperthyroidism, and they are treated conventionally with thyroid suppressing drugs (methimazole) or radioactive iodine to destroy the thyroid. At that point, the thyroid will no longer produce hormones on its own, and these people end up on Synthroid as well.

      Most thyroid conditions result from the immune system attacking the thyroid because the immune system is out of balance. Even when the thyroid is taken out surgically or treated with radioactive iodine the autoimmunity still persists in most cases. Many people will have their thyroids removed, and will develop new autoimmune disorders such as Lupus, Rheumatoid arthritis, etc. The immune system just finds a different target.

      We need to rebalance the immune system to prevent this (sometimes the autoimmunity can be reversed as well! The gut determines your immune system. With the exception of discussing proper thyroid medication dosing, the majority of my website and my book focuses on balancing the immune system. The info I present is based on my own research and journey for overcoming my autoimmune thyroid condition. Here are the links to my books:

      Hashimoto’s Root Cause
      http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0615825796?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=0615825796&linkCode=xm2&tag=thyroipharma-20

      Hashimoto’s Protocol
      thyroidpharmacist.com/protocol

      Reply

    • Renee – I wish I could give you more direct advice but, each person will react differently. I would advise you to ask your personal pharmacist or a trusted clinician who’s care you are under. I am not able to respond directly to these types of questions here.

      Reply

  29. Hi Dr. Wentz,
    I have taken three detoxes lately which have lowered my Synthroid dose from 150 to a mix of 112/125s. I was on nature-throid, but my functional medicine guy took me off of it because one of my numbers was off and he also put me on cytomel much to my naturopath’s dismay.

    Anyway, I am writing to let your readers know that every time that I go to the infrared sauna, my dose changes. For example, I will go back to the infrared spa in a couple weeks and I will end up taking one less of the higher dose and one more of the lower dose after every visit. It’s amazing.
    Unfortunately, infrared sauna spas are difficult to come by. This one is in Westchester, NY.
    Happy holidays.
    Ali

    Reply

  30. Hello, after reading your article, I showed it to my Chiro who has an Omega laser, he set me up twice a week as the studies here did. Granted, I also started NDT but I have been on NDT before and got my TSH to a high normal level, never optimal. This time 11/17/17 my TSH was 68. 2/5/18 after 5 weeks of two times a week laser and NDT my TSH is 0.07! I’m cutting back in the NDT! Thank you for sharing this information!

    Reply

  31. Thank you for this information! I showed your article to my chiro who has an Omega XP LLLT Laser. He allowed me to use his laser, I used the 46 diode probe for 2.5 min on each side of my thyroid 2 twice a week for 5 weeks. I should also say I started taking 120mg of NDT (60 mg am and 60mg at noon). My TSH was 68 in Novemeber (low T4 and T3 as well) rechecked 2/5/18 TSH is 0.07 (high T3 and T4, normals RT3). I’m sleeping better, no more constipation and occassional heart palpitations! I have made a lot of diet and lifestyle changes too.

    Reply

  32. What does it mean by “continuous mode” in the study methods? The laser is going nonstop for a long period of time?

    I’m looking into finding red light therapy in Dallas, TX and all I can find is a dermatologist who uses it for acne and rosacea. Even though it’s the same wavelength I assume it wouldn’t have the same effect because it’s just on the face?

    Thanks in advance 🙂
    Taylor Stolt, RDN, LD, CLT

    Reply

  33. Here’s an odd question. I wasn’t sure where to post this, but this article seemed most appropriate. I have been reading about brain waves and training your brain to change brainwaves, such as in meditation, from perhaps Beta to Alpha. I was just wondering if there is any research as far as healing autoimmunity with this? I have a difficult time meditating for my Hashimoto’s but find that certain relaxation music or binaural beats helps. I also have read that the Greeks used light through a spinning wheel to induce certain states of mind and thus alter brain waves. I know that with my Hashimoto’s, doing that would immediately trigger a migraine. Just wondered if there would be a way to harness brain waves for Hashimoto’s?

    Reply

    • Jane – thank you for reaching out. Meditation can be a particularly powerful tool for improving thyroid health, as studies have shown that it has the ability to boost levels of key hormones and neurotransmitters, including serotonin, the calming neurotransmitter GABA, the adrenal hormone DHEA, growth hormone, and melatonin. Research has also shown that meditation can help your adrenal glands. I’ve found that an inability to manage stress is often at the core of the condition. Most people can trace back the development of Hashimoto’s and autoimmune conditions to a particularly stressful time period. Stress is inherent, and it’s how we handle our stress that matters. I recommend self-management stress-reducing habits like mindfulness, yoga, and meditation.

      Meditation has specifically been found to be helpful in building resilience to stress. If you have a history of childhood trauma like I do, your stress response could be severely impacted, leading you to overreact and get into a ‘fight or flight’ state at the easiest provocations. I recommend therapies like the self-guided tapping, self-help books, neurofeedback or therapist guided EMDR to reset your stress response. Here are some resources I hope you find helpful.

      ARE YOUR ADRENALS SABOTAGING YOUR HEALTH?
      https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/are-your-adrenals-sabotaging-your-health

      MEDITATION FOR THYROID HEALTH
      https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/meditation-for-thyroid-health/

      Reply

  34. I ordered an infrared cold laser for my mom’s hypothyroidism, but it has a warning to keep it away from the thyroid. The distributor said it is industry standard to include that warning. Why is there a warning?

    Reply

    • Stefanie – thank you for reaching out and sharing. There are very specific settings used for the thyroid gland and it’s important to work with a skilled practitioner who specializes in using this type of therapy. Dr. Kirk Gair from West Covina, CA, who is also a Hashimoto’s patient, has used cold lasers in his clinic since 2004 and has developed protocols that combine LLLT with chiropractic modalities and is working to train other doctors and spread awareness about low level laser therapy with autoimmune thyroid disease. You may find more information by checking out Dr. Kirk Gair’s website: http://www.laserpainreliefinfo.com/

      Reply

  36. Izabella, why does the article say this therapy isn’t in North America, but the directories at the bottom of the article list a lot of clinicians that provide the therapy? Is it something different?

    Reply

    • Elysa – thank you for reaching out. <3 In my research while it is not FDA approved for thyroid regeneration, some clinicians are using it off-label and you can check with your practitioner for recommendations as well as the directory in this article.

      Reply

  37. Problem for me now is my TSH is close to 0 and suppressed. My T4 hasn’t bugged and most drs say its too complicated. Most say that my TSH is too low and I will have negative health effects. However, tried lowering my meds and cannot poop and have a lot of hypothyroid symptoms.

    Reply

    • Joe – thank you for reaching out and sharing your journey. ❤️I understand how frustrating this can be. Most people feel best with a TSH of around 1 or lower and with a Free T4 and Free T3  in the upper half of the range. It is expected that your TSH will be very suppressed when optimal on NDT medication. How much thyroid replacement therapy is needed is unique and different for each person, so it’s important to work with a functional medicine practitioner or a doctor, who can closely monitor your dosage and your progress.  Every six weeks is usually a good schedule for testing your thyroid hormones. Here is an article I hope you find helpful:

      https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/top-10-thyroid-tests/

      Reply

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