Red light therapy for long covid?

I can speak to this. I got Long Covid almost 3 years ago now. The bottom line is, it's not a magic bullet. I have spent double my life's savings on anything and everything that was purported to help, to no avail. I am now out of work. So, that's how 'effective' it is. Do I doubt that it helps? No. On a small level, I have no doubt that it helps the mitochondria increase ATP. Is it enough for me to function even remotely close to normal? No. Not at all. And that is with all the other things I was doing to support my mitochondria (supplements, etc). I purchased my red light devices just over a year ago. I admit that early on, I had some trouble being consistent, which is important. But it was not able to help me keep my job.

That all said, I was trying to follow the instructions of 20 minutes a day, about 5 or 6 days a week. Starting today, I found a 2019 study that shows mice seem to perfom best between 3 and 6 hours. I am now going to try to do it several hours a day. I have a huge panel as well as the VieLight headset. Many days I am too exhausted and fatigued to stand in front of the panel. But I am going to start using the transcranial VieLight headset several times a day to see how that goes. But again, I want to let everyone know that there is, without a doubt, no magic bullet--not for the vast majority of people, anyhow. If you have the money, by all means, get it. But I cannot tell you it will be the magic solution.

What kind of RLT units are available over the counter, do you know? Thanks!

The only ones that are FDA APPROVED, not in process of approval, and whose effectiveness is evaluated in oeer-reviewed journals, are those at https://platinumtherapylights.com/

I am wondering how people feel about red light therapy? I have been reading a lot about it. Any thoughts are welcomed.

I am wondering how people feel about red light therapy? I have been reading a lot about it. Any thoughts are welcomed.

I am wondering how people feel about red light therapy? I have been reading a lot about it. Any thoughts are welcomed.

@kiddo14
I have been doing a red light therapy since early 2024 with benefit.
Early in my course with long covid, I had heard some YouTube posts about this helping mitochondria and found out that my hair salon had a “Fitness Cocoon” which looks a bit like a tanning booth but delivers red light, infrared light, dry sauna, and lymphatic vibration massage in a 20 minute session.
My first session (using a medium heat setting and intense vibration) gave me amazing results. The following day, my energy levels moved up enough so that I could do some walking. At that point in time, I could barely walk 20 feet without exhaustion and need to lie down. I had to diffuse muscle pain, headaches, profound fatigue, and felt very blunted mentally. I had over sensitivity to screens and could not read, had tachycardia with wide swings in heart rate with chest pain, etc. all these and other symptoms familiar to many.
After the first red light session, some of the swelling in my legs and belly reduced, my energy felt at least a little more organized. I noticed that I could use heart rate to pace my physical activities and started to do so. That first session was the most dramatic help. After that each session seemed to bring some benefit to my sense of well being. I did three sessions weekly for the next year or so and still do 2 to 3 sessions per week. Over this extended time when I have traveled or missed sessions for more than a week, I have noted a decline in how I have felt. So I get back to it 3 times a week and notice feeling better right away again.
These sessions have been consistently helpful but not curative.
I would highly recommend looking for “Fitness Pod Cocoon”. Many gyms and salons have them. My own salon gave me a monthly subscription so that it has been very affordable.
It is also worth noting that I have increased my exposure to sunlight, as this includes red and infrared light, especially early in the morning. I have been able to work up my physical activity so that I walk outside regularly on a daily basis. I try to prioritize sitting in the sun regularly as an additional way to get healthy spectrum of light exposure.
This is the machine my salon has:
https://www.amazon.com/Cocoon-Fitness-Workout-Free-Management-Wellness/dp/B099XDMXMH
Or here:
https://wellness-usa.com/pages/cocoon-wellness-pod

@kiddo14
I have been doing a red light therapy since early 2024 with benefit.
Early in my course with long covid, I had heard some YouTube posts about this helping mitochondria and found out that my hair salon had a “Fitness Cocoon” which looks a bit like a tanning booth but delivers red light, infrared light, dry sauna, and lymphatic vibration massage in a 20 minute session.
My first session (using a medium heat setting and intense vibration) gave me amazing results. The following day, my energy levels moved up enough so that I could do some walking. At that point in time, I could barely walk 20 feet without exhaustion and need to lie down. I had to diffuse muscle pain, headaches, profound fatigue, and felt very blunted mentally. I had over sensitivity to screens and could not read, had tachycardia with wide swings in heart rate with chest pain, etc. all these and other symptoms familiar to many.
After the first red light session, some of the swelling in my legs and belly reduced, my energy felt at least a little more organized. I noticed that I could use heart rate to pace my physical activities and started to do so. That first session was the most dramatic help. After that each session seemed to bring some benefit to my sense of well being. I did three sessions weekly for the next year or so and still do 2 to 3 sessions per week. Over this extended time when I have traveled or missed sessions for more than a week, I have noted a decline in how I have felt. So I get back to it 3 times a week and notice feeling better right away again.
These sessions have been consistently helpful but not curative.
I would highly recommend looking for “Fitness Pod Cocoon”. Many gyms and salons have them. My own salon gave me a monthly subscription so that it has been very affordable.
It is also worth noting that I have increased my exposure to sunlight, as this includes red and infrared light, especially early in the morning. I have been able to work up my physical activity so that I walk outside regularly on a daily basis. I try to prioritize sitting in the sun regularly as an additional way to get healthy spectrum of light exposure.
This is the machine my salon has:
https://www.amazon.com/Cocoon-Fitness-Workout-Free-Management-Wellness/dp/B099XDMXMH
Or here:
https://wellness-usa.com/pages/cocoon-wellness-pod

I am wondering how people feel about red light therapy? I have been reading a lot about it. Any thoughts are welcomed.