What is lymphedema?
Lymphedema is swelling in one or more extremities that results from impaired flow of the lymphatic system.
— http://www.medicinenet.com/lymphedema/article.htm#what_is_lymphedema
What does lymphedema look like?
Lymphedema can affect 1 or both: arms or legs.
What causes Lymphedema?
http://www.medicinenet.com/lymphedema/page2.htm#what_causes_lymphedema
Most doctors you ask get into a rigamarole about the cause of Lymphedema. Some admit they just don’t know, some give you a longer explanation of what they don’t know. Still they don’t know. In our case, I disagree with all doctors we’ve seen; I think we do know. My wife has had to c-sections and the affected lymph nodes (swollen) are directly below the scar. I say the cause of her Lymphedema is the c-section surgeries and whether or not a preexisting congenital defect made that surgery more complicated is immaterial. If she didn’t have the c-section surgeries, it’s my humble yet informed opinion that she would not have Lymphedema.
How do you treat Lymphedema?
The nominal treatment consists of compression garments and specialized massages (of varying techniques) to coax the lymphatic tissue out of the affected area.
Pros:
These treatments prevent the advance of the disease and manage it effectively if adhered to. The cost of compression stockings are largely covered in Ontario as part of Ontario’s Assistive Devices Program (http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/public/programs/adp/)
Cons:
Cons: Compression Stockings:
- Compression garments are extremely hot and don’t breath. They are especially hot in hot weather, when they’re needed most.
- They need to be professionally measured, fitted and replaced every six months.
- They are very difficult to put on
Cons: Lymphatic Massage:
- Expensive
- Not covered, expensive (~ CAD $90/hour)
- Needed every week, sometimes more often. With compression bandaging used in concert, however, the need for massages is reduced but not eliminated (every 2 weeks perhaps, for some, compression garments are able to eventually manage the condition alone).
What is life with Lymphedema like?
Superficially it may seem that the chronic swelling of an extremity would be inconvenient causing psychological and sociological impacts for the patient as the result of the ‘unsightliness’ of the extremity. Most people figure that’s where the pain of Lymphedema stops. Not so.
The lymphatic system is responsible for the hauling of dead viruses and cells to the liver for disinfection and excretion. With that system inoperative a protein rich fluid builds up which often crystallizes causing non-ending burning. As this irritation persists, scar tissue forming further exacerbating the condition, leading to a continued progression of the disease. Finally having a large part of your body chalk full of toxins and waste products throws all metabolism and immunity out of whack leading to chronic infections, fatigue, and generalized stress.
People with Lymphedema cannot easily fly on airplanes. They’re told to wear their compression stockings and keep walking around in flight. Just the same, it often doesn’t work and exacerbates the condition leading to ruined vacations and further, a worsened condition to deal with upon returning home. Walking on beaches becomes impossible due to the threat of a cut in the foot which could become infected (critically in a condition called ‘cellulitis’) in the case of Lymphedema.
Our Experience With Lymphedema
My family’s experience with Lymphedema is as follows. With the pregnancy of our first child, we noted that the left leg became very inflamed. We were informed by our obstetrician that this is normal and will go away after the child is delivered. It didn’t.
We were thrust into the world of Lymphedema, a cacophony of doctors registering conflicting opinions and advice which in the end all added up to: “you have a chronic incurable condition. Here are some stockings, get a massage if you like, best of luck to you…”
So for 8 years, we went to numerous massages, compression stocking fittings, and the quality of our life was definitely reduced. My wife’s energy level was abysmal and she was chronically sick. All vacations were marred by massive painful swelling which made the enjoyment of the tropical weather impossible.
Three years ago, we welcomed our second daughter to the world. What’s important to note is that with Lymphedema, symptoms often appear years after the damage that caused it. Our second daughter was also born via c-section. This February (3 years after the c-section), we noticed that the swelling had spread to the other leg. Also lymph nodes were swelling right under the c-section scar.
We had a family wedding in Los Angeles and despite taking the requisite precautions, the trip was marred by the swelling of my wife’s feet and upon our return, the swelling had gone completely bilateral (both legs) with the newly swollen leg in worse shape than the older one.
We went to our doctors and were told “oh well, here, now you can have 2 compression stockings, one for each leg.”
Here is Kathy Bates discussing her Lymphedema which was caused as a result of cancer treatment:
Highlights from her interview: It’s commonly said amongst doctors addressing patients about lymphedema that this is a rare condition. Starting at around 3:25 into the interview she quotes her doctor saying:
“There are 10 million sufferers in this country. More than people with MS, with ALS, with AIDS, with Parkinson’s combined! That just blew my mind. How can something that affects 10 million people be nearly invisible and why are we afraid to come forward and say: ‘help!’… we don’t have a quality of life here.”
How I came to Red Light Treatment
I have a background in biology and even have developed a cancer protocol which is in use in a Toronto area cancer center.
http://www.martincwiner.com/dca-and-avemar-a-theoretical-protocol-for-cancer/
Just the same, I felt this problem was well beyond me. The lymphatic system is microscopic and very little is known about it. In fact, only recently did they discover that lymphatic tissue entered the brain.
http://www.empowher.com/brain/content/link-between-brain-and-lymphatic-system-never-seen
The key here is to realize that in 2015, we’re still discovering new things about the lymphatic system.
So I began scouring the internet and came across an anecdotal report of a woman who was helped with her lymphedema by applying a red light. She was immediately pounced up on and trounced by forum members, but all she was trying to report was that it worked for her.
Considering that mainstream medicine was giving us rote answers I decided to investigate further.
Why Red Light MAY Help Treat or Cure Lymphedema
Your cells contain power generation systems (organelles) called mitochondria. It turns out that they react to light in the red frequency bands. Not only do they ‘react’ they are able to generate energy for the cell without consumption of food, just directly from the light itself. Yes, that means, amazingly, that humans are mildly photosynthetic (just like plants). This boost of energy which is absorbed just beneath the skin where the lymphatic system resides provides a ‘power boost’ to those cells and hopefully can expedite lymphatic flow and perhaps effecting an enhanced treatment or dare we say cure.
In addition, red light is well known for healing injuries. (http://www.livestrong.com/article/556396-red-led-light-therapy-for-sports-injuries/). It is known to aid in something called ‘angiogenesis’ which is the growing of new blood vessels to create a blood supply to an injured area. Knowing that blood vessels and lymphatic vessels coexist, I wagered that the new blood vessels would come with new lymphatic vessels.
I looked at the device the poor woman who was attacked on that forum was using and I also wagered that it just wasn’t powerful enough and I would design a sauna (a reflective box to concentrate the light, not a sauna in the sense of heat) to see if I could get more out of this red light.
Treatment Plan and Log
Lymphedema Red Light (660nm) Sauna* – Mark I:
*Note: The use of the word ‘sauna’ doesn’t imply heat in this case, just an enclosed area of high reflectivity of red light.
On June 14, 2015 I bought this bulb:
from:
http://www.amazon.com/Anti-Aging-Light-Therapy-Lines-Wrinkles/dp/B0028MD4V0/ref=pd_sim_sbs_121_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=0EW7RXP9HTPGWBKXWNFP
and built this device using it:
Treatment consisted of 15-20 minute treatments each night. Treatment consisted of my wife slipping her (unclothed) body into this plenum and allowing the light to treat her lower extremities.
Results:
The constant burning and pain in my wife’s feet was immediately abated. She no longer complains of the burning (to this day). Also, the inflammation from this one light wasn’t immediately nor noticeably reduced but her swollen feet felt qualitatively ‘softer’ after the treatments.
Encouraged by the early results of the Mark I, I set about to build the Mark II.
Lymphedema Red Light (660nm) Sauna – Mark II:
The Mark II went into service on June 28, 2015 (a fortnight after the original Mark I). This unit features 4 lights spread all over the lower extremity of my wife. The top light aligned with her groin or so, and the bottom light aligned with her feet. With this unit, we started to see symptoms abate more rapidly. Swelling was (and still is present) but areas were improving. The top of the feet where burning was common and it was constantly inflamed started to drain. The swelling on top of the shin on the calf was all the way up the calf. Now it started making it only 3/4’s up the way, and eventually (currently) only reaches half way up the calf.
Realize that during this red light treatment (all of it) my wife was NOT wearing ANY compression stockings and had a total of 3 lymphatic massages (over the course of weeks and weeks) just to try the massage route again. They didn’t seem to work any better than they had before so we abandoned them.
The Mark II seemed able to control her Lymphedema, even reverse it somewhat without compression stockings. Note, this is an interim report and the treatment will continue with hopefully even better results.
Mark III
The design goal here was to allow my wife to sleep under the red light. Some nights if my wife said she was chilly, I would add a blanket over the structure but generally it was warm enough to sleep in (summer nights). The lights are grow lights, specifically fruiting lights designed to emit 660 nm light. The reflective material is dollar store windshield visor reflector material tacked to a wooden frame.
I feel we never really let the throttle out on this unit. I wanted this to be a curative (possibly) unit but we ran into complications caused by diet. I’ll be adding a section on enzymatic therapy shortly. So at the moment, it’s cold in Canada, so we’re using enzymatic therapy only to control the problem. Note at this moment the legs ARE swollen, ankles too, tops of the feet still holding. There isn’t much pain but my wife is feeling extremely fatigued. So obviously I can’t call red light a success at this moment but I’m still convinced the device I built here will be of benefit to people.
Building Plans:
I’ve received some requests for plans to build the Mark III. Here they are:
You’ll need to build a structure as follows to support the lights. I used wood but there are many options available:
Ok, next you’ll need 5 lights.
For those with a Star Trek penchant, a moment of comedic relief:
Here are the 5 lights:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00M2FAFWE
You’ll need 5 lamp cords:
You’ll need 4-5 windsheild sun reflectors to close the structure:
And finally a power bar to plug them all in (they’re 7 watts each, 35 watts total, no major electrical load to worry about).
Adjuvant Treatments
Mechanical Vibration
I noticed that doctors were largely obsessed with complicated solutions to problems and I wondered if a simpler solution was overlooked. Reading about the lymphatic system, I learned that it is driven by motion and has no pump of it’s own. The moving (squishing and squeezing) of moving around during everyday life is enough to cause it to move lymphatic fluid towards the liver.
I read that vibration can stimulate the lymphatic system. I had heard of a powerful vibrator from “Sex and the City”:
I proudly walked into my local Sex Shop and proudly declared: “I’m looking for a strong vibrator to cure my wife’s medical condition.” Only those who don’t know me, doubt those were the exact words I used. I left with this device in tow:
My thinking in buying this was that the edema in many cases becomes ‘firm’ and sort of congealed. I would use this device to loosen it up mechanically. Also, the vibration tends to move lymph very well with some websites suggesting that Lymphedema patients do light exercise on a vibration plate (http://www.mdjunction.com/forums/dercums-disease-discussions/general-support/10389906-new-discovery-for-lymphedema-clearing). The magic wand is quite helpful around the ankles which are areas where lymphatic fluid is particularly prone to pool.
The other reason is that Lymphedema often involves in scar tissue. This vibration, I suspected, would be good at breaking up this scar tissue. Moreover, it is my personal theory that my wife’s c-sections have left massive scar tissues which will not allow lymph fluid to pass. I use this vibration to break up the scar tissue in her lower abdomen as well as massage the raised lymph node directly under it.
We started using this device on July 9, 2015 and I use it for 5-10 minutes on ‘tough’ areas such as the c-section scar, the swollen lymph node, the ankles, tops of feet (no longer needed, they don’t inflame anymore), and calves along the shin.
A 120 LED Array of 660nm and 850nm (near infrared) LEDS
After an infuriating discussion with a specialist, I was so motivated to push my Lymphedema treatment forward because it was blatantly obvious that mainstream medicine was not interested in helping us.
What was the argument about?
Can a C-Section Cause Lymphedema?
The specialist (vascular surgeon) I spoke with categorically said: “no, c-sections cannot cause lymphedema.” She uttered this moments after saying: “we don’t know anything about lymphedema and I as a vascular surgeon have been given no training in lymphatics.” Let’s look at the lymphatic system and a c-section incision:
Here I have superimposed a c-section incision over a map of the body’s lymphatic network. As you can see the scar cuts right through all the major lymphatic pathways coming from the lower trunk? So once again I ask the medical community (you get the same answer from all doctors I’ve spoken with): Can a c-section cause lymphedema? If you say ‘no’, please explain how you can be so certain?
Continuing on… The second I arrived home, I went on Amazon and ordered:
http://www.amazon.com/Infrared-Light-Therapy-Speeds-Healing/dp/B003VOVZZ6/
The motivation here, rage aside, was I wanted an intense 660nm led array for me to spot treat difficult areas such as lymph nodes, c-section scars, ankles, shins, etc. Also the 850nm wavelength is known to work well with 660nm and it is also good at breaking up scar tissue. I use the array while I’m using the vibration treatment. 5-10 mins.
Enzyme Therapy
Details can be found here: http://www.martincwiner.com/enzyme-therapy-for-lymphedema/
Summary
I first started experimenting with Red Light Therapy in treatment of my wife’s bilateral (both) lower extremity (legs) Lymphedema on July 14, 2015. As of this writing 51 days have passed and here is what can be said conclusively so far. The red light treatment has managed my wife’s Lymphedema without the use of compression bandages and no regular massages (2 during course of treatment). The edema over the top of her feet has been completely resolved. The edema along the lines of her shins now only goes 1/2 way up her shin. The general volume of her legs hasn’t significantly improved yet. The enlarged lymph node (and a smaller one right below it) remain as at the beginning of treatment: inflamed.
I decided to publish at this state because there is enough information here to be of service to others. Even a reduction in pain can be of benefit for some. Red light certainly did that.
I came upon this post when searching for “LED light therapy for lymphedema”. I have mild lymphedema in my upper thighs and pelvic area following cancer surgery and lymph node dissection. I understand your frustration with doctors and therapists as I have met with the same. Thank you for the detailed information on your trials with the light therapy. Your wife is very lucky to have someone so determined in her corner!
Hi Martin, this sounds very promising!! Please do keep us updated, it’s an awesome progress so far.
So if I understand it correctly, I could just go to a spa or such other place where they have an infra sauna, right? I have always loved saunas and with my legs now that’s not an option. But this I would love to try.
Very interesting
Er um, yes and no. The infrared sauna’s use 850 nm light just beyond our ability to see. The one I’m using is 660nm and is visible. Either won’t do you any harm. 850nm has a deeper penetration but with lymphedema, I’m thinking that’s not needed.
Thank you for your kind comments. I have some biological background and even tried my hand at a cancer treatment. http://www.martincwiner.com/dca-and-avemar-a-theoretical-protocol-for-cancer/
When it came to lymphedema, now a 3rd major flare up and an extension into a second leg, I was devastated. I was completely lost. I still largely am. I knew the answer would have to come out of left field with the lymphatic system being microscopic, no surgical intervention would be practical. So I heard of one woman who was using red light to soften her fibrous masses and then massages on top of that. I said to myself, can’t hurt. I’m still looking to build the mark III which will be significantly brighter and will offer the ability to sleep with the unit on.
Great article. I’ve had lymphadema in the same areas as your wife. I do not believe mine was brought on by surgery. My mom, myself & my daughter all have the same type. My moms developed after she gave birth to me and hemorrhaged. Mine developed on its own. I can’t recall having any surgery except a kidney stone stent around the time it fully developed. My 22 year old daughter also has it. Hers developed after her diagnosis with Crohns. We all have the swelling from knees down to feet. It gets frustrating going to doctors that over prescribe medications that don’t help. The compression garnets are hideous. So hard to find shoes, wear short dresses without looking disfigured. I would love to try your device and see results. I would love to feel normal. I would give anything for my daughter to feel normal. The pain in my feet and ankles at times just stings from the swelling. There are days where I just have to lie in bed to get the swelling down. We are fairly healthy individuals and this is a very tiresome condition. Keep up the progress
I’m so sorry to hear of your trouble. Contact me at martin@martincwiner.com and I can see where you live and get you some red light devices.
Hi Martin, keep up the good work, would be wonderful if this is a successful treatment for this condition. My 22 year old daughter was diagnosed with primary Lymphoedema in her left leg when she was 14, six months later it progressed to her right leg, we believe her Lympoedema was triggered by a spider bite on top of her foot. She suffered a stroke in June 2014, and now has lymphoedema in her right hand and arm, they believe this is in part due to the stroke as her clot was on the left side of her brain which affected the right hand side of her body. Fortunately, she has a very good therapist who Kristin attends for lymphatic drainage massage every six weeks and Kristin works very hard at the gym to keep her weight in check, she is also vigilant wearing her compression garments. As you stated this is all very expensive, and the garments less than attractive especially for a young woman of this age. I hope we hear more on your progress with this Red Light Treatment.
Cheers Debbie
Hi Debbie,
I’m sorry to hear of your daughters suffering. The good news is you don’t have to wait until I ‘publish’ my results because I’m not a doctor which means I’m useful and take the time to share knowledge, not lord it over people, ’nuff said. 🙂
http://www.amazon.com/Anti-Aging-Light-Therapy-Lines-Wrinkles/dp/B0028MD4V0/ref=pd_sim_194_3?ie=UTF8&refRID=0QM89X4CHP04ZQFQEPYT
That is the exact bulb I’m using. It screws into any standard light bulb socket. Feel free to try it just follow the safety instructions.
There is a more convenient form, but I haven’t tried this one personally, looks reasonably good:
http://www.amazon.com/NORLNAYA-Collagen-Lifting-Rechargeable-Emission/dp/B00HIT0ISA/ref=pd_rhf_se_s_cp_7?ie=UTF8&refRID=0TVJ04PQ9H9PVBXM17XW
but I can’t vouch for it, I haven’t tried it. But the frequency is correct, 660nm.
The sun itself, consists of 37% (don’t quote me, let me look that up) red light. If it’s not 37% it’s a high percentage anyways. So perhaps just exposure to the dusk or dawn sun which minimizes the uv (still be careful if your fair skinned obviously). Consider it perhaps? I haven’t tried this though.
So I’d say try a red light device. You’ll obviously not get the results I’m getting, I’m using four bulbs in a reflective ‘sauna’ but who cares? I’ve learned that it’s more about exposure than intensity. Ie, a more intense light might do more in a shorter time, but a single bulb left on a region for long enough may spur the angiogenesis process (production of blood vessels) and according to my theory where there are blood vessels there are lymph vessels, hence, lymphogenesis. That’s the theory.
So how many lymphedema sufferers does it take to screw in a light bulb?
Thanks again for the communication Martin. I’m ordering 4 bulbs and going to build my “Leg Lamp” this weekend. Can’t wait to see if this works for my daughter & me.
Hi, im very interested in more info.. I live in Spain. I had lymph node removal due to BC.. now my left arm treble the size… Where can i purchase such lights ?
These are the exact bulbs I used, but they look very expensive in the UK:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Anti-Aging-Light-Therapy-Wrinkles-Light-Therapy-LED/dp/B00WVQK204/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1440629454&sr=8-9&keywords=660nm
You’re looking for 660nm (red-deepred) lights.
Best of luck…MCW
You had me at “you have a chronic incurable condition, here are some stockings. This last year my body has transformed into something I still cannot comprehend as my own. It started in my calves and ankles and is now in my groin, arms and neck. I am thrilled someone is looking outside the box for answers. – looking forward to following your developments in the futur.
So I’ve been telling other people, just check the comments above and below, I’ve suggested some red light devices which are affordable, perhaps not as strong as what I’ve come up with, but reasonable just the same. Also, one commenter I’m in touch with had the great idea of building the box out of cardboard and using aluminum foil to duplicate what I’ve built. Brilliant. Much better than “here are some stockings which when it’s hot, when your lymphedema is at its worst, will make you hotter”. I actually believe the stockings worsen the condition for that very reason. Fucking idiots, doctors, sorry. 🙂
Thanks! Six years after pelvic surgery and radiation, I’ve developed lymphoedema. Ugh. Thanks for sharing this information. Any updates?
Lot’s of updates. I’m trying to keep up with them. The one you might be most interested in, coming soon, is enzyme therapy. Two enzymes are keeping my wife going (the weather is cold in Canada now). She doesn’t really want to live with the inconvenience of going under red light every night but the tops of her feet are reliably healed and she has no burning anymore. I’d like her to continue with red light to see if we could cure it outright but I can only go so far. (Treating relatives, especially a wife, is a unique form of torture. 🙂 )
Ironically , I have recently suspected that using a red light vibrating machine at my tanning salon has helped my lymphedema. I have had problems with lymphedema of the past 15 to 20 years. I’ve seen all the specialist had all the tests. Compression stockings and lymphatic massage appeared to be the only solution. Not exactly my idea of a quality lifestyle. I’ve also been using diuretics for about 15 years now which I understand is not in my best interest on a long-term basis.
As a Christmas present, I received a gift certificate from my boyfriend to the local tanning salon where red light therapy is available. I had never heard of it and did a little Googling and saw that it is reported to have some benefit on skin tone, wrinkles, and sunlight. I am 51 years old and have issues with all of the above! So I gave it a try and found that it helped my acne. I recently went to back and purchased a monthly subscription so I could attend more sessions to keep my acne at bay and discovered that I also noticed less swelling in my feet and lower legs. That prompted more Googling and indeed, there are reports such as yours that indicate that both red light therapy and vibration help reduce the effects of lymphedema. So, I am beginning to be a believer and will continue using this tanning salon service for a couple of months to see if the positive results continue!
*cellulite, not sunlight.
I have swelling head to toe. Could you tell me how many lights will be needed how far apart etc, etc. If you could tell me specifications on how to make this unit I would appreciated it. I am presuming I would need some type of eye goggle protection.
Thank You
Actually the unit I developed will cover you head to toe. Actually I’ve seen people not use the light protection with the 660nm light (red) but to play it safe, most companies provide you with goggles if not just for comfort. So the specs are as you see them. If you are 6′ tall, build the center section to 6′ and change. The amount of lights (5 if I recall) are more than enough to light your entire body. The height is about 3′ off the ground but then you can vary the length of the power cords to adjust the light angle and proximity.
In Oct. 2016 I turned the Big 50, then I was diagnosed in Nov. 2016 with Breast Cancer. On Dec. 21st I had 1 tumor removed from my left breast and all 15 lymph nodes removed from my underarm. I am still in the healing process from my surgery and feel so overwhelmed with all the treatments I will need to undergo moving forward, chemo, lymphedema rehab, compression sleeve, radiation that I can’t even comprehend. My brother who is all about the natural treatments, knew I have been dealing with nerve pain and numbness from the loss of my lymph nodes and I am worried about getting lymphedema, so he had mentioned Red Light Therapy. I have only read a few of the comments here and I am so very interested in how to obtain an affordable Red Light for therapy. My insurance requires me to pay a $50 co pay each time for my Rehab and wants me to go 2 times a week for 6 weeks, which I cannot afford. Please help me to get my hands on a Red Light that I can afford. I have also had ankle surgery, knee surgery and 2 C-sections, and now I know why my body feels the way it does, I more than likely have Lymphedema in my leg from knee surgery and issues as well in the C-section area. I am desperate need of help, can you help me?
Total Cost: $ 170.00. Ordered the lights from Amazon. I turned the bottom of my closet into a red light therapy room. Hung a rod about 3 feet above the floor with 6 clamp lights on the rod. Lined the walls with aluminum foil to intensify the lighting. Added a surge protector with 6 outlets. The light is so bright it is blinding and is painful to the eyes. Have to cover them with a thick towel four times folded or the light shines through it. It’s like trying to look directly at the sun. Yes you need eye protection because it really hurts the eyes and may damage them. Removed one of the lights. Five was plenty enough.
I have a questions. I would possibly like to do this 2x’s a day. Is it safe to do this every day and what is the maximum time can I spend under the lights. 2 2m
Well in the absence of clinical trials as to the efficacy of certain durations and types of exposure to results, I fall back to my rules of thumb.
1) do nothing to excess and
2) listen to your body.
Now as for your specific situation I can’t comment intelligently because we’re on the frontier here. If the light is only in the 660nm range, pure red, you’d think the side effects would be minimal. It turns out that your mitochondria, your cellular powerhouses, are sensitive to this frequency and can produce ATP (energy) by a photosynthetic like mechanism. I have heard it said by some that prolonged exposure to intense red light can be drying on the skin, even though this frequency is generally healing.
If your light also has what’s called near infrared or 810 or 850 nm light (don’t quote me on that wavelength it’s from memory) then I do have a concern about excessive exposure because that wavelength is deeply penetrating and heating and whenever you’re cooking something in biology, the biology isn’t healthy. So again, in the absence clinical trials I can’t conjure a number for maximum exposure if one is indeed needed. All I know is I keep the sessions on my wife which were nightly to 20-60 minutes and I use only 660nm light with a spot check of near infrared array (used for a max of 15 minutes).
Remember I’m not a doctor of any kind.
Hi, I’m not a doctor of any kind so I’m not sure what sort of help you’re looking for. I’ve laid out the plans for a rig of red lights that someone can use to heal. If you have somebody handy you know, perhaps that person could build you one? Be well…
I have 660 led red lights also. Thanks for the info on dry skin if the sessions are too long. Any other draw backs let me know. I am going to stick with 40 minutes a day to be on the safe side. I do 20 minutes on the front and 20 on the back. What is exciting to me is that your wife no longer needs to wear compression garments because of the treatments.
Yes, but without the compression garments there is still some lymphedema. I didn’t claim that it eradicated lymphedema, just that it made it manageable without compression stockings, that summer. Currently it’s the winter here in Canada so the cold weather makes it such that she doesn’t really need compression stockings at the moment.
I like the healing closet. This is going into the closet as opposed to coming out of it.
Thank you for sharing your findings. Very interesting and helpful. I am thinking how these lights could help people decongest their lymphatic systems in general – even without a diagnosed lymphatic condition such as Lymphedema.
Yes indeed, it is healthy for the entire being. Recently, it has been discovered that our mitochondria (cellular power plants) can turn red light (660nm) directly into energy, just like a plant. No it’s not enough to substitute for food, but it’s a secondary power supply.
Hi Martin,
I have had a total of 50 lymph nodes removed due to two cancer surgeries. Both on the LHS of my body. I am wondering if my husband could construct one of these for me if it would help. Do you think it would. Where would he get the plans for your mark machine 😊 forever in your debt for sharing
With thanks
Tracy
I think it could help keep the lymph fluid as opposed to stagnant and hard. I can’t comment on whether it would regrow lymph nodes. I wouldn’t think so though.
The drawings are the ones on this very post. He can contact me at martin@martincwiner.com if he needs more precise details or has questions.
I have been using red light treatment for two months and there has not been a noticeable improvement.
I’m sorry to hear. Perhaps if you send me pictures of your assembly and a brief description of the exact condition you’re trying to treat, I can help. martin@martincwiner.com
Have you noticed any fat reduction in the areas where you use the laser?
My wife has very little body fat. I have heard some reports of red light being used in fat reduction, but I couldn’t be sure.
So you don’t think this is harmful in any way? I agree about DR’s..and there are so few lymphedema specialists. I’m flying tomorrow and am scared to death the lymphedema may affect the unaffected leg.
Could you recommend a hand held device to begin with? I have an underlying issue along with the lymphedema (blood cancer) and they mysteriously occurred at the same time.
I can’t even get an answer about using red light therapy with the blood cancer…don’t want to make that worse.
I can tell you what I know but I don’t in this case want to you contrue it as advice. So red light is just that, red light. In that sense, it’s as safe as standing under a light bulb.
BUT I know for a fact that it can energize mitochondria directly. That could potentially help blood cancer in that mitochondria could ‘wake up’ and start apoptosis (programmed cell death in case of cancer). It could theoretically also, provide energy for a sick cell and spur the cancer. I can’t say. My instinct says it might help blood cancer, but I can’t say any of this with any reliability.
Sorry to throw confusing theory at you when you’re looking for an answer. My answer is I don’t know, but I know what I’ve stated above. Sorry.
Hello,
I was wondering how your wife is doing? Its 2020 and they have a salon with an infared blanket type of thing. Is it worth it to go there or make my own?