Have you ever considered trying red light therapy (RLT) or were you wondering about whether or not a vibration plate might be beneficial? These are two popular tools used for mood support, skincare, wound healing, and pain reduction (RLT) and for lymphatic drainage, bone density support, and muscle stimulation (the plate). You can go on Reddit and other social media sites and find a lot of enthusiasm for these items. People do like them and use them. If you look at the manufacturers’ press releases, it’s of course no surprise to find that they are absolutely all in for their products.
After seeing so many questions about these products in online communities, though, I do think this topic merits a blog post here at Holistic Health & hEDS.
You don’t want to spend money on snake oil and you also do not want to do something that might injure yourself or make any of your conditions worse. As a person with a complicated medical situation, you do need to ask all the questions before you try something new. I have my own experience with both RLT and the vibration plate, which I will share here, and I have professional experience as well. I definitely have my opinion on both items.
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Let’s talk about RLT
First, it is important to understand what these products are, and what they purport to do. I do have a longer article on LED light therapy that I posted a good while back on my Two Hearts Wellness site, linked here below, but the short explanation is that LED (light emitting diode) lamps use particular wavelengths of light to stimulate cell energy. RLT was studied by NASA in the 1990s and used by astronauts to boost cellular activity via ATP production, promote tissue repair, support bone mass, and reduce muscle atrophy. RLT is not snake oil or just some fad, though I think it’s important to be realistic about expectations.
“How do I use LED therapy as part of a Chinese medicine treatment in my office? As my patients know, the winning strategy with LED light therapy relies on synchronicity with other modalities.
LED Light Therapy: What It Is, Why You’ll Love It
It’s also important to keep in mind the bigger picture of your health before trying any color of light therapy. However, I will get to that in a minute.
What about vibration plates?
Those things that you see at the gym or online for sale that look like thick bathroom scales? Their vibrations cause rapid muscle contraction and activate muscles. The movement can also enhance lymphatic drainage, improve circulation, and support bone density. Of interest to people with EDS, considering that lack of proprioception is a thing for zebras, is that using a vibration plate is supposed to help to improve balance. Best of all, it is a fitness tool that is supposed to increase your workout benefits while at the same time taking less time and effort to get where you want to go.
Vibration plates can be especially useful for people who are not able to exercise regularly, either because they have certain health conditions, they are older, or they are–for whatever reason–sedentary.
All of the above sounds good, doesn’t it? And, like all things that sound great, it’s important to be aware of the potential downsides. Personally (and professionally) I have had excellent experiences with both products but yes, there are caveats.
The good, the bad, & the ugly
One big issue is whether or not you have MCAS. That is the big, big, BIG issue. If you have MCAS, you might want to carefully consider your plan to try LED light therapy.
In my own personal experience as a mastie, I learned that I cannot always tolerate light therapy and I definitely cannot tolerate it in all formats. The light therapy mat? I tried one and at first, I thought it was AMAZING. I could sense the energy, it felt marvelous, and I instantly became a convert.
Then after about five minutes, I started to feel like my brain wiring was getting frizzled. I was face-up for the treatment, and I also started feeling subtle but slightly unpleasant zaps under my skin on my back and legs. I tried the light therapy mat (not mine; this was a practitioner friend of mine’s new office product and they wanted to see how a hypersensitive person–that would be me–responded) twice and it just didn’t go well for me. It’s amazing for about five minutes and then I get overstimulated. Afterwards, for about a week or so, I experienced low-grade mast cell anarchy going on in my body too. I concluded, after the second attempt, that I am not a good candidate for a light therapy mat.
And yes, I’ve heard from some of my MCAS patients that the light therapy mat did something similar to them. But I have seen enthusiastic endorsements of the light therapy mats too, so I know that folks in the community who love it do exist.
Bottom line? I’m not keen on the light therapy mat. There’s something about being so up close and personal with the lights that–in my opinion–may not be good for us sensitives. Your mileage may vary though, so…
As far as RLT? I love the LED light therapy. I offer light therapy in my office and, as mentioned above, I offer treatment with medical-grade lamps that have red light, yellow, blue, and even combination options. However, one of the manifestations of my MCAS is that my upper lip swells alarmingly (this often goes along with other unpleasant facial reactions) if the mast cell gods are sufficiently angered by something I’ve done. (I mean…this could be walking into an office supply store with my mask not on tightly enough and they have an open package of Febreze-scented car deodorant. It could be eating the wrong thing. It could be… well, it could be anything). I have learned, from bitter experience, that I need to stay away from my LED therapy lamps when I’m on the verge of a flare.
The worst is when my face is doing that thing it does. I will not bore you, dear reader, with the horror of my MCAS and what happens besides what I have described regarding my upper lip. My MCAS, like most people’s, is complicated and wide-ranging. #IYKYK, right?
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However, I will say this: if you have anything like trigeminal neuralgia, Bell’s palsy, your face or lips swell up, and/or you have burning mouth syndrome? Think long and hard before you try LED for these issues. Things can become so much more painful so very quickly and it can be challenging to unring that bell. Aside from my personal experience with facial flare-ups, I’ve heard it from patients and I’ve seen it written about in online groups.
What I do with MCAS patients who are interested in RLT is this: we start slow. I may put them under the light for five minutes, and I will direct the light to their feet or maybe put it on their lower back. And we try it a couple times that way, and if things go well, great. I also have a small hand-held light, and I may try directing it to specific acupuncture points. This is a lot more subtle than my in-office lamps or getting into one of those big machines you see at a gym. It’s just one small beam of light and can work like a charm for sensitive people. However, as with the lamps, we start slow and keep it brief. In either case, if the person starts to feel rumblings from the mast cell Gods? No more LED and that’s fine. We can do other things, like tui na.
“If you’ve never heard of it, or you’ve never heard the word spoken out loud, it is pronounced “twee nah,” which means “push” and “grasp,” respectively. It is somewhat like massage and it’s also akin to acupressure and channel work (as opposed to acupuncture directed to specific points). Tui na is one of the pillars of Chinese medicine (the others being: acupuncture, herbal medicine, nutrition, and the breath/movement practice known as qigong) and it is a medical specialty.”
“Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Tui Na, and You” Revisited (Some Thoughts on the OG Blog Post)
I have had patients with EDS and dysautonomia report that they weren’t entirely comfortable with the way the LED lamp made them feel too.
Skin appearance can also be important. Livedo reticularis, which presents as lacy, purple or blueish patterns that people may have on their arms, legs, and/or trunk, is the result of vasospasm of the small blood vessels of the skin. Most times, it’s benign, but other times, it can be problematic. This expression of mottled skin, especially if severe, can be a sign of lupus or other conditions. As with any medical condition, livedo reticularis may warrant a visit with your MD before trying light therapy (or a vibration plate, for that matter).
My experience with patients who have EDS (but no MCAS or dysautonomia) is that some love it and some are unmoved, and that is pretty much the way my normie patients react. Keep in mind that light therapy for muscle and bone health and/or pain reduction are all potential benefits of this therapy that anyone might find appealing. However, the part where it’s supposed to be great for wrinkle reduction because it boosts collagen is something that isn’t really going to work for someone with EDS. LED light therapy is not going to magically help a person to produce healthy collagen. So yes, it can be worth trying as long as the person is realistic about their goals for the treatment.
As with anything, it really is best to start with a short test or two before deciding that LED light therapy is the best thing since sliced bread. (And yes, it can be the best thing since sliced bread when it’s doing all the good things it’s advertised to do).
What about the vibration plate?
I personally love the vibration plate…except when I’m feeling mastiferous (in other words: the mast cells are rebelling). The vibration plate when the mast cell Gods are angry is a hard no for me, and this is from experience. My mast cell reaction to the vibration plate was full-body and painful. I have also heard this from other masties. My vote? If you have MCAS, think about the vibration plate and decide if it’s worth the risk. If it is, start slow.
Where I would really and truly be careful? If there are any issues with pelvic floor prolapse, I would avoid the vibration plate. I will be honest here: I’ve only read about it in online groups, so I have no personal or professional experience with vibration plates and prolapse. However, based on patients I have had with prolapse and knowing how difficult things can be for them, from interruption of daily life to what happens when they get surgery to lower back pain and more… Trying a health fad, even a good one, that could worsen things is a no-go. I wouldn’t risk sitting on a vibration plate and I don’t think standing on one is safe either.
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I am all about negotiating and teaching, so it’s rare for me to tell a patient that they should not do this or they must do that. However, aside from the prolapse issue I also am not convinced that the vibration plate is safe for people with very loose joints. Not everyone with hEDS is bendy, as we know. Some of us get stiff as we get older. Other people have a long list of hEDS manifestations but they don’t sublux regularly. But for those who do, I do not recommend the vibration plate. I don’t think it’s worth the risk.
They are marvelous, don’t get me wrong, but they do make you vibrate. If you’re not sure that your joints can take it, consequently, then maybe you’d want to pass on the vibration plate. If one of my patients was absolutely determined to try it, I’d suggest that they sit on a chair and put their feet on the plate and see how they like it. Long story short? I do not have a vibration plate in my office (I have one at home that I use for myself) and it’s not a service I would ever offer in my office. Meantime, I do have the LED light therapy lamps, as mentioned earlier.
Make of that what you will, dear reader.
One of the things I love about EDS culture is the way that people do their homework and support one another. There is such a marvelous online community and people can ask and get a range of answers as to whether or not something was useful. Living with EDS, MCAS, and/or dysautonomia is not for sissies. You need to be strong and resourceful if you want to live your best life with these conditions. We certainly are strong and resourceful as a community.
Whether or not RLT or a vibration plate will help or hurt you does require self-awareness, reasonable expectations, and the willingness to patiently experiment before going full-bore into their use. They can be marvelous tools in your health journey if you start with some caution and pay attention to your response(s). And if they aren’t, you lower your risk by starting slow and by being intentional about your experimenting.
Where do you want to begin?
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Dr. Paula Bruno, Ph.D., L.Ac., is a licensed acupuncturist and herbalist, an AOBTA-CP traditional Chinese bodywork therapist, an author, and a health coach. She maintains an active and growing practice at Two Hearts Wellness, her Austin, TX office. Dr. Bruno is also available for distance appointments for wellness consultation or coaching.
In her first career, she was a Spanish professor.
Dr. Bruno’s specialties as a Chinese medicine practitioner include: • Musculoskeletal health (acute or chronic pain relief; Ehlers Danlos syndrome & hypermobility support) • Digestive support, gut health, and weight loss • Aesthetic treatment, including scar revision • Men’s health • General preventative care and wellness support for all persons.
She is the author of Chinese Medicine and the Management of Hypermobile Ehlers Danlos Syndrome: A Practitioner’s Guide.
When you are ready to discover what traditional medicine plus a vibrant and engaged approach to holistic health can do for you, either contact Dr. Bruno or book an appointment online.
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Two Hearts Wellness/Holistic Health & hEDS does not accept paid advertising on this website
Note: Material on this web site site is not intended to diagnose, prevent, treat, or cure any disease, illness, or ailment. A Chinese medicine practitioner in Texas identifies syndrome patterns but does not diagnose illness. Material on this web site does not purport to identify syndrome patterns.
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