Herb & supplement monograph

Blood Irradiation Therapy Drug Interactions, Uses, Effectiveness, Safety & More

Medically reviewed by ·Updated July 2026
What is this page for?

First and foremost: how Blood Irradiation Therapy interacts with medications. The heart of this page is the interaction list — every drug Blood Irradiation Therapy is known to interact with, and how serious each one is.

But these pages have grown well beyond that into a full monograph — what Blood Irradiation Therapy is, what people use it for and how strong the evidence is, its safety and side effects, and answers to the questions we’re asked most — written and reviewed by the clinical staff at HelloPharmacist. It’s educational information from our licensed clinical databases, not medical advice, and we don’t sell or endorse products. Our editorial policy

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Blood Irradiation Therapy Drug Interactions: The Bottom Line

From the HelloPharmacist Editorial Team · Updated July 2026

Based on the available evidence, Blood Irradiation Therapy drug interactions are rated moderate across the board, but none are well proven, so the real-world risk for most people appears modest with sensible caution. Every listed interaction is moderate rather than major, and all are graded as only possible, meaning they rest on preliminary research or single case reports rather than solid human studies.

Interactions deserving the most attention

The combinations we would watch most closely involve medicines where even a small shift matters. With anticoagulant and antiplatelet drugs such as aspirin, early research hints this therapy may reduce platelet clumping, which could add to bleeding risk. With diabetes medications like glyburide or glimepiride, it may lower blood sugar, raising the chance of hypoglycemia. It might also stimulate immune activity, which could work against immunosuppressants such as cyclosporine, a concern for transplant patients whose drug effects are tightly controlled.

What the rest of the list means

The long list of medications reflects these three broad drug categories, not hundreds of separately proven problems. Most of the concern is theoretical, drawn from preliminary studies and scattered case reports, and none of these effects has been confirmed to cause meaningful changes in well-controlled human research.

Check your medications against Blood Irradiation Therapy

Based on HelloPharmacist’s Blood Irradiation Therapy interaction data and reviewed under our editorial standards.

Interaction report

Drugs that interact with Blood Irradiation Therapy

327 medications have a known interaction with Blood Irradiation Therapy, graded by severity. Select any drug for the full evidence-based detail.

2,830 drugs
6-mercaptopurinePurinethol
Moderate Immunosuppressants

Clinical research suggests that blood irradiation therapy may stimulate immune function in some patients.

Read the full Blood Irradiation Therapy + 6-mercaptopurine interaction 6-mercaptopurine drug page: uses, dosage & side effects
AbciximabReoPro
Moderate Anticoagulant/antiplatelet Drugs

Preliminary clinical research suggests that blood irradiation therapy might reduce platelet aggregation.

Read the full Blood Irradiation Therapy + Abciximab interaction
AbrocitinibCibinqo
Moderate Anticoagulant/antiplatelet Drugs

Preliminary clinical research suggests that blood irradiation therapy might reduce platelet aggregation.

Read the full Blood Irradiation Therapy + Abrocitinib interaction Abrocitinib drug page: uses, dosage & side effects
AcarboseGlucobay, Prandase, Precose
Moderate Antidiabetes Drugs

Preliminary clinical research and one case report suggest that blood irradiation therapy may lower blood glucose levels.

Read the full Blood Irradiation Therapy + Acarbose interaction Acarbose drug page: uses, dosage & side effects
AcenocoumarolSintrom
Moderate Anticoagulant/antiplatelet Drugs

Preliminary clinical research suggests that blood irradiation therapy might reduce platelet aggregation.

Read the full Blood Irradiation Therapy + Acenocoumarol interaction
Acetaminophen, AspirinGemnisyn
Moderate Anticoagulant/antiplatelet Drugs

Preliminary clinical research suggests that blood irradiation therapy might reduce platelet aggregation.

Read the full Blood Irradiation Therapy + Acetaminophen, Aspirin interaction
Acetaminophen, Aspirin, CaffeineExcedrin, Excedrin Extra Strength, Excedrin Migraine
Moderate Anticoagulant/antiplatelet Drugs

Preliminary clinical research suggests that blood irradiation therapy might reduce platelet aggregation.

Read the full Blood Irradiation Therapy + Acetaminophen, Aspirin, Caffeine interaction
Acetaminophen, IbuprofenCombogesic
Moderate Anticoagulant/antiplatelet Drugs

Preliminary clinical research suggests that blood irradiation therapy might reduce platelet aggregation.

Read the full Blood Irradiation Therapy + Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen interaction
AcetohexamideDymelor
Moderate Antidiabetes Drugs

Preliminary clinical research and one case report suggest that blood irradiation therapy may lower blood glucose levels.

Read the full Blood Irradiation Therapy + Acetohexamide interaction
Acetylsalicylic AcidEntrophen
Moderate Anticoagulant/antiplatelet Drugs

Preliminary clinical research suggests that blood irradiation therapy might reduce platelet aggregation.

Read the full Blood Irradiation Therapy + Acetylsalicylic Acid interaction Acetylsalicylic Acid drug page: uses, dosage & side effects
AdalimumabHumira
Moderate Immunosuppressants

Clinical research suggests that blood irradiation therapy may stimulate immune function in some patients.

Read the full Blood Irradiation Therapy + Adalimumab interaction Adalimumab drug page: uses, dosage & side effects
Adalimumab-adazHyrimoz
Moderate Immunosuppressants

Clinical research suggests that blood irradiation therapy may stimulate immune function in some patients.

Read the full Blood Irradiation Therapy + Adalimumab-adaz interaction
Adalimumab-adbmCyltezo
Moderate Immunosuppressants

Clinical research suggests that blood irradiation therapy may stimulate immune function in some patients.

Read the full Blood Irradiation Therapy + Adalimumab-adbm interaction
Adalimumab-afzbAbrilada
Moderate Immunosuppressants

Clinical research suggests that blood irradiation therapy may stimulate immune function in some patients.

Read the full Blood Irradiation Therapy + Adalimumab-afzb interaction
Adalimumab-attoAmjevita
Moderate Immunosuppressants

Clinical research suggests that blood irradiation therapy may stimulate immune function in some patients.

Read the full Blood Irradiation Therapy + Adalimumab-atto interaction
Adalimumab-bwwdHadlima
Moderate Immunosuppressants

Clinical research suggests that blood irradiation therapy may stimulate immune function in some patients.

Read the full Blood Irradiation Therapy + Adalimumab-bwwd interaction
Adalimumab-fkjpHulio
Moderate Immunosuppressants

Clinical research suggests that blood irradiation therapy may stimulate immune function in some patients.

Read the full Blood Irradiation Therapy + Adalimumab-fkjp interaction
AlbiglutideTanzeum
Moderate Antidiabetes Drugs

Preliminary clinical research and one case report suggest that blood irradiation therapy may lower blood glucose levels.

Read the full Blood Irradiation Therapy + Albiglutide interaction
AlefaceptAmevive
Moderate Immunosuppressants

Clinical research suggests that blood irradiation therapy may stimulate immune function in some patients.

Read the full Blood Irradiation Therapy + Alefacept interaction
AlemtuzumabCampath
Moderate Immunosuppressants

Clinical research suggests that blood irradiation therapy may stimulate immune function in some patients.

Read the full Blood Irradiation Therapy + Alemtuzumab interaction Alemtuzumab drug page: uses, dosage & side effects
AlogliptinNesina
Moderate Antidiabetes Drugs

Preliminary clinical research and one case report suggest that blood irradiation therapy may lower blood glucose levels.

Read the full Blood Irradiation Therapy + Alogliptin interaction Alogliptin drug page: uses, dosage & side effects
Alogliptin, MetforminKazano
Moderate Antidiabetes Drugs

Preliminary clinical research and one case report suggest that blood irradiation therapy may lower blood glucose levels.

Read the full Blood Irradiation Therapy + Alogliptin, Metformin interaction
Alogliptin, PioglitazoneOseni
Moderate Antidiabetes Drugs

Preliminary clinical research and one case report suggest that blood irradiation therapy may lower blood glucose levels.

Read the full Blood Irradiation Therapy + Alogliptin, Pioglitazone interaction
Alteplase, TpaActilyse, Activase
Moderate Anticoagulant/antiplatelet Drugs

Preliminary clinical research suggests that blood irradiation therapy might reduce platelet aggregation.

Read the full Blood Irradiation Therapy + Alteplase, Tpa interaction
Aluminum Hydroxide, Aspirin, Codeine Phosphate, Magnesium HydroxideAscriptin Codeine #2
Moderate Anticoagulant/antiplatelet Drugs

Preliminary clinical research suggests that blood irradiation therapy might reduce platelet aggregation.

Read the full Blood Irradiation Therapy + Aluminum Hydroxide, Aspirin, Codeine Phosphate, Magnesium Hydroxide interaction
Aluminum Hydroxide, Aspirin, Magnesium HydroxideAscriptin
Moderate Anticoagulant/antiplatelet Drugs

Preliminary clinical research suggests that blood irradiation therapy might reduce platelet aggregation.

Read the full Blood Irradiation Therapy + Aluminum Hydroxide, Aspirin, Magnesium Hydroxide interaction Aluminum Hydroxide, Aspirin, Magnesium Hydroxide drug page: uses, dosage & side effects
Anacaulase-bcdbNexoBrid
Moderate Anticoagulant/antiplatelet Drugs

Preliminary clinical research suggests that blood irradiation therapy might reduce platelet aggregation.

Read the full Blood Irradiation Therapy + Anacaulase-bcdb interaction
AnagrelideAgrylin
Moderate Anticoagulant/antiplatelet Drugs

Preliminary clinical research suggests that blood irradiation therapy might reduce platelet aggregation.

Read the full Blood Irradiation Therapy + Anagrelide interaction Anagrelide drug page: uses, dosage & side effects
Anifrolumab-fniaSaphnelo
Moderate Immunosuppressants

Clinical research suggests that blood irradiation therapy may stimulate immune function in some patients.

Read the full Blood Irradiation Therapy + Anifrolumab-fnia interaction Anifrolumab-fnia drug page: uses, dosage & side effects
AnisindioneMiradon
Moderate Anticoagulant/antiplatelet Drugs

Preliminary clinical research suggests that blood irradiation therapy might reduce platelet aggregation.

Read the full Blood Irradiation Therapy + Anisindione interaction
Read The List Like a Pharmacist

What Severity, Likelihood & Evidence Mean

Severity — How Serious It Can Be

  • Major. Clinically significant; generally best avoided, or used only under direct professional supervision.
  • Moderate. May need monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one.
  • Minor. Generally not clinically significant, but still worth noting and mentioning to your pharmacist.
  • No known interaction. Checked against our sources with nothing documented — not the same as proven safety.

Likelihood — How Well It’s Documented

  • Likely. Well-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction
  • Probable. Interaction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
  • Possible. Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists
  • Unlikely. Interaction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.

Where This Data Comes From

  • Interaction records are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database (TRC Healthcare), the same reference used by pharmacists and hospitals.
  • Each drug listed above links to the full report for that exact Blood Irradiation Therapy combination — clinical detail, likelihood, evidence level, and citations.
  • Content is reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.
The big picture

The kinds of drugs Blood Irradiation Therapy affects

Every type of medication (drug category) Blood Irradiation Therapy is known to interact with. Open any category for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

All 3 drug categories Blood Irradiation Therapy interacts with
Anticoagulant/antiplatelet DrugsAntidiabetes DrugsImmunosuppressants
Anticoagulant/Antiplatelet Drugs

Preliminary clinical research suggests that blood irradiation therapy might reduce platelet aggregation. Case reports also suggest that blood irradiation therapy may be associated with an increased risk of nasal bleeding. Theoretically, blood irradiation therapy might increase the risk of bleeding when used concomitantly with anticoagulant/antiplatelet drugs.
Some of these drugs include aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam, others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others), naproxen (Anaprox, Naprosyn, others), dalteparin (Fragmin), enoxaparin (Lovenox), heparin, warfarin (Coumadin), and others.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Antidiabetes Drugs

Preliminary clinical research and one case report suggest that blood irradiation therapy may lower blood glucose levels. Theoretically, concomitant use with antidiabetes drugs might affect glucose control and increase the risk of hypoglycemia; use with caution. Dose adjustments to diabetes medications might be necessary.
Some antidiabetes drugs include glimepiride (Amaryl), glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase PresTab, Micronase), insulin, metformin (Glucophage), pioglitazone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia), and others.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Immunosuppressants

Clinical research suggests that blood irradiation therapy may stimulate immune function in some patients. Theoretically, concurrent use of blood irradiation therapy might interfere with immunosuppressive therapy.
Immunosuppressant drugs include azathioprine (Imuran), basiliximab (Simulect), cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune), daclizumab (Zenapax), muromonab-CD3 (OKT3, Orthoclone OKT3), mycophenolate (CellCept), tacrolimus (FK506, Prograf), sirolimus (Rapamune), prednisone (Deltasone, Orasone), and other corticosteroids (glucocorticoids).

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Monograph

Blood Irradiation Therapy: Uses, Safety & Side Effects

Medically reviewed by · Reviewed July 2026 ·
The bottom line

Blood Irradiation Therapy is a medical procedure—not a dietary supplement or herb—in which blood is exposed to ultraviolet or laser light, either outside the body and re-infused or by an intravenous light device. It is not approved by the U.S. FDA for treating any disease, and high-quality evidence supporting modern claims is very limited. If you are considering it, talk with a qualified physician and treat any clinic marketing it for serious illness with strong caution.

Part used
Whole blood (drawn and re-infused, or treated within the body)
Common forms
Ultraviolet blood irradiation (UBI), intravenous laser blood irradiation, photodynamic procedures performed in clinics
People commonly use it for
  • Chronic infections
  • Immune support
  • Fatigue and general wellness
  • Inflammatory conditions
  • Circulatory complaints

Popular and traditional uses — not proof it works. See “Uses & effectiveness” below for the evidence.

Safety at a glance
OverallUse caution

This is an invasive procedure with infection and other risks, and it is not a proven treatment for most conditions.

PregnancyInsufficient reliable information

Insufficient reliable information available; avoid using.

Read the full pregnancy detail
BreastfeedingInsufficient reliable information

Insufficient reliable information available; avoid using.

Read the full breastfeeding detail

Pregnancy & breastfeeding ratings are from Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center). Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

Jump to a section

Overview

Blood Irradiation Therapy is not an herb or dietary supplement. It is a medical procedure in which a person's blood is exposed to light, usually ultraviolet (UV) light or low-level laser light. The most common historical version is called ultraviolet blood irradiation (UBI), sometimes nicknamed "photoluminescence" therapy.

In a typical procedure, a small amount of blood is drawn, passed in front of a UV light source, and then returned to the body. Newer versions use a thin fiber or needle to shine laser or LED light onto blood inside a vein (intravenous laser blood irradiation).

UBI was used in some hospitals in the 1930s through 1950s before antibiotics became widely available. Today it is mostly offered by alternative or integrative clinics. It is not approved by the U.S. FDA to prevent or treat any disease.

How it works

Supporters propose that exposing blood to UV or laser light may affect immune cells, alter inflammatory signals, and improve how oxygen is delivered or how cells use energy. Some laboratory studies suggest light can change the activity of white blood cells or kill certain microbes directly.

It is worth stressing that these are proposed mechanisms based mostly on lab and animal work. Showing an effect in a test tube does not prove the same thing happens safely or usefully inside the human body. The leap from these theories to real clinical benefit has not been firmly demonstrated.

Effectiveness

Does Blood Irradiation Therapy work?

Here’s what the research actually shows for each use — graded by Natural Medicines and reviewed by .

Evidence overview · 9 uses evaluated
9 Insufficient evidence
How to read these evidence grades

Natural Medicines’ 7-point scale. We show each rating’s label word-for-word.

1EffectiveStrong, consistent evidence it works.
2Likely EffectiveGood evidence, though not yet conclusive.
3Possibly EffectiveSome evidence suggests a benefit.
4Possibly IneffectiveSome evidence it may not help.
5Likely IneffectiveFairly strong evidence it doesn’t help.
6IneffectiveStrong evidence it doesn’t work.
7Insufficient Reliable Evidence to RateToo little research to say either way.

For Blood Irradiation Therapy, current evidence isn’t strong enough to rate any specific use. The conditions it has been studied for are listed below.

Also studied for 9 conditions — evidence insufficient to rate
Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Angina
Rating & evidence shown verbatim from Natural Medicines

Preliminary clinical research in patients with angina shows that blood irradiation therapy might reduce ventricular premature beats and enhance the antianginal and anti-ischemic effects of conventional medications, when compared with conventional medications alone.

Sources Ref 27854 Ref 27855
Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Asthma
Rating & evidence shown verbatim from Natural Medicines

Preliminary clinical research in patients with mild, moderate, or severe asthma shows that intravascular blood irradiation therapy with the He-Ne laser, 8-10 sessions lasting 30 minutes each, along with conventional medications, might improve asthma symptoms and reduce the need for corticosteroids, when compared with baseline. The validity of this finding is limited by the lack of a control group.

Sources Ref 27852
Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Rating & evidence shown verbatim from Natural Medicines

Preliminary clinical research shows that intravascular blood irradiation therapy might reduce fever, cough, erythrocyte sedimentation rates, microbial growth in sputum, and lung rale sounds, and improve forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), when compared with a control in patients with COPD.

Sources Ref 27866
Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Diabetes
Rating & evidence shown verbatim from Natural Medicines

Preliminary clinical research in patients with type 2 diabetes shows that intravascular blood irradiation therapy might decrease blood glucose levels when compared with baseline. The validity of this finding is limited by the lack of a control group.

Sources Ref 27857
Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Peptic ulcers
Rating & evidence shown verbatim from Natural Medicines

Preliminary clinical research shows that intravenous blood irradiation therapy combined with Actovegin, a calf blood extract that is illegal in the U.S. and Canada, might reduce pain and inflammation and improve the composition of gastric mucosa in patients with gastroduodenal ulcers. Additional clinical research shows that intravascular blood irradiation therapy appears to reduce the time to recurrence in patients with peptic ulcers being treated with antacids, cholinolytics, and antioxidant agents. The validity of these findings is limited by the lack of control groups.

Sources Ref 27868 Ref 27869
Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Pneumonia
Rating & evidence shown verbatim from Natural Medicines

Preliminary clinical research shows that intravascular blood irradiation therapy might enhance drug therapy, reduce disease severity, and decrease the duration of disease and hospital stay in some patients with acute pneumonia.

Sources Ref 27864
Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Postoperative recovery
Rating & evidence shown verbatim from Natural Medicines

Preliminary clinical research shows that the use of intravascular blood irradiation therapy might reduce thrombotic and hemorrhagic complications in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia undergoing adenoma removal, when compared with a control group not receiving irradiation. Additional clinical research shows that intravascular blood irradiation therapy helps maintain adequate perfusion and tissue oxygenation and reduces stress reactions in patients undergoing surgical treatment of esophageal, gastric, and intestinal diseases, when compared with a control group not receiving irradiation.

Sources Ref 27861 Ref 27862
Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
Rating & evidence shown verbatim from Natural Medicines

Preliminary clinical research shows that daily intravascular blood irradiation therapy might improve symptoms in patients with RA, when compared with less frequent irradiation. However, in some patients, blood irradiation therapy may actually exacerbate the inflammatory process of RA. Women, patients with low titers of rheumatoid factor, and those in the early stages of the disease appear to achieve the greatest clinical benefit.

Sources Ref 27867
Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Tuberculosis
Rating & evidence shown verbatim from Natural Medicines

Preliminary clinical research shows that extracorporeal ultraviolet blood irradiation therapy might decrease the mycobacterial load in patients with tuberculosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Clinical symptoms and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) also appear to improve when compared with baseline in these patients. The validity of these findings is limited by the lack of a control group.

Sources Ref 27865

Source & disclaimer. Effectiveness ratings and evidence summaries are provided by Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center) and shown as licensed. Where Natural Medicines hasn’t rated a use, HelloPharmacist’s pharmacists may add their own reviewed rating and evidence (each such entry is labeled). This is educational information, not medical advice — talk with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or changing a supplement.

Safety & precautions

Because Blood Irradiation Therapy involves drawing blood, using devices, and sometimes re-infusing blood, it carries the same risks as any invasive procedure. These include infection, bleeding, bruising, blood clots, vein irritation, and—if equipment is not properly sterilized—the spread of bloodborne infections.

People with bleeding disorders, those on blood thinners, people with photosensitivity conditions (such as porphyria or lupus), and anyone with a weakened immune system should be especially careful and should not pursue this without close physician oversight.

Pregnancy: Safety has not been established. Avoid it during pregnancy. Breastfeeding: There is no reliable data, so avoid it while nursing. In general, do not use this therapy in place of standard, proven medical treatment, and always discuss it with a qualified doctor or pharmacist first.

Side effects

Reported and expected side effects relate mostly to the procedure itself and may include pain, bruising, or swelling at the needle site, lightheadedness, and temporary fatigue. Some clinics describe a flu-like "reaction" after treatment.

More serious but less common risks include infection at the injection site, bloodstream infection, allergic reactions, blood clots, and harm from improperly handled blood. Any device that contacts blood and is not sterile can transmit serious infections. Seek medical help right away for fever, spreading redness, severe pain, shortness of breath, or signs of an allergic reaction.

Blood Irradiation Therapy: Reported Adverse Effects

Documented safety reports on Blood Irradiation Therapy from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database, shown word-for-word from the licensed record.

There is currently a limited amount of information on the adverse effects of blood irradiation therapy. Case reports suggest that it may cause hypotension, urticaria, hypoglycemia, nasal bleeding, rigor, and bronchospasm.

  1. Marochkov AV, Doronin VA, Kravtsov NN. [Complications in ultraviolet irradiation of the blood]. Anesteziol Reanimatol 1990;(4):55-6.
Reports by condition
Bleeding Hematologic

Case reports suggest that blood irradiation therapy may cause nasal bleeding.

  1. Marochkov AV, Doronin VA, Kravtsov NN. [Complications in ultraviolet irradiation of the blood]. Anesteziol Reanimatol 1990;(4):55-6.
Hypoglycemia Endocrine

One case report suggests that blood irradiation therapy may cause hypoglycemia. Preliminary clinical research shows that intravascular blood irradiation therapy reduces blood glucose levels in some people.

  1. Marochkov AV, Doronin VA, Kravtsov NN. [Complications in ultraviolet irradiation of the blood]. Anesteziol Reanimatol 1990;(4):55-6.
  2. Kazemi Khoo N, Iravani A, Arjmand M, et al. A metabolomic study on the effect of intravascular laser blood irradiation on type 2 diabetic patients. Lasers Med Sci 2013;28(6):1527-32.
Hypotension Cardiovascular

Case reports suggest that blood irradiation therapy may cause hypotension.

  1. Marochkov AV, Doronin VA, Kravtsov NN. [Complications in ultraviolet irradiation of the blood]. Anesteziol Reanimatol 1990;(4):55-6.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) Musculoskeletal

Case reports suggest that blood irradiation therapy may cause rigor. Preliminary clinical research suggests that intravascular blood irradiation therapy may exacerbate the inflammatory process in some patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

  1. Marochkov AV, Doronin VA, Kravtsov NN. [Complications in ultraviolet irradiation of the blood]. Anesteziol Reanimatol 1990;(4):55-6.
  2. Zvereva KV, Gladkova ND, Grunina EA, Logunov PL. [The choice of the method for intravascular laser therapy in rheumatoid arthritis]. Ter Arkh 1994;66(1):29-32.
Urticaria Dermatologic

One case report suggests that blood irradiation therapy may cause urticaria.

  1. Marochkov AV, Doronin VA, Kravtsov NN. [Complications in ultraviolet irradiation of the blood]. Anesteziol Reanimatol 1990;(4):55-6.
DISCLAIMER: This tool is intended for informational purposes only, and should not be interpreted as specific medical advice. Patients should consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about therapies and/or health conditions.

Adverse-effects data: Natural Medicines, Therapeutic Research Center

Dosing

There is no standardized, scientifically established dose or protocol for Blood Irradiation Therapy. Clinics vary widely in the light source used, the amount of blood treated, the length of exposure, and how many sessions are recommended.

Because this is a procedure rather than a pill or supplement, there is no label dose to follow. If you are considering it, ask a licensed physician about the specific device, the evidence behind it, and the risks—and check with your pharmacist or doctor before making any decision.

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Blood Irradiation Therapy & Pregnancy

Insufficient reliable information

Insufficient reliable information available; avoid using.

Blood Irradiation Therapy & Breastfeeding

Insufficient reliable information

Insufficient reliable information available; avoid using.

DISCLAIMER: This tool is intended for informational purposes only, and should not be interpreted as specific medical advice. Patients should consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about therapies and/or health conditions.

© 2026 Therapeutic Research Center

Pregnancy & lactation ratings: Natural Medicines, Therapeutic Research Center

References & further reading

The 21 references that drive our Blood Irradiation Therapy monograph and interaction data, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Citations with a link open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

  1. Nikitin AV, Kashin AV, Karpukhina EP. [Correction of antioxidant defense in patients with bronchial asthma by the method of intravascular laser irradiation]. Probl Tuberk 1993;(3):46-7.
  2. Bobrov VA, Sirenko IuN, Sychev OS, Malinovskaia IE. [Effects of laser irradiation of blood on electrical ventricular instability in patients with progressive angina pectoris]. Kardiologiia 1993;33(2):19-21.
  3. Malinovskaia IE, Sirenko IuN, Shchumakov VA, et al. [Holter monitoring in assessing the efficacy of quantum hemotherapy in patients with unstable stenocardia]. Ter Arkh 1991;63(8):45-8.
  4. Kazemi Khoo N, Iravani A, Arjmand M, et al. A metabolomic study on the effect of intravascular laser blood irradiation on type 2 diabetic patients. Lasers Med Sci 2013;28(6):1527-32. PubMed
  5. Marochkov AV, Doronin VA, Kravtsov NN. [Complications in ultraviolet irradiation of the blood]. Anesteziol Reanimatol 1990;(4):55-6.
  6. Neimark AI, Muzalevskaia NI, Neimark BA. [Prospects for preoperative low-intensity laser therapy in preventing postoperative thrombohemorrhagic complications in adenomectomy]. Urologiia 2002;(5):4-5.
  7. Avrutskii MI, Katkovskii DG, Musikhin LV, et al. [[The use of intravenous low-intensity laser irradiation of the blood in the total complex of anesthesiological protection of patients against surgical stress]. Anesteziol Reanimatol 1991;(2):3-6.
  8. Chepik EB, Shamanova MG, Medvedeva EV, et al. Photochemotherapy in the treatment of acute pneumonias]. Vestn Ross Akad Med Nauk 1994;(9):48-51.
  9. Kuvshinchikova VN, Shmelev EI, Mishin VI. [Effectiveness of extracorporeal ultraviolet blood irradiation in treatment of chronic obstructive bronchitis in pulmonary tuberculosis]. Probl Tuberk 1998;(3):48-50.
  10. Kuvshinchikova VN, Selina LG, Shmelev EI. [Effectiveness of extracorporeal ultraviolet blood irradiation in patients with chronic obstructive bronchitis]. Probl Tuberk 1998;(1):42-4.
  11. Zvereva KV, Gladkova ND, Grunina EA, Logunov PL. [The choice of the method for intravascular laser therapy in rheumatoid arthritis]. Ter Arkh 1994;66(1):29-32.
  12. Vakhrushev IaM, Shkatova EI. [Therapeutic efficiency of a combined use of low-intensity laser radiation and actovegin in gastroduodenal ulcers with inhibited cicatrix formation]. Ter Arkh 2003;75(9):86-9.
  13. Opanasiuk ND, Degtiareva II, Skopichenko SV, et al. [The use of the immunomodulating action of intravascular laser irradiation of the blood in treating peptic ulcer patients]. Lik Sprava 1992;(1):66-8.
  14. Subbotina LA, Radchenko SN, Golovkina OL, Bubeev IuA. [Hemoaggregation dynamics in human-operator during percutaneous laser blood irradiation]. Aviakosm Ekolog Med 2009;43(3):56-60.
  15. Ovcharova AP. [The quantum gravitational therapy of myocarditis]. Lik Sprava 1999;(3):95-7.
Keep reading

This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Blood Irradiation Therapy: Common Questions

What is Blood Irradiation Therapy used for, and does it work?
People use Blood Irradiation Therapy for a range of reasons, but according to the Natural Medicines database the current clinical evidence is insufficient to confirm it works for the specific conditions it has been studied for. See the graded list on this page, and talk to your pharmacist or doctor before relying on it for any condition.
Does Blood Irradiation Therapy interact with prescription medications?
Yes. We list 327 medications with a known interaction with Blood Irradiation Therapy. Use the checker above to see how Blood Irradiation Therapy interacts with a specific drug.
How are Blood Irradiation Therapy interactions rated?
Each interaction is graded major, moderate, or minor based on how clinically significant it is and the strength of the evidence behind it. Major interactions are the most serious and are best avoided, or used only under close professional supervision.
Is it safe to take Blood Irradiation Therapy with my medications?
It depends on the specific medication. Some combinations are fine, while others call for monitoring, timing changes, or should be avoided. Check your exact drug above and confirm with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or changing anything.
Where does this Blood Irradiation Therapy interaction information come from?
Our interaction data is built on the Natural Medicines database — an evidence-graded reference for vitamins, herbs, and supplements — and is reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists, who may add clinical context.
Is Blood Irradiation Therapy a supplement I can buy?
No. It is a medical procedure that uses UV or laser light on the blood, usually done in a clinic. It is not a pill, herb, or supplement you take at home.
Is it proven to work?
Not for most conditions. The supporting evidence is mostly old, small, or from lab studies, and major health authorities do not recognize it as a proven treatment. The FDA has not approved it to treat any disease.
Is it safe?
It carries real risks because it involves needles and handling blood, including infection, bleeding, and clots. It should only be considered, if at all, under the supervision of a qualified physician—and it is not a substitute for standard care.
Can I have it during pregnancy or while breastfeeding?
Its safety in pregnancy and breastfeeding has not been studied, so it should be avoided during these times.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

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