Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Mar 11, 2026 1 hour, 54 minutes ago
Medical News: A new experimental study has revealed that far infrared radiation therapy may significantly reduce lung scarring and inflammation linked to pulmonary fibrosis, raising hope for a safer and non-invasive treatment strategy for a disease that currently has no cure.
Far infrared radiation therapy may reduce lung scarring and inflammation linked to pulmonary fibrosis
Pulmonary fibrosis is a serious condition in which lung tissue becomes progressively scarred and stiff, making breathing increasingly difficult. Existing drugs can slow the disease slightly but often come with serious side effects and limited long-term benefits. Researchers are therefore exploring new therapeutic approaches that could better protect lung tissue and slow disease progression.
A Non-Invasive Therapy Under Investigation
Scientists from the School of Clinical Medicine at Shandong Second Medical University in Weifang, China, the School of Rehabilitation Medicine at Shandong Second Medical University in Weifang, China, and the Department of Clinical Pathology at the School of Basic Medicine, Shandong Second Medical University in Weifang, China conducted experiments to evaluate whether far infrared radiation could help protect lungs from fibrosis.
Far infrared radiation is a form of electromagnetic energy that cannot be seen by the human eye but can penetrate deep into tissues. Previous studies have shown that this form of radiation can improve circulation, reduce inflammation, and promote healing in different parts of the body. However, its potential effects on lung fibrosis had not been fully studied.
How the Study Was Conducted
To investigate the therapy, the researchers used a well-established laboratory model of pulmonary fibrosis in mice. Lung damage was induced using a chemical called bleomycin, which triggers inflammation and progressive scarring similar to what is seen in human disease.
The animals were then treated with daily sessions of far infrared radiation for about an hour over a 28-day period. Throughout the experiment, the researchers carefully monitored lung structure, inflammation levels, and breathing performance.
Clear Improvements in Lung Health
The results were striking. Mice receiving the infrared therapy showed significantly less lung scarring compared to untreated animals. Their lungs contained lower levels of collagen buildup, a hallmark of fibrosis, and they also had fewer inflammatory cells infiltrating the tissue.
Importantly, treated mice demonstrated improved breathing performance. Measurements showed lower airway resistance and better lung flexibility, indicating that their lungs were functioning more efficiently.
Another notable finding was that the treated animals had fewer signs of tissue damage and internal bleeding in the lungs, suggesting that the therapy helped stabilize fragile lung structures.
Blocking the Biological Drivers of Fibrosis
The researchers also examined the biological mechanisms behind the improvements. They discovered that far infrared radiation ap
peared to suppress several key processes that drive fibrosis.
These included the abnormal activation of fibroblasts, the cells responsible for producing scar tissue, as well as a process known as epithelial-mesenchymal transition, where healthy lung cells transform into scar-forming cells. The therapy also reduced abnormal blood vessel growth in damaged lung tissue, another factor that can worsen fibrosis.
Most importantly, the treatment interfered with a major disease-causing signaling pathway involving the proteins p53 and TGF-beta. These molecules normally trigger inflammation and tissue remodeling after injury, but when overactivated they promote progressive scarring.
By dampening this signaling pathway, the therapy helped prevent excessive inflammation and slowed the development of fibrosis.
Why the Findings Matter
This
Medical News report highlights a potentially important development in the search for better treatments for pulmonary fibrosis. Unlike many drug-based therapies, far infrared radiation is non-invasive, does not involve chemicals entering the body, and can be applied externally.
If future studies confirm these findings in humans, the technology could eventually become a supportive therapy to slow lung scarring and improve breathing in patients suffering from this devastating disease.
Conclusion
The study provides compelling evidence that far infrared radiation therapy can significantly reduce inflammation, limit scar formation, and improve lung function in experimental pulmonary fibrosis. By targeting multiple biological pathways involved in fibrosis development, the therapy may offer a promising complementary approach for managing a disease that currently lacks effective curative treatments. Further research in larger animal models and human clinical trials will be essential to determine whether this safe, non-invasive therapy could eventually become part of standard care for patients with pulmonary fibrosis.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed International Journal of Molecular Sciences.
https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/6/2551
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