THE CURE INDEX
Helio Cure's evidence score based on human clinical trials for red light therapy.
A stomach ulcer is an open sore that forms in the lining of the stomach when acid and digestive juices wear away its protective layer.
A review of 3 human studies covering 213 participants found red light therapy to be effective for stomach ulcers. The CURE Index scored this condition 74 out of 100, indicating strong confidence.
In these studies, adding light treatment to standard ulcer care was associated with faster easing of symptoms and signs of better ulcer healing.
The 3 studies included 2 clinical trials and 1 observational study. All 3 studies reported effective outcomes.
The most cited wavelength was 632.8 nm, and the wavelengths used across the studies reached up to 1400 nm.
EVIDENCE AT A GLANCE
The numbers behind the verdict.
MOST CITED WAVELENGTH
The wavelength appearing most often in studies that showed benefit for stomach ulcer.
632.8 nmTREATMENT PROTOCOL RANGES
The lowest and highest values used across stomach ulcer studies.
| PARAMETER | RANGE |
|---|---|
| Wavelength | 632.8-1400 nm |
3 Human Studies on Red Light Therapy for Stomach Ulcer
Infection Cleared in 95.8% of Patients After Stomach Ulcer Surgery
2010 brought a clinical trial of low-intensity helium-neon (He-Ne) laser given after surgery for stomach and duodenal ulcers that had burst through the gut wall. Patients who carried the stomach bacterium Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) were compared with patients who did not, and 632.8 nm He-Ne laser light was given in the early recovery period alongside standard drug treatment. According to the trial, H. pylori was fully cleared in 95.8% of the patients who had carried it. Over 1 to 5 years of follow-up, fewer returning ulcers, less bleeding, less narrowing where the stomach empties, and fewer other surgical problems were reported in the H. pylori group than in the comparison group.
- Study Type
- Clinical Trial
- Treated Area
- Abdomen
- Wavelength(s)
- 632.8 nm
Study Title: [Application of low-intensive laser irradiation in the treatment of perforative gastroduodenal ulcers].
Laser Plus Drugs Improved Duodenal Ulcers Faster Than Drugs Alone
Researchers in Russia tested laser therapy added to standard drug treatment for duodenal ulcers, which form in the first part of the small intestine, in a 2003 clinical trial. Of 123 patients, 89 received laser alongside their drugs, and 34 received drug treatment alone. Laser was given 2 ways: a 632.8 nm helium-neon laser (HNL) shone onto the ulcer through a thin camera tube passed down the throat, and a 780 to 1400 nm infrared laser (IRL) applied through the skin of the belly over the same area. Symptoms appeared to ease faster in the laser group than in the drug-only group. Blood tests, camera checks of the ulcer, and blood flow in the smallest blood vessels also tended to improve more with laser.
- Study Type
- Clinical Trial
- Participants
- 123
- Treated Area
- Abdomen
- Wavelength(s)
- 632.8, 780-1400 nm
Study Title: [Laser therapy of duodenal ulcers: effect on indices of microcirculation, cell membrane permeability and homeostasis of trace elements].
Stomach Ulcers Healed Equally Fast With Laser or Pressurized Oxygen
Comparing low-energy infrared laser with hyperbaric oxygen therapy, a 1985 observational study looked at how quickly ulcers of the stomach and the first part of the small intestine healed. 90 patients received either the laser, shone directly on the ulcer at wavelengths between 780 and 1400 nm, or hyperbaric oxygen therapy, in which patients breathe oxygen under raised pressure. The study found that ulcers healed in a similar amount of time with either treatment. Based on this, both approaches were proposed as options for these ulcers, chosen based on how well each patient tolerates them.
- Study Type
- Observational Study
- Participants
- 90
- Treated Area
- Digestive System
- Wavelength(s)
- 780-1400 nm
Study Title: [Comparative results of the treatment of gastroduodenal ulcers with low-energy laser and hyperbaric oxygenation].
The CURE Index (Clinical Understanding of Red-light Evidence) by Helio Cure is a 0-100 evidence score based on published human clinical trials. Higher scores mean stronger evidence. Read full methodology →
Data is powered by AI and reviewed by the Helio Cure team.
This page is for educational purposes only. Not medical advice. Consult a healthcare provider before starting red light therapy. Helio Cure does not diagnose, treat, or cure any medical condition.
Last updated: Oct 08, 2026