Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN)

A gentle therapy that helps calm inflammation, restore immune balance, and support natural healing

What Is Low Dose Naltrexone?

Low-Dose Naltrexone (LDN) is a safe, non-toxic, and affordable medication that helps the body calm inflammation and restore immune balance. It’s used as part of broader wellness care — especially for people with autoimmune, inflammatory, or chronic pain conditions.

At high doses, naltrexone is used to treat addiction. At very low doses (about 1-5 mg), it works completely differently. Instead of blocking the body’s natural endorphins, it gives a short signal that encourages your body to make more of its own. These endorphins are powerful messengers that support healing, pain relief, energy, and mood.

LDN is not a controlled drug, narcotic, or addictive. It simply helps your body use its own chemistry more efficiently.

The science behind LDN dates back to the 1980s, when researchers noticed that small doses of naltrexone improved immune balance and reduced inflammation. Since then, studies and clinical experience have expanded its use to conditions such as autoimmune diseases, chronic pain, thyroid issues, and even post-viral or inflammatory disorders.

In essence, LDN is about restoring balance — helping your body do what it’s already designed to do: protect, repair, and heal itself more effectively.

How Does LDN Work?

LDN works by gently helping your body re-balance its own immune and healing systems. It does this through two main pathways — your endorphin system and your immune system’s alarm system.

1. Boosts Your Natural Endorphins

Endorphins are your body’s natural “feel-good” and “anti-inflammatory” messengers. They help regulate mood, pain, sleep, and immune balance.
When LDN is taken in a small dose, it briefly blocks the receptors that endorphins attach to. This short “pause” signals your body to make more of its own endorphins once the medicine wears off. The result: better pain control, calmer inflammation, and a stronger sense of well-being.

2. Calms an Overactive Immune Response

Your immune system protects you from infection and injury, but sometimes it stays on “high alert” — causing chronic inflammation, fatigue, or autoimmune flares.
LDN helps quiet this overreaction by working on specific immune receptors (called TLR-4) found on immune and nerve cells. When these are over-stimulated, they release inflammatory chemicals that make symptoms worse. LDN helps tone that response down so your immune system can do its job without overfiring.

3. Why the “Low Dose” Matters

At high doses, naltrexone is used for addiction treatment and blocks endorphins completely. At low doses, it works very differently — it only blocks the receptors for a short time, allowing your body to naturally “reset.” This gentle rhythm of brief blocking and rebound production is what makes LDN unique.

LDN doesn’t suppress the immune system; it helps it communicate more clearly.

Who Might Benefit from LDN?

LDN may be considered when the body shows signs of inflammation, immune imbalance, or ongoing pain that hasn’t improved with standard treatments. It doesn’t replace your current care — it complements it, helping restore the body’s natural rhythm and resilience.

Because it helps regulate — not suppress — the immune system, LDN can support a wide range of conditions where the body is “over-reacting” or “under-recovering.”

Conditions where LDN may be helpful:

Autoimmune disorders (Hashimoto’s, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriasis)
Chronic pain and fibromyalgia
Endometriosis and pelvic pain
Thyroid or adrenal imbalance
Chronic fatigue or post-viral syndromes (including long-COVID)
Mood changes linked to inflammation
Neuroinflammatory and neurological conditions (such as multiple sclerosis)
Digestive or inflammatory bowel conditions (Crohn’s, ulcerative colitis)

LDN can be used alongside other therapies such as BHRT, thyroid optimization, nutrition support, or lifestyle changes. It’s one of the tools Bello Wellness may consider when creating a plan that fits your biology and goals.

When LDN May Not Be Appropriate:

Use of opioid medications (they may interfere)
Pregnancy or breastfeeding (limited data)
Significant liver disease or allergy to naltrexone

Is LDN Safe?

A large BMC Medicine (2019) review looked at data from dozens of clinical trials using naltrexone in doses ranging from 3 mg to 250 mg. It found no increase in serious side effects compared to placebo — meaning the risk was the same as taking a sugar pill.

Researchers also noted that most people tolerate LDN well, with only mild, short-term effects such as vivid dreams or temporary sleep changes.

Early data from Norway, where LDN is commonly prescribed, also supports its long-term safety and consistent use across many conditions.

Overall: LDN has an excellent safety record when prescribed and monitored by a qualified clinician.

Learn More About LDN

Bello Wellness is a proud member of the LDN Research Trust — a global non-profit dedicated to education and clinical research on low-dose naltrexone. Their website offers trusted information, current studies, and patient stories for those wanting to learn more.

Is LDN Right for You?

LDN isn’t a one-size-fits-all therapy. It works best when chosen thoughtfully — as part of a bigger plan that supports hormones, metabolism, and immune balance together.

It may be worth considering if you:

Have an autoimmune, inflammatory, or chronic pain condition that hasn’t fully responded to standard care.
Prefer gentle, evidence-informed therapies with a strong safety record.
Are not taking opioid medications and have stable liver function.
Want to explore options that help your body regulate itself rather than suppress symptoms.

If that sounds like you, we can discuss whether LDN fits within your broader optimization plan. Every decision at Bello Wellness is made through a clinical lens — reviewing your health history, medications, and goals to ensure safety and clarity.

LDN is never prescribed in isolation. It’s one part of restoring your system to its natural rhythm — so you can feel stronger, clearer, and more balanced from within.

Book Your LDN Consultation