By Jennifer Whitmire, MS, MEd, MH, CHES, NEP

On my trip to Costa Rica, I did not sleep for the first 5 or 6 nights. No sleep. None!  (I arrived 5 days before the other retreaters).  Someone mentioned that I needed to tell Dr Allie that I wasn’t sleeping when she got there.  She was handing out these stem cell activation patches to various people for a variety of reasons and kept talking about X39. 

I remembered seeing her wearing these patches back in 2023, and everyone talking about them. BUT…I’m a skeptic, a scientist, and I have to see the evidence and understand the WHY and HOW.  This time, she handed me a sleep patch and told me to wear it on my 3^rd eye and put a X39 patch on the back of my neck where it joins my back.  

We continued to talk about sleep, and a therapist there mentioned that she gets 2 hours of deep sleep and 2 hours of REM sleep every single night. I told her that was impossible; I’ve never heard of anyone getting that much deep sleep or REM. BUT, that night, not only did I sleep, I got 2 hours of REM and 2 hours of deep sleep. (I should mention that all but one person at the retreat wore an Oura Ring, so we all had our sleep data).  I couldn’t believe it!  

I decided that it was a fluke.  I was just so exhausted from not sleeping for 5 or 6 days that I slept. It had nothing to do with the patches.  Dr Allie told me I could reuse the patches and wear them again the next night. I reused the patches the next night, and slept some, but not 2 hours of deep or REM.

The group told me to try again, and I put on a new sleep patch before bed. I got 2 hours of deep sleep and 2 hours of REM again!  I still am skeptical, BUT I ordered a sleeve of X39 and a sleeve of Silent Night patches as soon as I got back home to the states.  And, I have been researching them every day since, too.

These patches are a non-invasive, natural therapy by LifeWave. They claim to activate the body’s stem cells and promote healing, all without drugs or chemicals. But how exactly could something as simple as a patch influence something as complex as inflammation? 

What Are X39 Patches?

X39 patches are small adhesive patches (that look like round bandaids) that use phototherapy to stimulate specific points on the skin, like acupressure points. Unlike transdermal patches that contain a chemical (or medicine) that passes through the skin (like nicotine patches), X39 patches are designed to reflect specific wavelengths of light back into the body. This light activates copper peptide production, particularly GHK-Cu, a naturally occurring compound known for its regenerative properties.

The idea behind the X39 patch is based on photobiomodulation—using light to stimulate biological changes at the cellular level. NASA first researched this concept for wound healing in astronauts, and now it’s being used in many wellness therapies from military use to LifeWave’s technology which was created by the same inventor, David Schmidt.

The Science Behind GHK-Cu and Inflammation

As mentioned above, the X39 patch stimulates the body’s production of GHK-Cu (Glycyl-L-Histidyl-L-Lysine Copper Complex), a small peptide with powerful biological effects. GHK-Cu has been studied for decades and is known for:

• Repairing Tissue: It promotes the regeneration of skin, nerves, and blood vessels  and boosts wound healing.
• Anti-Inflammatory Actions: It reduces levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines like TNF-alpha, IL-6, and NF-κB—which activate chronic inflammatory pathways.
• Stem Cell Activation: It supports the proliferation and function of endogenous stem cells needed for repairing damaged tissues.

In a nutshell, GHK-Cu helps reset cells to a more youthful state, including modulating the inflammatory response which can become dysregulated with age, chronic stress, and illness. This is why I am so interested in its use for autoimmune disease.

How Light Affects Inflammation

First, inflammation can be good! Inflammation is a natural and necessary response. It is designed to protect us from injury, infection, and other threats. If you get a cut, you want your body to close the wound, prevent infection, and heal the injury. When inflammation becomes chronic, it can lead to a list of health problems, from joint pain to autoimmune conditions, cardiovascular disease, and accelerated aging.

Phototherapy, or low-level light therapy (LLLT), has been shown in scientific literature to reduce inflammation. We’ve all heard of people using infrared light, saunas with phototherapy, and more.

These help by:

• Improving Mitochondrial Function: Light, especially in specific wavelengths (red and near-infrared), enhances mitochondrial energy production (ATP). Healthy mitochondria (your energy powerhouses) are needed for controlling inflammation, because they regulate reactive oxygen species (ROS) and energy availability.
• Regulating Immune Cell Activity: Light exposure can reduce the activation of inflammatory macrophages (M1 type) while encouraging anti-inflammatory macrophages (M2 type) which shifts the immune balance toward balance rather than increasing inflammation.
• Enhancing Microcirculation: Better blood flow means improved delivery of oxygen and nutrients to tissues, speeding up healing and clearing out inflammatory waste products.

The X39 patch is designed to mimic these effects by reflecting light at wavelengths tuned to trigger these biochemical responses—all without needing an external light device.

Benefits of X39 Patches for Inflammation 

There are a few clinical studies on LifeWave’s patches and the reported benefits related to the mechanisms of GHK-Cu and phototherapy:

• Reduction in Joint and Muscle Pain: Users frequently report less stiffness and discomfort, possibly due to lowered inflammatory cytokine activity and enhanced tissue repair.
• Accelerated Healing: GHK-Cu has been shown in studies to promote faster recovery from injuries, burns, and wounds. X39 users also note quicker healing times.
• Improved Energy and Mood: Users often feel more vibrant and resilient from the mitochondrial support and reduced systemic inflammation, because chronic inflammation can drain cellular energy and impact neurotransmitter function.
• Younger-Looking Skin: GHK-Cu is also famous in dermatology for improving skin elasticity, reducing wrinkles, and enhancing barrier repair. The outside reflects what is going on in the inside and is another visible marker of systemic improvements.

The Role of Stem Cells in Inflammation Control

One of the unique claims of the X39 patch is that it activates the body’s own stem cells. Why does this matter for inflammation?

Stem cells are master cells that can differentiate into various cell types and are essential for tissue repair. As we age, the number and activity of stem cells naturally decline, leading to slower healing and higher levels of chronic inflammation (sometimes called “inflammaging”). Reactivating stem cell pathways could help regulate the immune system, repair damaged tissues, and even reprogram inflammatory cells toward a healing response.

Stem cells are like the body’s internal repair crew. Boosting their activity may be a way to tackle inflammation at the root.

How X39 Patches Could Be Helpful in Autoimmune Disease

X39 patches don’t deliver substances into the body; instead, they reflect specific wavelengths of light that are believed to encourage the body to elevate a copper peptide called GHK-Cu, which has been associated with tissue repair, reduced inflammation, and stem cell activation.

When it comes to autoimmune diseases, here’s where potential benefits could come into play:

• Support for Natural Healing: Autoimmune diseases involve an overactive immune response that often damages the body’s own tissues. By encouraging the activation of the body’s repair systems, X39 may help promote better tissue regeneration and recovery.
• Reduction of Inflammation: Chronic inflammation is a hallmark of autoimmune conditions. Some users report that X39 patches help reduce systemic inflammation, which could ease symptoms like joint pain, fatigue, and muscle stiffness.
• Improved Energy and Sleep: Autoimmune diseases often drain energy and disrupt sleep. X39 patches are also marketed as supporting better sleep patterns and boosting daily energy—two key factors for managing autoimmune symptoms and supporting recovery.
• Stem Cell Activity and Immune Modulation: Stem cells not only help repair damaged tissues but may also play a role in modulating immune system activity. By potentially enhancing the body’s stem cell function, the patches might support a more balanced immune response over time.

A Nerdy Look at Potential Pathways Involved

Several key pathways and molecules might be influenced by GHK-Cu and photobiomodulation techniques like X39

Pathway	Effect
NF-κB Inhibition	Decreases chronic inflammatory gene expression
TNF-α and IL-6 Suppression	Reduces pro-inflammatory cytokines
Nrf2 Activation	Boosts antioxidant defenses
VEGF Upregulation	Improves blood vessel growth and tissue oxygenation
SIRT1 Activation	Enhances cellular longevity and stress resistance

Each of these pathways plays a key role in managing how the body responds to and resolves inflammation.

What to Keep in Mind

We are ALL unique!

While the science and user reports sound promising, this is still new, AND it’s important to keep expectations realistic:

• Biological individuality (age, overall health, and severity of inflammation) matters.
• Due your own Due Diligence: Always consult with a qualified health professional for chronic or serious health issues.
• Cost vs. Benefit: X39 patches are an investment. If you respond well, they could be a great tool. If not, they may simply be an expensive experiment.

Are We Tapping Into The Body’s Own Healing Potential?

These stem cell patches represent a fascinating intersection of ancient principles (light therapy and energy medicine) and modern science (stem cells, peptides, photobiomodulation). For those of us dealing with persistent inflammation from chronic diseases like autoimmune diseases, they may offer a new, non-invasive way to support reversing illness and cellular rejuvenation.

If you’re the kind of person who geeks out about mitochondria, stem cells, peptides, and light-based therapies, you’re in the right place! This is just the kind of nerdy stuff I like to get into.

BUT…is this a miracle patch?  Don’t we still need to make lifestyle changes?  I’m still not completely convinced in this thing that sounds too good to be true, BUT I am wearing the silent nights patch at night and the X39 patch during the day and tracking any noticeable changes. I’ll get into that next week!

Join The Zen & Zest Zone Membership!  

Learn all about Food as Medicine, Herbal Remedies for home and health, workout in our monthly functional fitness workshop, and learn how to stimulate your vagus nerve for rest and restoration.  We also have a What’s App group where you can ask questions about everything from Hashimoto’s to oxalates to X39 patches and more AND get support from us and your peppers around the clock.

Find out more here!

---