Light Therapy

The Science Behind the Healing Properties of Light

The Science Behind the Healing Properties of Light

Background & History

Since the 1950s, medical practitioners have treated depression, sleeplessness, and other mood disorders with light therapy. But technology was not very sophisticated. Only hospitals and clinics could afford light therapy panels. Treatments sessions were long-often several hours! By the 1980s, light therapy devices were smaller, but treatments were still long and primarily restricted to clinics. Technology has advanced! Now, light therapy lamps are small and attractive. You can treat yourself, in 15-30 minute sessions, anytime at home or in your office.

What Is Light Therapy?

Light therapy or phototherapy consists of exposure to specific wavelengths of light that have positive health benefits. There are a variety of light therapy lamps. Some use lasers, LED light, fluorescent bulbs, dichronic lamps, or very bright, full-spectrum light. With consistent accuracy, for over 40 years, light therapy has been proven effective in treating seasonal affective disorder (SAD), sleep problems, low mood, jet lag, shift work problems, decreased sexual desire, and skin conditions.

What is S.A.D. and How Can Light Therapy Help?

Seasonal Affective Disorder is generally experienced as depression during wintertime. There's a chemical reason behind this mood swing. Sunlight affects our emotional receptors. With limited sunlight in winter, 3% of the population in the US, Canada, and Europe experience low mood, depression, sadness, or the “blues.”

In 2005 the American Psychiatric Association work group had a breakthrough treating SAD. They concluded that light therapy could be recommended as a “first-line” treatment for SAD and depression.

Another study stated that in addition to bright light therapy, “twilight exposure appears able to promote circadian phase adjustments, morning melatonin suppression, regularized sleep patterns, and antidepressant responses.”

As scientific research continues to verify the effectiveness of gentle natural light therapy in treating depression, why not try this safe, side-effect-free method first and experience the results?