What Is Bright Light Therapy?
Exposure to bright light has been found to help reset circadian rhythms and boost the feel-good chemical composition in the brain to alleviate and treat symptoms of environmental depression. How does bright light therapy work, and how is it used?
The Biology of Light
The necessity of light goes far beyond the ability to grow crops and keep warm. Human bodies require natural light to maintain a harmonious chemical balance in the brain. Exposure to natural light helps to regulate circadian rhythms, the internal biological clock that regulates the sleep and wake cycle. When your circadian rhythm is thrown out of whack, your body is not able to function properly.
Experts who study the biology of light have found that light has significant and direct impact on overall psychology, physiology, and mood. It’s seen as so important that psychiatrists and other clinicians now advocate for the clinical use of light, or bright light therapy.
What is Bright Light Therapy & How Is It Used?
Bright light therapy is a non-invasive therapy that uses artificial light to supplement natural light deficiencies in certain forms of depression.
A standard treatment approach consists of a fluorescent light box that gives off 10,000 lux of white light, which is then placed at a distance from the user’s eyes, depending on the size and make of the device. Patients are exposed to this bright light for 15 to 30 minutes in the morning to help reset their circadian rhythms.
It’s also important to understand that light therapy boxes do not give off any UV light, the natural rays produced by the sun that can cause skin cancer and damage your eyes. Light therapy simulates the effects of natural light through the visual pathways of your eyes, which helps to boost the feel-good, mood-stabilizing chemical in the brain known as serotonin.
Many patients who use bright light therapy are treated for sleep issues; general depression and Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). SAD is an annual depressive pattern where patients experience symptoms of dynamic mood swings, social withdrawal, oversleeping, weight gain, anxiety, fatigue, and more. Typically, patients suffering from SAD experience these symptoms in the winter, darker months where days are shorter and natural light is scarce.
Bright light therapy is emerging as a more effective alternative to prescription drugs, boasting results with fewer harmful side effects. While this form of treatment requires more of a time commitment than its counterpart, studies have proven it to be a safer and more natural solution to remedy environment-related depressions.
Global Leader in Light Therapy Products
With more than 30 years in business, the SunBox Company is a worldwide industry leader in the production of light therapy products. As the original bright light therapy box company, we are proud to have served thousands of patients who suffer from SAD or other forms of light deficiency illnesses. Get in touch with The SunBox Company today to learn more about how light therapy can help.Tags: bright light therapy, Light therapy, SAD treatment