SAD Light Therapy Products Blog

Light Therapy to Restore Circadian Rhythms

2011-04-17T14:36:00.000-07:00

Circadian rhythms is actually an internal clock that controls the cycle of waking up and sleep for a person’s body, the blood pressure and heart rate and the immune system. The circadian rhythm disorder actually means insomnia. Insomnia usually happens when a person’s sleep pattern has a disturbance such as sleeping with the wrong body posture, odd indoor work shifts, flying across time zones or when the amount of daylight declines during fall or winter.

SAD light therapy products are used as a treatment for people who suffer from circadian rhythm disorder by correcting a person’s sleep phase disorder. There are several types of sleep phase disorder which are Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome (DSPS) and Advanced Sleep Phase Syndrome (ASPS).

In most cases, younger children are often found to suffer from Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome (DSPS). They find it difficult to sleep until early in the morning. They find it hard to get up in the morning and have a tough time staying awake in school.

Elderly people too may suffer from Advanced Sleep Phase Syndrome (ASPS). In this case, their biological clocks speed up. They find it hard to go to bed early and often wake up late in the morning. And if they force themselves to wake up earlier, they will feel very tired and lethargic throughout the day. That’s also one reason why they often need an afternoon nap to replenish their lost sleep.

Light therapy is very simple treatment which only requires you to sit and expose yourself near unique light boxes fixed with bulbs or white lights. These boxes emit waves of light that will enter the eye. The nerve in the eye will then connect these waves to an area in hypothalamus region of the brain.

Once the waves enter the hypothalamus, it will send a signal to the pineal gland which will quicken the release of a hormone called melatonin.

Melatonin stimulates the production of the active hormone serotonin. This hormone will make you to become more active, alert and energetic thus improving concentration and motivation.

But most importantly, it will help to restore your circadian rhythm back to its natural state, allowing you to get a good night’s rest at the right time.

This treatment is actually used to adjust a person’s internal biological clock in the way that sunlight synchronizes your bio clock naturally. Light therapy is also used to cure various ailments, including depression and sleep disorders caused by PMS, severe jet lag, chronic anxiety and panic attacks with the help of natural or artificial light. It could also be used to ease Parkinson’s disease by reducing the patient’s tremors.

However, there are several precautions you need to be aware of such as checking your eyes for cataracts, glaucoma or retinal detachment as it is not advisable if you were to take this treatment.

Always make sure to avoid light therapy treatment if you bipolar disorder, skin or eyes that are highly sensitive to light. Contact and check your nearest healthcare expert before proceeding into this treatment and avoid looking directly into the light source during the therapy.

SAD Light Therapy For Winter Depression

2011-02-26T13:54:00.000-08:00

Sometimes you just look out the window during a snowy winter and you just start to feel down. You just don’t feel like doing anything - the cold weather and white background can be quite depressing.

If that’s how you feel when winter comes along then chances are you’ve got the “winter blues”. You’ve probably heard the term “winters blues” a lot and thought it is just a way to describe the mood you are feeling. But it might actually be a mood disorder called the Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

This SAD can happen as early as fall or when winter is arriving and be gone when spring arrives. How do you get infected with SAD?

It is not transmitted through any viruses or bacteria but is caused by the lack of sunlight. Our hypothalamus goes through a biochemical imbalance and this causes us to feel depressed, lethargic or loss of libido.

The cure for SAD is actually simple – get more sunlight! The reason places like Miami or the Caribbean are such popular holiday destinations during the winter holidays are because of the sun. But unless you have a fortune, you can’t spend your whole winter in a tropical country.

The average SAD patient will not be able to afford such a luxurious holiday to cure their disorder. That is why doctors and researchers have come up with a SAD Light Therapy.

Bathing yourself in light to get a tan is not a SAD Light Therapy. It is a process where you are exposed to indirect intense light for a few minutes to an hour and you must not wear any light protection on your eyes. You can use Sunbox SunSquare+ SAD Therapy Light Box with Stand or Sunbox Sunlight Jr SAD Therapy Light as sunlight replacements.

You cannot use ordinary light because they lack the lux, which is how intense the light is. As a comparison, office lighting would have the lux of 200-500 while the summer sun has as much as 100,000 lux. You need a minimum dosage of 2,500 lux and the Sunbox can provide that. The Sunbox is adjustable to emit 2,500, 5,000 or 10,000 lux.

Getting light through the eyes is an important step in the SAD Light Therapy. But be careful not to look directly into it since it can damage your eyesight. At the same time, you shouldn’t wear any form of eye protection such as sunglasses during SAD Light Therapy since that is how the hypothalamus gets stimulated.

What you can do is exercise, eat or just hang around reading a book in front of the Sunbox.

How long you need to be in front of the Sunbox depends on each individual. Some people might only need 15 minutes daily on a low setting while others might need an hour a day on maximum settings.

You would feel an immediate improvement the next day after your SAD Light Therapy with the Sunbox. The symptoms will either lessen or be completely gone after a good night’s rest. You are also advised to go through one session of SAD Light Therapy daily for the rest of the winter season to keep the “winter blues” at bay.

Light Box Models from Northern Light Technologies

2011-02-05T20:10:00.000-08:00

Winter is the season where people faced with Seasonal Affective Disorder and light therapy is the recommended way to deal with them. Just because you are going through therapy doesn't necessary mean that you will need to face inconveniences such as having ugly equipments around the house.

Nowadays you can purchase attractive, compact and versatile light therapy products from Northern Light Technologies. Depending on your needs, there are 4 types of Northern Light Technologies to choose from - travel, desk, floor, and box lights.

The Northern Light Technologies TRAVelite is best choice for those traveling a lot. It can easily fit into your travel luggage and briefcase thanks to its ultra compact design. It is electronically powered thus you will not face issues like flickering and humming sound.

One of the main features of TRAVelite is that it is very versatile. It has a stand allowing it to be set on a desk, table or on a shelf. It also comes with a wall mount allowing you to hang the unit on a hook or nail. The TRAVelite doesn't emit UV or magnetic fields and it is energy saving, consuming no more than 50 watts.

The Northern Light Technologies SADelite is ideal for those working long hours at their office or studio during the winter days. It is a 10,000 lux light therapy that features a unique compact design, top quality built and is adjustable to suit your needs. In delivering its bright light technology, SADelite combines a large high-performance parabolic reflector with high-output fluorescent tubes.

Despite this it only uses 80 watts which in turn generates no heat and has a tube life of 5,000 hours. Its UV output is blocked below 400nm. The SADelite comes with 5 years warranty to protect the buyer from any defects.

If you feel that SADelite is not for you, another recommended choice is the Boxelite SAD Therapy Light. It has similar features like the SADelite such as 10,000 lux light, easily adjustable, uses only 80 watts of power and has a tube life of 5,000 hours. Its UV output is also blocked under 400 nm.

The main difference between the two products is that Boxelite can be placed anywhere in the house ad not necessary on a desk. It also has a slimmer design which allows easy storage; bend the couch, in the closet or under your bed. Like the SADelite the Boxelite also comes with 5 years warranty.

The Flamingo SAD Floor Lamp is an attractive, ultra compact SAD light that is suitable to be used in any kind of situation such as during a morning workout or while getting a beauty treatment. The floor lamp stands at only 46 inches, delivers 5,000 lux of light an hour per day and consumes less than 48 watts of power. Despite being energy saving, the Flamingo is capable of lighting up an entire room. The head lamp is completely adjustable allowing you to set it at any angle you desire.

All Northern Light Technologies therapy lights are approved by the Canadian Standards Association and come with universal power feature. This means that anyone in any parts of the world can use these therapy lights without having to worry about them being incompatible with their household power.

Sunbox Sunlight Jr. SAD Light Therapy Light Box

2011-01-27T20:06:00.000-08:00

The most portable SAD Light Therapy Light Box on the market today is probably the Sunbox Sunlight Jr. Another great benefit is that the Sunlight Junior is not just small when it comes to its physical size. It only weights four pounds, much lighter than anything else on the market – so you can easily pack it in your suitcase if you really wanted to. It has a small price tag as well, especially compared to full size light therapy units available today. Whether you are looking for something small so that you can take it wherever you may be travelling to, or if you are looking for something low cost so that you can still make your ends meet on a limited budget, the Sunbox Sunlight Jr. SAD Light Therapy Light Box is probably what you are looking for.

The device is intended mainly to serve as therapy treatment for those who suffer from SAD, or Seasonal Affective Disorder, which is a disorder that affects people during the fall and winter when less sunlight is available and cloud cover is more common. The symptoms of SAD are not easy to deal with. One major symptom, quite fittingly, is depression; another common symptom is lack of energy or motivation. Using light therapy such as what you get through the Sunlight Jr., you can help your body move beyond SAD and enjoy the winter months just as much as the summer months.

The light on the Sunbox Sunlight Jr. is custom designed to help those who suffer from SAD. The light bulbs are specially formulated to replicate real sunlight, which studies show is most effective in combating SAD – in fact, the disorder may not be affected at all by regular indoor lights, as they are much weaker than sunlight. The sheer power contained in such a small unit as the Sunlight Jr. will probably surprise you. It can output 10,000 Lux at 14” distance – that far outshines any conventional lamp you can buy in regular stores, even the ones that use extra bright bulbs.

The Sunbox Sunlight Jr. is built to extremely high standards. Not only does it work very efficiently and do its job well, but it will last you for a very long time, too. The bulbs are guaranteed to last you at least two years; far more than many regular light bulbs on the shelves at supermarkets and wholesale centers. The unit itself is protected by a lifetime guarantee, meaning that it’s going to work well and keep doing so. If not, you’re protected by a guarantee, so you have no worries when making your purchase.

If you suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder, or if you just would like to have a brighter home or work environment wherever you go, the Sunbox Sunlight Jr. is exactly what you are looking for. Imagine being able to come home not to a dreary and dark environment, but a bright and vibrant one that will cheer you up! With great features, durability, and a guarantee that is the best in the industry, you have nothing to lose.

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Why should I buy a SAD light?

2010-01-13T20:17:00.000-08:00

You’ve probably heard of the term SAD light before, but what is a SAD light really for and what are the benefits of using one? SAD lights are increasing in popularity and demand due to their versatile and natural healing properties. SAD lights have been proven to help increase energy, attain a better night’s sleep, improve mood or mindset, and enhance overall well being.

SAD lights were originally created to help people who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD, hence the name SAD light. SAD is a condition in which a person feels depression-like symptoms during the long winter months when sunlight is at its lowest, it is often referred to as the “winter blues.” People who suffer from SAD often report difficulty concentrating, low energy or fatigue, loss of interest in daily activities, moodiness, sleeping in excessive amounts, and weight gain. Even though SAD is mainly a seasonal disorder, people who work in spaces without windows or in places of darkness may experience SAD symptoms year round.

Life without the healing effects of the sun can be grim; the sun is a very powerful natural antidepressant. The light emitted from the sun helps to assist the body in producing serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is the mood-lifting chemical responsible for creating a happy and balanced state of mind. On the other hand, Low levels of serotonin have been linked to depression and depression-like feelings.

Whether the dark days of winter or an enclosed workspace contribute to your lack of sunlight, a SAD light can help. SAD lights are able to help produce serotonin in the brain just as the sun, but without the health risks of the sun, SAD lights either filter out or do not emit ultraviolet light and are considered safe and effective. SAD lights function by emitting a balanced spectrum of light from fluorescent tubes within the SAD light box. As the light is emitted from the light box, a person should sit in fairly close proximity (1 to 2 feet) from the light box while the light is then absorbed into the body. Many people enjoy their SAD light time each day by choosing to read, write, or just relax while sitting in front of the light box.

Even though SAD lights were created to help people who suffer from SAD, research has shown that anybody can reap the countless benefits associated with the light absorption from a SAD light. SAD light therapy can even help to enhance sleep/wake cycles by regulating the internal body clock to help assist with mild sleeping disorders. The time is now, make SAD light therapy a part of your plan to boost your mood, get better sleep, and enhance your lifestyle.