Light therapy
lamps and boxes relieve the distress caused by Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a form of depression common during the winter months. Light therapy is the most well-known treatment for SAD. There are a wide array of products to relieve the dark, damp days of winter for those afflicted with this disorder.
How Light Therapy Products Work
A light therapy box or lamp emulates the natural light one receives from being outside in the spring or summer. Exposure to this light while you work or relax curbs the body from releasing melatonin. In certain cases, light therapy alone alleviates the symptoms of SAD and related disorders, including jet lag. In tougher cases, prescription medication and counseling can be used alone or in tandem with light therapy to combat the condition.
What To Look for When Buying a Light Box or Lamp
New light therapy boxes with better results contain LED bulbs and focus light better and provide better results than standard florescent bulbs. When researching light therapy products, check for newer models with LED (light-emitting diode) bulbs. Then determine the light intensity, or lux of a box. Regular indoor lighting requires usually no more than 500 lux, to counteract SAD. The best light therapy product uses a light dosage of 10,000 lux. Look at the way the light therapy products emit rays. The best lamps or light boxes filter out UV (ultra-violet) rays. Full spectrum light therapy lamps mimic natural sun and emit UV rays like natural sunlight. If you choose a full spectrum box, make sure it has a diffuser screen to block UV rays. Broad spectrum light boxes filter out the harmful UV rays. They emit a bright white light, and most light therapy products use this type of light. Doctors consider the broad spectrum, or white light therapy, as the safest light source to use since they are completely void of harmful UV rays.
Additional Light Therapy Box Features
If you prefer a gradual approach, dawn simulators slowly turn on the light in your room before you get up in the morning. Available as nightstand alarm clocks or an attachment for overhead lights, dawn simulation light therapy works while the user sleeps and mimics light from a gradual sunrise. The Pi-Square Dawn Simulator "SunUp" lets you control the amount of lighting, where many other models provide only one setting. Studies indicate that using fluorescent light with a diffusion filter or a white light in the morning yields the best results. When using, point at a downward angle to improve lighting. If you need to move a lamp between rooms, choose a floor stand with adjustable light box. Some brands add toxin-cleansing negative ion therapy to their lights. The Sun Touch Plus Lamp and Ionizer provides negative ions similar to those found on beaches or lakefronts. Portable light boxes like the LItebook Elite can be used in the office, the bedroom or while traveling.
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