SAD Light Therapy - Why Does it Work?

S.A.D. Light Therapy did not exist until the 20thsummer light. Electric lights used in the average
century. Up until then, most of the world'shome do not exceed 500 lux. To put that in
population rose with the sun and went to bedperspective, the stormiest summer day easily
when it set. Artificial light existed - but it wasproduces a steady bombardment 20 times that
inconsistent, weak, expensive, often smelly - andamount.
its flickering was hard on the eyes. So, for theOnce doctors and scientists realized the role that
most part, except for a small segment of highnatural light plays on the pineal gland and the
society, humans followed the rhythms of light andbody's production of melatonin, "Light Therapy"
seasons, just as animals and birds do in nature.was the result. There was hope for S.A.D.
Nowadays, we manipulate our waking hours justsufferers at last.
as we do everything else in modern life, thanks toThis involves subjecting sufferers of S.A.D. to
technology. Electric lighting makes short work of5,000-10,000 lux light sources - a "lux" is a unit of
darkness, we set back our clocks to "savemeasurement for light - thus suppressing the
daylight", and alarm clocks jolt us painfully awake,production of melatonin, which in turn does not
even though it's still pitch dark outside.trigger all the body's other gland to slow down for
However, you can't fool your body. It's governedthe winter. The eyes of the patient must be
not by our visual perception of light, but byexposed to this light source - in other word, he
melatonin, a hormone produced by the pinealcan't have his back to it, or wear heavy, dark
gland within our brains, responsive only to naturalglasses.
daylight. As daylight diminishes, more melatonin isThis light triggers the pineal gland through the
released. We become drowsy and desirous ofeyes. Full-spectrum, or "bright white" light is
more rest and less activity.specifically indicated for periods of 3-4 hours per
But melatonin does much more than that: Itday, from October to April. (And it goes without
controls other glandular functions in the body,saying, the person receiving light therapy should
including the thyroid gland. This "butterfly-shaped"never stare directly at the lights!)
gland at the base of the throat controlsThis brings us to one huge disadvantage: Anyone
metabolism and energy. Meanwhile, having done itswith photo-sensitivity, cataracts, glaucoma, retinal
work to slow down the thyroid gland, your winterdisorders or other eye problems should not (if
flood of melatonin is racing off to tackle youryou'll pardon the pun) expose themselves to
adrenal glands.aggressive light therapy.
We think we have "beaten" the seasons, and theIt's not practical for most people to dedicate an
problem of too little daylight - but some peopleentire morning or afternoon to light therapy;
are less fortunate than others. They arehowever, if one uses the correct light source,
particularly affected by the lack of natural light,making it's power at least 10,000 lux, recovery
and by being forced to adapt to an artificialfrom S.A.D. increases dramatically. Often, this light
rhythm.therapy is all that is needed, to cure S.A.D.
And it's all caused by their tiny pineal glands.depression.
Why do some people suffer from SeasonalLight boxes usually cost anywhere from $200-300
Affective Disorder (S.A.D.) during winter months -- but many enterprising people have managed to
and others not?make effective home units.
We've come to realize that even with ourAnd besides, says Tim P.: "Making one gives me a
abundance of electric lighting, artificial light iswinter hobby!
inadequate in convincing the body it's enjoying