Light Therapy Information
Light therapy is a way to treat certain conditions by exposure to bright artificial light. It is used to treat a variety of conditions, including mood disorders, depression, seasonal affective disorder and sleep disorders. Light therapy is thought to cause biochemical changes in the brain that help control or reduce symptoms of seasonal affective disorder. It is also called phototherapy.
History
The power of light to heal has been recognized for many years. The Greeks recorded the healing powers of light in 1500 B.C., suggesting that exposure to light was essential for restoration of health. Hippocrates, who is considered the father of modern medicine, prescribed exposure to sunlight to treat many illnesses. Prior to World War II, many hospitals were built with a sunroom to help patients recuperate in sunlight. The use of light boxes became a proven way to treat seasonal affective disorder in the 1980s.
The Facts
During light therapy, a person sits near a portable box, called a light therapy box that mimics natural outdoor light. The lighting used in a light box is much more intense than normal household lighting. The light box may contain wavelengths found in natural UV light, or it may emit non-UV white light. Therapy is usually done at home.
Benefits
A variety of conditions may benefit from light therapy. The most widely known condition that is treated by phototherapy is seasonal affective disorder, which is a form of depression associated with shortened daylight hours in late fall to early spring. It has sometimes been found to be effective in treating bipolar disorder, insomnia, postpartum depression and other forms of depression. When used in treating depression, light therapy is found to obtain results faster than medication and with fewer side effects.
Side Effects
Some people do experience some side effects to light therapy, such as headaches, fatigue, sunburn and dry eyes. Side effects often go away on within a few days of starting therapy. You can try to alleviate symptoms by changing the time of day of treatments, moving farther away from the box or using it for short amounts of time, taking breaks between sessions.
Considerations
You may want to consider light therapy if you don't want to take antidepressants, or if you are bothered by the side effects of antidepressants. It may also be an option to try instead of psychotherapy. Light boxes can be purchased from drugstores or Internet retailers, or they can be rented from some healthcare supply companies.
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