What is light therapy?
Light therapy is the shining of bright light into your eyes, typically for a half hour each session. Mood & Sleep Disorder clinics recommend 10,000 lux light levels Since the 1980’s, light therapy has become the first line treatment for Winter Blues and SAD. Bright light can also be used to shift your circadian (wake/sleep) cycle, so it is used to prevent jet lag, minimize work shift change fatigue, and help abnormal sleep phase insomnias.
Light therapy involves daily, scheduled exposure to intense levels of artificial light in order to regulate seasonal mood swings, improve sleeping patterns, and produce a general sense of well-being. According to medical researchers, the fluorescent light box is the preferred device for light therapy, with a recommended starting dose of 10,000 lux for 30 minutes per day. (Lux is the unit of measuring the illumination intensity of light.
