Light Therapy
Full-spectrum light travels from the eye to the brain, where
it triggers the hypothalamus to send chemical messengers to
regulate the autonomic functions of the body, such as blood
pressure, breathing, digestion, and the immune system, as
well as the body’s circadian rhythm. In order to maintain
health, it may be important to be exposed to light containing
the full wavelength spectrum found in natural light. Full-spectrum
light therapy, bright light therapy, and ultraviolet light
therapy are used by some clinicians for treating conditions
that range from seasonal affective disorder to bulimia, and
new applications are continually being suggested.
Excerpted from www.healthnotes.com
If a woman is unable to leave her home due to HG, consider
full spectrum lighting to ease potential depression. (Available
at health food stores, home stores (Lowe's) and at many stores
online such as GAIAM. )
Hypnosis »
Offsite Research:
Light treatment for nonseasonal depression: speed, efficacy, and combined treatment.
Kripke DF.
Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla 92093-0667, USA. (e-mail: dkripke@ucsd.edu)
Journal of Affective Disorders 1998 May;49(2):109-17
Light treatment of nonseasonal depression produces net benefits in the range of 12-35%, often within 1 week. Light appears to produce faster antidepressant benefits than psychopharmacologic treatment. Bright light can be combined with standard therapies for treating nonseasonal depressions and appears synergistic.
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Updated on:
Aug. 09, 2006 |
