Recharge your energy, improve sleep and boost mood with a light therapy lamp that mimics natural sunlight. Our UV free lamps help protect both eyes and skin while offering adjustable settings to provide maximum comfort and effectiveness.
Light therapy has proven itself effective at treating SAD, jet lag, shift work and other light deprivation related conditions; however, as with many therapies it works best when administered appropriately.
How to get the most out of your therapy lamp
Light therapy lamps can help your body reset its natural circadian rhythm and enhance mood and energy levels. Light therapy lamps also regulate sleep hormones while raising serotonin levels – both essential for optimal functioning – helping regulate serotonin production as well as enhancing concentration and focus. Therapy lamps can especially come in handy during seasons that lack sunlight, but they may also benefit people suffering from seasonal affective disorder or those having trouble adapting to time changes.
The ideal therapy lamps possess at least 10,000 lux and provide a full spectrum of bright white light (the color scale for measuring brightness in Kelvin); warmer hues tend to promote comfort while cooler tones promote alertness. Furthermore, UV-free models should be preferred because prolonged exposure to harmful UV rays can damage eyes and skin over time; furthermore they should be simple and portable enough for daily use in any situation.
As you get started with therapy lamps, smaller lamps may be best. They’ll fit easier into your schedule and cost less than larger models – one reviewer even says this particular model “perfectly sized for home offices,” even looking like an iPad! You can select from various color options to match the decor of your space while the one-hour countdown timer helps prevent you from losing track of time when using therapy lamps!
Keep it close
People often make the mistake of sitting too far from their light therapy lamp, making it ineffective in treating SAD symptoms. To get the most from it, the device should be placed at eye level and directed directly at your eyes, like sunlight would do. Sitting too far down will decrease how much LUX reaches them thereby rendering its use ineffective for treating SAD symptoms.
If you are experiencing symptoms associated with SAD such as difficulty waking up in the morning, fatigue, social withdrawal and weight gain, light therapy should be an integral component of your treatment plan. Light therapy can realign your circadian rhythm, stimulate serotonin production and improve sleep habits; but, it should not be considered a permanent solution; further treatments should still be sought to manage specific symptoms of your SAD condition.
Light therapy may also be effective against the discomfort caused by diabetes, including low-level laser therapy (LLLT) which works by stimulating cells with proteins that prevent nerve impulses and alleviate discomfort, according to The Cleveland Clinic.
Integrate light therapy into your daily routine by practicing it before work or school and adhering to recommended treatment times. Over time, you’ll discover which times work best for your specific symptoms. Also keeping a diary of both physical and emotional feelings will keep you motivated throughout therapy sessions.
Have it at the right angle
Light therapy lamps simulate sunlight to mimic its benefits for treating conditions like seasonal depression, insomnia and jet lag. These lights emit far greater LUX (light intensity) than standard lamps and should be used daily for 20-30 minutes each morning to stimulate production of serotonin and melatonin by tricking your hypothalamus into producing it naturally.
Step one in treating seasonal affective disorder (SAD) involves finding the ideal lamp. For severe SAD cases, you will require a larger medical-grade lamp while mild or moderate symptoms can be treated using smaller wellness grade lamps. Furthermore, keep your living space in mind when making this selection; small bedrooms may need smaller models than larger living rooms.
An essential factor is deciding the angle at which you place light in your room. Many individuals use light therapy lamps with their heads angled away from them, which prevents direct sunlight from falling directly onto their eyes. To achieve optimal results, place your lamp directly in front of your face at an appropriate height that allows light to reach all parts of your eyes.
Some individuals may experience side effects from using light therapy lamps, including headaches, dizziness and eye strain. These symptoms typically begin at the start of treatment but should subside within days; if they persist afterward, reduce daily exposure time or move further away from the lamp.
Use it consistently with ample treatment times
Light therapy is an excellent way to rebalance your circadian rhythm, increase serotonin production, and energize yourself. However, light therapy should not replace exercise, good sleep habits, healthy diet and socialization; and should be used on a consistent basis – studies show daily sessions between 30-60 minutes may help boost both mood and energy levels.
Start treatment sessions soon after awakening, within an hour after mimicking natural sunlight rays. This encourages your brain to stop producing sleep hormones (melatonin) and start producing wakefulness hormones instead.
At minimum, an effective light should produce 10,000 lux of bright white light. UVB components should be avoided as prolonged exposure can damage skin. Furthermore, bulbs will eventually weaken over time; replacing them regularly is highly advised.
If you experience side effects like headaches and irritability during light therapy sessions, try shortening session length or moving further away from the light source. Consult with your physician regarding whether light therapy lamps would benefit your specific situation; particularly if you suffer from macular degeneration or take medications such as tetracycline that can increase photosensitivity. Getting your physician’s endorsement could also assist when applying for reimbursement through insurance companies; they may require proof that it was medically necessary and effective.
Incorporate other treatment methods
Light therapy lamps have become more and more popular over time, yet this form of treatment has long been around. Light therapy lamps can effectively regulate circadian rhythms and treat mood disorders.
Bright light from lamps stimulates intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells in the brain, signaling to the hypothalamus to promote wakefulness and suppress production of melatonin at night – this may help alleviate seasonal affective disorder (SAD), nonseasonal depression and dementia symptom. Light therapy may also help relieve jet lag symptoms.
Light therapy works best when practiced first thing in the morning to reset one’s circadian rhythm and promote wakefulness, however if clients cannot use their lamp at this time due to scheduling conflicts they may still benefit by using it at other times during the day before 2:00 p.m as light therapy after that point could actually alter one’s biological clock in an adverse fashion, leading to sleep disturbances and manic episodes for those living with bipolar disorder.
Light therapy alone may not provide all of the health benefits desired, however when combined with other healthy lifestyle practices like regular exercise, balanced nutrition, good sleep hygiene and stress management it can provide even greater results faster. Combining light therapy with additional treatments such as these could accelerate results faster.
Keep track of any side effects
Therapy lamps (or light boxes), also referred to as light therapy devices, can be an effective and straightforward solution for seasonal affective disorder sufferers. They consist of portable, bright white LED lights designed to simulate sunlight in order to reset your natural circadian rhythm and restore it with natural daylight patterns. Most therapy lamps emit up to 10,000 lux (lumens per square meter), the minimum amount necessary for optimal effect; no prescription is usually required and they can typically be found for an affordable cost or reimbursed through your flexible spending account or health reimbursement arrangement.
First thing in the morning is often best when using your lamp, as that’s when your body needs it most. While results may take several days or weeks to appear, it’s important to stay aware of your feelings so you can tweak sessions or incorporate other therapies as necessary in order to optimize its benefits.
Some users of light therapy devices may experience side effects when using them, including irritability or eyestrain. To remedy these, simply reduce how long you spend looking at your device or increase its distance from you face. Should dizziness arise after taking your eye away from its source, sitting up gradually after withdrawing can help ease symptoms quickly.
