Light therapy – lift your mood, stabilize your rhythms and invigorate your body

If you ever wondered why people feel grumpy, low on energy and depressed during winter season, long hours in the office or why 1 in 5 people in the UK suffer from Depression then read on.

Back in September last year (2009) I covered light therapy as one of the methods used in controlling your sleeping cycle and having more energy. Since we are now officially in winter (USA timezone) I have switched on an alternative source of 10,000 lux – the NatureBright SunTouch Plus Light and Ion Therapy Lamp. Every morning for 1 hour I sit in front of a 10,000-lux lamp (as shown below) educating myself while receiving the required daily intake of light to help lift my mood, stabilize my rhythms and invigorate my body. By the time the 1 hour is up I feel refreshed, full of energy and fully awake.

Me (Ernest) getting my daily 1 hour of 10,000-lux of Light. The only source of light in this picture is the 10,000 lux lamp - very bright!

Benefits of light therapy

Light therapy is a replacement for those of us who do not get at least 1 hour of sun light (10,000-lux of light) everyday. And that is just about everyone who works in an office, drives to work and works though lunch. Most indoor office light only gives out 300-lux of light. A candle in a dim room gives out 3-lux of light; for comparison. Outdoors on a sunny day is 500- 1,000 times brighter than office or room lighting. Not forgetting that during winter the amount of available natural light is reduced due to shorter days and more cloud cover.

10,000-lux of light has the power to:

• help Lift your spirits,
• balance your body clock,
• lift your mood,
• stabilize your internal rhythms,
• invigorate your body systems leaving you feeling rested, refreshed, and nourished all over and
• it can reduce the nagging symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). If you want to know whether you are suffering from SAD click here for a quick free test.

How the lamp works

The Sun Touch Plus emits energizing, healing rays, using 10,000-lux Sky Effect light while simultaneously releasing streams of negative ions. It creates the same fresh air you feel by a waterfall or from an ocean breeze.

Scientific researchers have discovered a new light receptor in the eye’s retina that interprets signals from light rays, and sends the information to sections of our brain that stimulate hormone secretion and body rhythms. The Sun Touch Plus’ Sky Effect lamps emit the optimal blue light (white light is made up of colours – think of a rainbow) that best stimulates these receptors, which send signals to neurological receptors, energizing important centers in the body. (Amazon)

The trick is to make sure that the light enters your eyes from the top– just like the sun light would on a sunny day. I achieve this by lifting the device on some books to raise it higher and then proceed to read a book which is laying flat on the table in front of the device. Time goes by very quick, and by the time the auto timer on the device turns off the light I feel amazing and ready to tackle another amazing day. Who would have thought that a $100 device could make such a huge difference!

Where to get the lamp

I use the NatureBright SunTouch Plus Light and Ion Therapy Lamp from Amazon. For those that know me well will know that I do a lot of research before committing to any investment. In future posts I will explain how this therapy has played a major role in reshaping my everyday life. For now if you are interested grab it from Amazon here.

If you found this post useful and / or have or are using light therapy then share your experiences with everyone by posting a comment below.

Sources / mentions in article:

Still not convinved? Here are some comments from users of NatureBright SunTouch Plus Light and Ion Therapy Lamp from Amazon

I wouldnt’ have believed it if I hadn’t tried it, February 28, 2008

By Super Happy Gal

I’m a 34 year old woman. I’ve used this light faithfully for about a month. Until about day #12 I would have told you it was a hoax. But the light said it could take up to two weeks before you could see results. So I stuck with it and I will tell you that it really works. It’s a subtle but big difference (i.e. it doesn’t change your personality, just your energy and mood) in my mood and energy level. I will use this at the beginning of every winter, into spring. I get really tired with low energy in winter. My energy level has gradually increased until I am my regular, energetic self. I’ve told all my sisters to get one. I work as a nail technician and have told my clients to get one. Everyone is wondering if I get some kind of kickback from Naturebright. I tell them that I should be, but I’m not. I use my husband as the real critic and he swears it has made me a lot more energetic with a more even mood. So there you have it. Also, I looked at the Mayo-clinic websight and their research seems to support the light therapy. My dad is a psychologist and all the research he’s read supports light therapy. Just make sure you get a 10,000 lux lamp. I really like this one, though because of the optional ion thing. Even though I have no feedback on that because I haven’t used that yet. I wanted to try one thing at a time so I would know the difference. This is getting long. Anywho, I would definitely recommend this lamp for its effectiveness and reasonable price. See ya! Read more.

Bye Bye Winter Blues!, January 7, 2008

By J. Bowley “J B” (Westerly, RI)

I have had winter SAD for a long time and if I knew the enormous difference this thing would have made I could have saved myself many seasons of suffering. Within a few days my mood has done a complete 180! I feel like “my old self” again! Thanks Naturebright your product has changed my life and I dont ever want to go without it again. Read more.

A miracle!, December 4, 2009

By J. Davies (Chicago, IL USA)

I cannot believe how wonderful this product is. If I knew, I would have bought it years ago! I have suffered from SAD for years, since college, getting progressively worse each year. Last winter was the longest, grayest and coldest in memory in the Chicagoland area. We followed with a cool gray summer and long, cool gray fall. I was at my wits end. Amazon had a price on lamps that was reasonable compared to any lamps sold in years past. In just a few short days I feel amazing! I use the lamp for 30 minutes in the morning while checking emails, and again for 10 minutes in the late afternoon. It is dark here around 4:30pm with the worst yet to come. It has been gray 9 out of 10 days on average. I usually NEED a nap around 3pm and the length was increasing from 30 minutes to over an hour. I have not taken or felt the need to take a nap since using the lamp. Also, I would usually be crashing by 8pm, struggling to keep my eyes open until 10:30, not any longer. I wake up refreshed at 4:30am-my usual summer time-I am a morning person ; ) I have had more energy and enthusiasm and feel much more like myself. I am getting a lamp for my mother and recommending it to anyone who asks about my improved mood and energy level. I can’t say enough positive things about this product and I never write reviews. I can only say try this lamp. Oh…I do not mind the negative ion therapy. It doesn’t smell bad, as others wrote, kind of like the smell after a good rain. The unit is the perfect size to sit on a desk and seems quite sturdy. I terrific value for my mental well being!!! Read more.

I Wish I Would Have Bought This Years Ago, November 16, 2009

By M. Unruh “Missouri girl” (Kansas City, MO USA)

I have suffered from Seasonal Affective Disorder for over seven years. It is usually a fairly insidious onset until by January or February I am not getting out of bed and sleeping for over 12 hours a day. I have literally tried everything: medication, behavioral therapy, and multiple lifestyle changes. I wish I would have purchased this years ago.

I have had this for five days and there is a huge difference in my energy, mood, and circadian rhythm. I use it for thirty minutes when I first wake up. Since waking up with SAD is very difficult, I will place it on my coffee table and will watch the morning news while using the lamp (my biggest battle is getting out of bed to the couch, which isn’t too bad). Then I will use it between 5-6 p.m.

As for some of the prior reviews, I can agree that there is a smell associated when the ion therapy is in use. However, it does not bother me that much. It smells much like a new plastic item does, but I think that scent decreases with use. Read more.

Wide awake, November 11, 2009

By N in maine (maine)

It is 6am in the (soon to be) frozen north and pitch black outside but I am wide awake and full of energy. I love my light box. It is light and easy to use. I understand the bulbs get very hot but you would never know it because they are behind the frosted screen so it is also safe. The product is excellent and my biggest concern before buying it was whether light therapy works or not. I can tell you it works great with me. I have never used the ion-function so I can’t tell you about that. Before using it make sure you read the instructions and check out websites that can tell you how light therapy works. If the light is not close enough to you or if you use it the wrong time of day then it will not work.  Read more.

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Tagged as: anxiety, body clock, energy, invigorate, light, light box, Light therapy, lux, mood, rhythms, SAD, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), sleep less, sunlight, The Sun Touch Plus