Bright light therapy is usually recommended as a treatment for Seasonal Affective Disorder SAD. However, there is promising evidence that this treatment could be effective for non seasonal illness also. This therapy has not been utilized by people with depression because of lack of clinical trials. The results of the new study may make bright light treatment a viable solution for people suffering from depression.
Dr. Ritzier Lie verse and his group treated 89 men over 60 years old. Who was diagnosed with a major depressive disorder? Each morning, for a period of 3 weeks half of this group was exposed for one hour to an artificial bright light with a special lamp covered with a blue filter. The control group was given an extra hour of light but the lamp has been coated with a dim reddish filter. The results were quite important. The treatment led to a dramatic decrease in the depressive disposition of those who’d receive the bright light treatment.
The patients that received glowing light treatment experienced a lifting of their mood. They felt more positive and got out of bed much earlier than those who received the placebo, the treated group also showed an increased in the sleep promoting hormone melatonin and a reduction in the stress hormone cortisol Improvements in depression were measured using the normal Hamilton Scale of Depression.
RED light machines initially targeted on the face, although now red light is available in the kind of collagen beds to care for the whole body. This is a really exciting development as often we invest a whole lot of time and massage gun on skincare for our faces but the rest of the body overlooks. As you get older, especially over age 50, you will discover that you skin will start to sag throughout the whole body. Collagen beds help in slowing down this aging process down. It is being touted at the ‘next big thing after Botox’. Also as anti-aging, there are a lot of other advantages, headaches can be relieved, and poor circulation can be enhanced as the RED light relaxes blood vessels allowing more rapid blood circulation.
Depression and seasonal affected disorder SAD can also be treated with light. Soft tissue injuries and sprains can also be assisted with the use of light therapy. New benefits are being found daily including decrease in the effects of sexual dysfunction, even though there might not be any scientific support for these claims at this time. A decline in this hormone is implicated in some forms of depression. Additionally bright light appear to affect the portion of the brain that is targeted by antidepressant medications.