If you have been wondering how does bright light therapy work, you’ve come to the right place. Bright light therapy has a long list of benefits, including helping reset your circadian rhythm and assisting with seasonal depression. It can even be used to treat jet lag and macular degeneration. Continue reading to learn more. If you have any questions about the therapy, please ask your doctor. In this article, we’ll cover the basics and answer the most common questions.
Bright light therapy is a treatment for seasonal depression
Bright light therapy is an adjunctive treatment that has been shown to have antidepressant effects. In a recent study, patients with bipolar major depression, not responding to pharmacotherapy, were treated with full-spectrum light therapy (BST). This type of therapy involves exposure to a light source that is 20 times brighter than the normal light levels in a room. Treatments typically begin with a 10 to 15-minute session a day, and are gradually increased to 30 to 45 minutes per day, depending on the patient’s response.
It resets your circadian rhythm
Bright light therapy is used for various purposes, from improving sleep to treating depression. The process of exposing the body to bright light during the day helps reset the circadian rhythm and improves mood, energy, and focus. Because your internal clock is timed to the natural cycle of the sun, it can become out of sync with the time of day. Bright light therapy can help reset the circadian rhythm and restore normal sleeping patterns.
It helps with jet lag
Many people are prone to jet lag, but there is a natural cure. Exposure to bright light therapy, or “bright light therapy,” can help your body adjust to a new time zone. This therapy can be noninvasive and will condition your cells for the time change without exposing you to harmful UV rays. Many people have reported a significant improvement in their jet lag symptoms after undergoing the treatment.
It helps with macular degeneration
While red light therapy may help with age-related macular degeneration, the technique is also beneficial for people with diabetic eye disease and worsening eyesight. In laboratory experiments, red light therapy improved conditions in bees, which are vulnerable to neonicotinoid insecticides. Beekeepers could install red light therapy devices in their hives to protect the insects from the chemicals, which destroy mitochondria.
It is safe
There are many benefits of bright light therapy. Bright light therapy has been found to relieve depression and agitation in older adults with dementia. However, it is not entirely clear whether the treatment is safe. Studies are needed to determine whether bright light therapy improves quality of life. Bright light therapy is an alternative treatment to pharmacological therapy for mental disorders. The effectiveness of this therapy depends on several factors. If you are worried about using bright light therapy, read on to learn more about the benefits and risks of this alternative treatment.
It is effective
While light therapy has been known to improve mood and phase-advance the circadian rhythm, it is controversial if it is also effective for depression. However, recent research has provided more support to bright light therapy, which has been found to augment the therapeutic effects of antidepressant drugs. Bright light therapy is a safe and effective alternative to antidepressants, and it may be an important component of a successful treatment for depression.
It is accompanied by good health practices
Some patients benefit from bright light therapy, which involves regular exposure to a high-intensity light source five to 30 times brighter than normal office lights. These lights are typically placed inside a box that contains a diffuser and require patients to sit in front of them for a specific amount of time every day. The treatment was originally designed to treat seasonal affective disorder, but it is now used to treat problems related to circadian rhythm.
