Then access light therapy at Hypnoplease.

Light therapy is most commonly known in the field of S.A.D (Seasonal Affective Disorder) and involves the use of light which at its most basic level tricks the brain into thinking it is still summer.

The light has to go in through the eye and it travels down the retinohypothalamic path (next to the optic nerve) to the pineal gland deep in the brain.

It rebalances the melatonin (the hormone that makes you sleepy) and the serotonin (the hormone that makes you feel good).

At the recent Society for Light Treatment and Biological Rhythms (SLTBR) it was stated that light therapy is still the best non-drug therapy to treat seasonal depression.

Recent studies by Dr Norman Rosenthal and others have shown that what you need to treat S.A.D is a minimum of 2,500 LUX, The lightbox I use delivers 10,000 LUX and the recommended session lengths are 30 minutes.

You do not need to sit and stare into the light, it is placed about an arms distance away from you, within your peripheral vision, not directly in front of you.

We have relaxing music playing in the background and there is the choice of also enjoying simple but effective mood lifting exercises or if you prefer just sitting relaxing, reading a magazine or having a chat!

Affect / Mood Disorders

S.A.D, is short for Seasonal Affective Disorder.

Light affects a small area (suprachiasmatic nuclei) deep in the pineal gland in the brain. This area responds to light, when there is less light it sends a message to your body to produce more melatonin (the hormone that causes hibernation in animals) and it makes you sleepy. However, when there is plenty of light it sends the signal to produce serotonin the ‘happy hormone’ which makes you lively and dynamic.

Seasonal Affective Disorder or S.A.D. affects women more than men. This is generally as life changes, such as having children and menopause, trigger the symptoms. The lack of light in the winter can profoundly affect our emotions, causing a variety of symptoms:

• Low Mood
• Irritability
• Lack of energy
• Lack of interest in socialising
• Sleep problems
• Craving for carbohydrates
• Anxiety
• Inability to cope
• Loss of libido

It is also known as the Winter Blues. About 10% of the population suffer to some degree with 2-3% suffering with clinical depression.

Light Therapy can also help with lifting of Depression; including depression in pregnancy.

Ideally the lightbox is best used early in the day for mood lifting.

Sleep Disorders

Perhaps due to body clocks, shift work, jetlag etc etc.

If generally there is difficulty in getting to sleep / getting up then the lightbox is best used as early as possible in the day.

If the problem is early morning wakening then late afternoon / early evening but NOT within 4 hours of bed are best advised.

Eating Disorders / Bulimia

In a pioneering controlled clinical study, Dr. Ray Lam at University of British Columbia (Vancouver) showed that within 2 weeks of treatment, 10,000 LUX bright light therapy for 30 minutes a day significantly reduced bingeing and purging, while the winter depression lifted. After 4 weeks of treatment, bingeing reduced by 50% and purging by 42%.

Fatigue / Lethargy / ME / MS and Menstruation

Light Therapy can help alleviate tiredness and increase alertness and energy levels, help sleep problems, ease anxiety problems, reduce the craving for carbohydrates and increase libido.

Alzheimers and Dementia sufferers can benefit by the light therapy helping to improve body clock (circadian rhythms) and by reducing anxiety also; providing vital advantages to sufferers.