For decades, doctor's have recommended light therapy for treating mood and sleep problems.  This is because a center in your brain's hypothalamus (called the body clock) uses the light found in natural sunlight to regulate sleep, wake, and energy cycles.  If you struggle with sleep, mood, or energy, your body may not be responding properly to normal light cycles.

Our Modern Lifestyle is Part of the Problem

Our lifestyles have changed dramatically over the last several decades.  We are experiencing longer workdays and we spend most of our leisure time indoors.  In fact, studies show that adults across America are spending less than one hour outdoors each day, far less than in the past. 

The problem is that the center in our brain that regulates sleep depends on signals like bright sunlight at dawn and weak sunlight at dusk to know when to tell us to wake up and go to sleep.  Our current lifestyles just don't allow us to get these needed signals anymore.

Each of us has an internal body clock called the Suprachaismatic Nucleus that regulates daily sleep/wake patterns (also known as circadian rhythm).  The body clock depends on these light signals to function properly each day.  When we don't get these signals, our sleep/wake patterns suffer.

Using Light to Reset our Body Clocks

Light is the most effective way to synchronize the body with the 24 hour day.  In the early 1980's, two groundbreaking studies were conducted; one study was conducted at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York and the other at the National Institute of Mental Health. 

Both of these studies concluded that specific wavelengths, intensities and color spectrum of light (not available in ordinary room lighting) could reset the circadian clock and create circadian balance.  Since that time, numerous studies have been conducted to understand how and why light therapy works.

Light, when created in a circadian correct intensity, wavelength and color spectrum, has been clinically proven to reset the circadian clock.  In addition to resetting the clock, light has a direct and positive impact by increasing brain serotonin levels.

At the same time, circadian light therapy has a depressing affect on daytime melatonin.  Excessive daytime melatonin has also been linked to depression and sleep disorders.

Backed by Years of Research

Over the last several decades, dozens of research and clinical studies have shown the effects and potential benefits of light therapy for helping those with sleep disorders.

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