Therapies
Light Therapy
What
is Light Therapy?
Light therapy is the
therapeutic application of light devices to treat illnesses. Light (or lack
of it) can affect our moods, body weight, skin and even biochemical
processes in the body (e.g the manufacture of vitamin D as well as hormone
production). Different spectrums of light are commonly used to treat
bilirubin in new born babies, psoriasis and depression.
Light therapy concerns full
spectrum light which is designed to mimic both the visible and ultraviolet
(UV) light radiated by the sun. It is, in effect, artificially generated
sunlight.
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The
benefits of natural sunlight
Your body uses
sunlight in a number of ways. Sunlight helps you to fight colds, tiredness
and depression. Lack of sunlight causes an increase in the production of
melatonin (the hormone which makes us feel sleepy) and a decrease in
serotonin (the hormone which makes us feel happy).
Sunlight also produces and enables your body to absorb certain
vitamins and minerals. Calcium builds strong , healthy teeth and bones, but
your body can't absorb calcium with vitamin D (which is produced by exposing
your skin to sunlight). All your body needs to manufacture sufficient
quantites of vitamin D is ten minutes exposure to the sun.
A lack of sunlight has also
been linked to obesity, hyperactivity and even cancer.
For full details of
research into the therapeutic effects of light
therapy, click
here.
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