Light Box Therapy and SAD

the Good, the Not-so-Good and the Important

Light box therapy - good and Not-So-Good comparisons of products to treat SAD. Find self test to see if you have it.

Actually, natural light in light box therapy means nothing less depressing than rich and warm broad natural daylight coming from a box. Your box and at home. No need to travel for treatment. Now how gloomy's that…!
A Rating that helps browsers, but hinders understanding.

Allergybuyersclup is a site that also sells light therapy boxes, althought the name suggests a broader profile.

They've done the responsible thing and give you comparisons and ratings, which is well-intentioned, I am sure.

(Cut and paste this link into your browser to see their comparison of light boxes - mainly their owns.)
http://www.allergybuyersclub.com/
compare-full-spectrum-lighting.html


However, please note, that their IS an issue with one factor in their rating system:  - Comparing between full spectrum lights is unnecessary, according to many others knowledgeable on the subject. I am not sure why they might have done that. My best guess is that they only included it, because that's how folks search for information. But again, because that is NOT necessary really, in some ways it is even counterproductive.Their are better ways of comparing.

Return to top

A better way to compare

The reason that discussing full spectrum in rating light boxes can be misleading? Good question, I had to do some research myself. But it is so much better explained - I am finding - by another Web site then I could be given credit for.

Apollo light is a veteran player in the light therapy field. They have been actively involved in research for a considerable amount of time. And they also reference a peer society: the Society for Light Treatment and Biological Rhythms (SLTBR.)

They have managed to explain it to me very convincingly why to consider comparing full spectrum lighting for light therapy effectiveness not much more than a sales gimmick.

Return to top

Alternative Good way of comparing light boxes
The Brightness Per Distance Comparison

As I checked and compared those two different kinds of rating I came to this conclusion of my own:

There are 2 components that should be included in a proper comparison on rating system.

• Wavelenght of the emitted light


• Brightness of the emitted light

As to brightness 10,000 lux has been the conventionally and broadly accepted brightness that determines the effectiveness of a good light box treatment.

The treatment itself is not too eventful and can last half an hour.

Now, one very good and practical way of comparing light boxes then should be the distance from the box within which light retains the necessary brightness. Why? Because if it is far enough, you are not bound to just one spot while treating yourself and doing literally nothing. If it throws a dark enough light in that wider circle, you can move about take notes, make phone calls and sip coffee. Half an hour is a long time.

Here you can find just such brightness-per -distance comparison, but also a broad-based claim about offering the best lux to dollar value. Cut and paste and then go check it out:

http://www.alaskanorthernlights.com/compare.html

Return to top

History of Light Box Therapy

Not long after Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) was discovered people figured out that treatment should be somehow with light. So at first mirrors were used to reflect and frame daylight - hence the name light box. But then it appeared that morning light was much more effective than bright evening light - this could do with the presence of water vapor in the air that acts as a natural filter. And that's where a separate therapy of dawn simulation took off.

Return to top

A self assessment tests

Use this free test to find to self-check based on your behaviour over the past three years...See if you have it. -- You might not need that light box therapy after all...
http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/academic/counseling/sad.aspx

There is another test to see if you have SAD, find link here

Return to top

---

Related Articles and Resources:

Light therapy devices - the various types and LED

What LED light can mean for the dawn simulator

Learn more about compact fluorescent lights and their impact

Apollolight, the maker of Golight has a light box comparison that is very concise.

---

---

Return to top of light box therapy page

---

Go to LED Light Therapy

Home to LED Lights Guide

---

v 1.1 * DTD * HTML 4.01 * XHTML 1.0 * RGB * CSS1