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Bright Light Therapy And Finding An Insomnia Cure

The use of light for therapeutic purposes dates back some 2,000 years to the doctors of ancient Greece and Rome who used sunlight to treat depression and lethargy.

More recently Frederick Cook, a doctor involved in a number of artic expeditions at the end of the nineteenth century, described a syndrome amongst Alaskan natives who he noted often suffered from depression, fatigue and a loss of energy and sexual desire.

He also remarked upon the profound effect that exposure to light could have in helping to overcome this syndrome.

In 1946 further reports from arctic expeditions detailed the use of bright artificial lights to treat individuals suffering from depression during the long arctic winter.

The breakthrough in the modern day use of light as a therapeutic tool came however in 1980, when it became known that light could suppress the body's natural ability to produce melatonin. Melatonin is an important hormone in the treatment of insomnia that we will look at in greater detail later in this guide.

Next >>> Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

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bright light therapy - Google News

Medical Lasers Now Treat Acne Patients - American Health and Beauty (press re...
1 Sep 2010 at 1:11pm

American Health and Beauty (press release)

Medical Lasers Now Treat Acne Patients
American Health and Beauty (press release)
Consistent use of Blue Light Therapy has also been shown to decrease the amount of oil and sebum on your skin, and may shrink pore size for some individuals ...

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A 'Night Owl' With Insomnia - New York Times (blog)
20 Aug 2010 at 8:11am

New York Times (blog)

A 'Night Owl' With Insomnia
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Another very effective option is bright light therapy, which is given in the morning for delayed sleep phase disorder. This requires the patient to sit in ...
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A Plan for the Trapped Miners - FOXNews
27 Aug 2010 at 7:03am

CBC.ca

A Plan for the Trapped Miners
FOXNews
It would be wise to give miners bright light therapy devices (no bigger than a book, in many cases) that simulate the sun and be instructed to use them each ...
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31 Aug 2010 at 6:16am

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Chronotherapeutic elements include light therapy, dark therapy or blue-blocking sunglasses, wake therapy (total or partial sleep deprivation in the second ...

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The information contained here should NOT be used as a substitute for the advice of an appropriately qualified and licensed physician or other health care provider. The information provided here is for educational and informational purposes only and in no way should be considered as an offering of medical advice.