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)
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.
|
