light box?

[jd-science.livejournal.com]

has anyone here ever used a light box to combat the winter blues? i'm considering buying one but am not sure where to start for reviews, research, consumer recommendations, etc.

I'd also be interested in experiences with full-spectrum vs narrow-spectrum blue lights.

thanks.

Comments

[veek.livejournal.com]

I've used both. They're not a panacea, but they help, particularly if you use them — trendy word alert — mindfully.

Right now I use the blue-LED kind. I have this one (http://www.amazon.com/Philips-GoLite-Spectrum-Therapy-Device/dp/B000C1946S), which seems to have been discontinued in favor of this one. (http://www.amazon.com/Philips-goLITE-BLU-Therapy-Device/dp/B001I45XL8) No complaints.

For reviews, I tend to do a web search for "[product name] reviews" — in this case, it would be "philips golite blu reviews." That gives me an idea.

[simianpower.livejournal.com]

A friend used a full-spectrum light box and it did wonders for her. I've debated getting one myself but never got around to it.

[swingchickie.livejournal.com]

i love my light box, it definitely helps me every winter. i got mine brand-new on ebay.

[jd-science.livejournal.com]

thanks for the comments. Simianpower, do you know what kind your friend used? swingchickie - same question. Brand? lumens? style?

Thanks so much.

Are there any light boxes for non winter blues?

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

:-\

[laynamarya.livejournal.com]

My father built me one, with four hundred-watt full spectrum bulbs. I think it is at my sister's house in Medford if you want to borrow it and try it out for a while. It's kind of humonguous though. Maybe you've seen it in my room before?

I put it on a timer, so that it was sort of a replacement sunrise, and it made a massive positive difference in my life.

[enochs-fable.livejournal.com]

how does one a light box mindfully?

[veek.livejournal.com]

Don't know how one does it, but I do know how I do it. Every time I turn it on, I stop to think explicitly, for a moment, about why I'm doing it. About how it's helped me feel in the past, not in any theoretical sense but actually how I felt. Body memory is a powerful thing. You can remember a feeling and either re-live it, or at least make it easier for yourself to get there again.

Call it practice.

[ron_newman]

tagging this "weather" but I'd love to use a more appropriate tag, if there is one.

[serious-noir.livejournal.com]

Just bought this one on ebay: Philips goLITE Blu (http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-PHILIPS-ENERGY-GOLITE-BLU-BLUE-LIGHT-SAD-THERAPY_W0QQitemZ220493108537QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item335669d539) for $179. Best price I found (except for Costco - but I'm not a member.) Seems like $$$ but if it gives me a mood/energy bump and/or helps with my sleep cycle it will be worth it. Insomnia sucks.

[rschusky.livejournal.com]

I'm a naturopathic doctor (http://www.amethystcenter.com/schusky) (in Davis Square), and posted this on an ND's mailing list I'm on; apologies that it's a bit long. I briefly say something about the blue lights at the end; the bulk of it is about "cool white" vs "broad spectrum," and dose.


Most of the published studies use "cool white" fluorescent lights—that standard ugly blue-white. A 1992 study* found no difference between broad-spectrum and cool-white fluorescent bulbs. (Note that the physics of fluorescence means that no fluorescent bulb can be full-spectrum, it can only be broad-spectrum at most—when something fluoresces it emits light at a single wavelength [well, several specific wavelengths].) It may be that there are additional benefits from broad-spectrum (or close-to-full-spectrum, which is possible with incandescent bulbs—though probably too hot to be practical), but for treating seasonal depression it doesn't appear to matter.

(I definitely dislike that color, but since no fluorescent light can be anything approaching full spectrum, I'm doubtful there's really a benefit to broad-spectrum fluorescent bulbs beyond esthetic and the better mood from less-ugly/more-natural-seeming light.)

What does matter is the brightness of the light and the length of exposure—most treatment failures seem to come from not getting enough light. The standard is 5000 lux-hours (e.g., 10,000 lux for 30 minutes, 2500 lux for 2 hours), though some people can do okay with as low as half that. Note that lux decreases as the square of the distance; lux ratings will be given at a particular distance and if you change that distance you'll need to change the time accordingly (e.g., 10,000 lux at 18" is only 5625 lux at 24" or 2500 lux at 36").

There's some very theoretical research indicating that blue light is what actually matters (and one study showing that blue light works better than red), but I wouldn't yet recommend the blue-only units that are starting to show up.


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*Bielski RJ, Mayor J, Rice J. 1992. Phototherapy with broad spectrum white fluorescent light: A comparative study. Psychiatr Res 43(2):167-175. [I'm pretty sure I read the whole article at some point and didn't note any problems, but I'm only finding the abstract now.]

thanks

[jd-science.livejournal.com]

Thanks for all the input. I decided on a Philips Britelite. Happy Halloween!