NaturalPedia > Light Therapy

Quotes about Light Therapy from the world's top natural health / natural living authors

Share

Tweet

Email to a friend   |  Click here for FREE email alerts

page 1 of 5 | Next ->

"In fact, study participants who had traditional broad-spectrum light therapy raised their vitamin D levels only by half as much and didn't reduce their depression at all. So vitamin D replacement is more effective than light therapy for the treatment of seasonal affective disorder. We also see evidence that women and men with a history of depression have lower bone mass and more signs of bone turnover, both of which are associated with vitamin D deficiency, lack of omega-3 fatty acids, and dietary acid-base imbalance." - James Dowd and Diane Stafford, The Vitamin D Cure (Get the book.)

"Also, scientists have discovered that allowing more light to enter your bedroom is helpful; closed eyelids still take in enough light to trigger the production of serotonin, the brain chemical that helps you feel more awake and less depressed. • light therapy for Altering Mood It sounds so simple, but it works—light therapy for those \ afflicted with seasonal affec- -?five disorder, who fall into a sadness and funk each winter / ^ with the arrival of shorter days and longer nights." - Bottom Line Books, Uncommon Cures For Everyday Ailments (Get the book.)

"In fact, doctors have traditionally treated psoriasis patients with ultraviolet light therapy and topical steroids. In the past two decades, researchers have seen that activated vitamin D and vitamin D analogs applied as ointments can reduce or eliminate psoriasis—and enhance the effectiveness of ultraviolet light therapy. Activated vitamin D combined with a vitamin A compound is even more effective. For centuries people have sunbathed in the Dead Sea as a remedy for skin diseases. The high magnesium content of Dead Sea water is the healing factor." - James Dowd and Diane Stafford, The Vitamin D Cure (Get the book.)

"Results of this study showed that treatment with 900 mg per day of hypericum coupled with two hours of daily light therapy significantly reduced symptoms of depression in patients suffering from seasonal affective disorder. Multicenter Double-Blind Study Examining the Antidepressant Effectiveness of the Hypericum Extract LI 160. Hansgen KD; et al. Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neurology, 1994 October, 7(Suppl. 1):S15-18." - Gary Null and Amy McDonald, The Food-Mood Connection: Nutrition-based and Environmental Approaches to Mental Health and Physical Wellbeing (Get the book.)

"In fact, the American Journal of Psychiatry reports: "Systematic review of studies on the effectiveness of light therapy conducted between 1975 and 2003 has concluded that bright light therapy is as effective for non-seasonal depression as most pharmaceutical treatments (prescription drugs)." (2005 April, pp. 656-662), but bright full-spectrum fluorescent lights (not ordinary light bulbs), are necessary. Even the average household or office lighting, which emits an intensity of 200-500 LUX, is not enough. The minimum dose necessary to be beneficial is 2500 LUX, although more is often required." - Dr David W Tanton, Ph.D., Antidepressants, Antipsychotics, And Stimulants - Dangerous Drugs on Trial (Get the book.)

"Varying levels of success have been found with other interventions, including nutraceuticals (such as Saint-John's-wort, L-tryptophan, Ginkgo biloba), light therapy, exercise, stress-management techniques (covered in this chapter), prayer/spiritual guidance, and various mind-body therapies (for example, guided visualization, self-hypnosis, biofeedback). Please see the Suggested Reading List for resources that explore these other strategies for treating depression." - Steven V. Joyal, What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Diabetes: An Innovative Program to Prevent, Treat, and Beat This Controllable Disease (Get the book.)

"So vitamin D replacement is more effective than light therapy for the treatment of seasonal affective disorder. We also see evidence that women and men with a history of depression have lower bone mass and more signs of bone turnover, both of which are associated with vitamin D deficiency, lack of omega-3 fatty acids, and dietary acid-base imbalance. Vitamin D, Diet, and Chronic Pain Chronic pain affects 15 percent of adults in the United States—about 45 million people." - James Dowd and Diane Stafford, The Vitamin D Cure (Get the book.)

"If you don't get enough light, light therapy is helpful.2 Spend as much time as possible surrounded by trees, in the mountains, and by the ocean. Your body will entrain to the natural rhythms. The more time you can spend in nature, the better your rhythms will be. I know it sounds New Agey, but it is true. Expand your joy and be more playful. You can do all of the above and still feel Spent if you don't have joy in your life. Happiness is truly the fire for our heads and hearts. It lights us up." - Frank Lipman, Mollie Doyle, Spent: Revive: Stop Feeling Spent and Feel Great Again (Get the book.)

"Rather than just recommending a different kind of pill for them to take," his holistic approach includes treatment for "the levels of thought and the spiritual level, which might encompass psychotherapy, spiritual practices like prayer and meditation, and lifestyle interventions like light therapy and exercise. "The raw material of St. John's wort is very inexpensive. It's basically a weed that grows everywhere. Manufacturers are less likely to try to thin it out by using fillers. It is pretty unique among antidepressants because it appears to work in many different ways at once." - Gary Null and Amy McDonald, The Food-Mood Connection: Nutrition-based and Environmental Approaches to Mental Health and Physical Wellbeing (Get the book.)

"Food and Drug Administration recently approved "light therapy" to fight advanced esophageal cancer and early lung cancer—with fewer risks than are found with the use of surgery and chemotherapy. Although it has been known for over 100 years that light can kill diseased cells, it is only since a number of convincing research studies have been conducted that there has been a sudden resurgence of interest in light therapy." - Andreas Moritz, Timeless Secrets of Health & Rejuvenation: Unleash The Natural Healing Power That Lies Dormant Within You (Get the book.)

"Light therapy The antidepressive effects of full-spectrum light therapy have been demonstrated in well-monitored, controlled studies not only in SAD, but also in clinical depression.127'129 The antidepressant effect of light therapy is probably due to restoring proper melatonin synthesis and secretion by the pineal gland leading to re-establishment of the proper circadian rhythm. Light therapy consists of using full-spectrum lighting (Vitalite is a popular brand)." - Michael T. Murray, ND, Textbook of Natural Medicine 2nd Edition Volume 2 (Get the book.)

"Narrow-band light therapy can result in total skin clearing in some cases, but skin lesions typically return approximately four to 12 weeks after the treatments are discontinued. •Psoralen UVA (PUVA) therapy uses ultraviolet A light and a medication {psoralen) that makes the skin more sensitive to light. PUVA is effective against severe psoriasis, but it's usually a last resort. Patients given PUVA long-term are seven to 10 times more likely to develop squamous-cell carcinoma (cancer of the upper layers of the skin). •Combination light therapy." - Bottom Line Health, Bottom Line's Health Breakthroughs 2007 (Get the book.)

"Antidepressants: This type of medication is used in patients that are unresponsive to light therapy, or when light therapy is not acceptable to a patient. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are generally used. Serotonin has a calming effect on the body and reduces feelings of aggression and anxiety. No one SSRI seems to be more beneficial than another, but the atypical SSRI mirtazapine has the side effect of increasing appetite. Lifestyle modifications: Eat a high-protein diet that excludes processed foods and is low sugar and caffeine." - Marshall Editions, 1000 Cures for 200 Ailments: Integrated Alternative and Conventional Treatments for the Most Common Illnesses (Get the book.) "Studies of patients with SAD indicate that bright light therapy in the morning has a greater therapeutic effect than evening light therapy. Essential oils: Various essential oils can be used to reduce stress and promote relaxation. Use 5 drops of all or some of the oils below in a steam inhalation, add them to your bath water, or incorporate them into a massage oil, using almond or apricot oil as a base. Petitgrain oil can be uplifting, balancing, calming, and refreshing. Bergamot oil has a fresh, sweet, fruity scent." - Marshall Editions, 1000 Cures for 200 Ailments: Integrated Alternative and Conventional Treatments for the Most Common Illnesses (Get the book.)

"In the past two decades, researchers have seen that activated vitamin D and vitamin D analogs applied as ointments can reduce or eliminate psoriasis—and enhance the effectiveness of ultraviolet light therapy. Activated vitamin D combined with a vitamin A compound is even more effective. For centuries people have sunbathed in the Dead Sea as a remedy for skin diseases. The high magnesium content of Dead Sea water is the healing factor." - James Dowd and Diane Stafford, The Vitamin D Cure (Get the book.)

"There are other types of light therapy that are considered a type of vibrational medicine for use on acupuncture points or meridians, chakras or other areas (see Gem Therapy). In these situations specific colors of light are used to stimulate energy centers to improve energy flow. Since light is a type of energy it's believed that different colors have healing effects on the body's energy system. Standard light therapy has been used to treat SAD since the 1980s but is not approved by the FDA due to a shortage of effective testing." - Alan E. Smith, UnBreak Your Health: The Complete Guide to Complementary & Alternative Therapies (Get the book.) "Other types of light therapy are used to treat acne, psoriasis and eczema. Full-spectrum lighting is used to treat neonatal jaundice (bilirubin). There are other types of light therapy that are considered a type of vibrational medicine for use on acupuncture points or meridians, chakras or other areas (see Gem Therapy). In these situations specific colors of light are used to stimulate energy centers to improve energy flow. Since light is a type of energy it's believed that different colors have healing effects on the body's energy system." - Alan E. Smith, UnBreak Your Health: The Complete Guide to Complementary & Alternative Therapies (Get the book.)

"The symptoms of SAD can be reduced just as effectively with bright-light therapy as with drugs,2 and without the side effects. light therapy also helps non-seasonal depression, although not to the same extent.3 So what does sunlight do to relieve "the blues?" The answer lies in a chemical responsible for transmitting impulses in nerves. This "neurotransmitter," serotonin, is a natural "upper" that works in synchronization with the natural "downer," melatonin." - Marc Sorenson, Solar Power For Optimal Health (Get the book.)

"Standard light therapy has been used to treat SAD since the 1980s but is not approved by the FDA due to a shortage of effective testing. If your doctor prescribes light therapy your insurance may cover the cost but it is recommended you check with your carrier first. Light boxes may be purchased over-the-counter but it is recommended you discuss treatment with your doctor since there are risks involved including eye damage. PERCUTANEOUS ELECTRICAL NERVE STIMULATION (PENS) also Percutaneous Neuromodulation Therapy (PNT) www.pnthealth.com/files/pntbookletfinal." - Alan E. Smith, UnBreak Your Health: The Complete Guide to Complementary & Alternative Therapies (Get the book.)

"Note that the bright light therapy of up to 5,000 lux is some 10 to 100 times stronger than standard office light, which typically ranges from 50 to 500 lux. Try using a light box for 30 minutes to two hours a day for about a week. A doctor can prescribe the light box; or you can contact the SunBox Company in Gaithersburg, MD, 800-548-3968, www.sunbox.com, for additional information. After about a week's worth of light exposure, you should start feeling chipper again." - Bottom Line Books, Uncommon Cures For Everyday Ailments (Get the book.)

"Recent studies suggest the time you practice light therapy affects the results as much as the brightness of the light or the length of time you're exposed to it The best time seems to be early morning ?or precisely two and a half hours after the midpoint of your sleep. For example, if you usually sleep from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., the midpoint would be 3 a.m. and your ideal time for light therapy would be 5:30 a.m. Stay in rhythm. light therapy works by resetting your body's internal clock, also called circadian rhythm." - Frank W. Cawood and Associates, The Folk Remedy Encyclopedia: Olive Oil, Vinegar, Honey and 1,001 Other Home Remedies (Get the book.)

"Light Therapy Products (800-486-6723, www.lighttherapyproducts.com). MAXIMIZE OMEGA-3S Essential fatty acids (EFAs), which come from the foods we eat, make up 20% of the brain—primarily the cell membranes and the fibers that carry nerve impulses. Of particular importance are two types of fatty acids—omega-3s, which are found in fish and certain leafy vegetables.. .and omega-6s, a principal component of many vegetable oils. When the brain developed, the human diet had equal amounts of both. Today, the average American diet has at least 10 times as much omega-6s as omega-3s." - Bottom Line Health, Bottom Line's Health Breakthroughs 2007 (Get the book.) "PHOTOTHERAPY Ultraviolet light (UV) from the sun or artificial sources can slow cell proliferation and reduce inflammation. light therapy is a good choice for psoriasis that doesn't respond to—or is too extensive for—topical treatment. •Narrow-band ultraviolet B (UVB) phototherapy delivers light wavelengths that treat psoriasis while minimizing the rays that cause burning. Patients usually get three treatments per week. Skin clearing takes at least four to eight weeks." - Bottom Line Health, Bottom Line's Health Breakthroughs 2007 (Get the book.)

"They were, in fact, treated highly successfully. Dr. Kime also cited research showing that UV therapy killed the flu virus outside the body66 and destroyed cancer-producing viruses.67 He reported good results in his own practice in treating fungal infections with sunlight therapy. Other early research showed that all bacteria within eight feet of low-intensity UV lights were killed in ten minutes.68 While visiting in Mexico, a friend invited me to tour a bottled-water plant in a town called Juchipila. It was interesting that the water was exposed to UV as a means of purification." - Marc Sorenson, Solar Power For Optimal Health (Get the book.)

"Combination light therapy. This particular approach combines UVB light with an oral retinoid, such as acitretin (Soriatane). It's effective in 70% to 80% of cases. SYSTEMIC DRUGS Patients who do not respond to topical treatments or phototherapy—or whose psoriasis is severe—may need oral drugs such as methotrexate (Trexall), cyclosporine (Neoral) or acitretin, which suppress the immune system and inhibit rapid cell division. These medications are cheaper than some of the newer psoriasis medications. Drawback: They have a high risk of serious side effects, including organ damage." - Bottom Line Health, Bottom Line's Health Breakthroughs 2007 (Get the book.)

"However, light therapy is also used for major depression at any time of the year. Beginning the day sitting in front of a fluorescent light box that typically emits about 10,000 lux units of light has helped many people who might otherwise struggle with depression throughout the day begin and end it with a smile. Does it actually work for major depression? It does, according to numerous research investigations.55 But there is a problem with these research studies. It is not possible to keep someone from knowing whether they are being exposed to very bright light or the placebo (dim light)." - Dr. Timothy Scott, America Fooled: The Truth About Antidepressants, Antipsychotics and How We've Been Deceived (Get the book.)

"Photodynamic Therapy: This treatment, also called light therapy, has been shown to effectively treat acne (Source: Journal of Cosmetic Laser Therapy, June 2004, pages 91-95). This medical treatment uses a topical medication called aminolevulinic acid (a drug used for treatment of precancerous skin conditions) in conjunction with non-skin-damaging lasers or a light source called blue light (Source: American Academy of Dermatology, www.aad.org). After the topical medication is applied, the patient sits in front of the light source for 15 to 30 minutes." - Paula Begoun and Bryan Barron, Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me, 7th Edition (Get the book.)

"Clinical studies do show that vitamin D-3 is very helpful in treating seasonal affective disorder, even more so than light therapy. Vitamin D-3 has also been shown to elevate mood in healthy subjects during the winter months. In a more recent study by Dr Vieth and his colleagues, they found vitamin D-3 to improve overall wellbeing when administered at doses of 4000 IU per day. These findings can probably be equally applied to chronically depressed and schizophrenic patients. Dr McGrath suggests that low prenatal vitamin D deficiency is a risk factor for schizophrenia." - Abram Hoffer, PhD, MD, FRCP(C) and Dr. Jonathan Prousjy, DPHE, DSC, ND, FRSH, Naturopathic Nutrition: A Guide to Nutrient-rich Food & Nutritional Supplements for Optimum Health (Get the book.)

page 1 of 5 | Next ->

FAIR USE NOTICE: The research quoted here is provided under the protection of Fair Use provisions and published by the 501(c)3 non-profit Consumer Wellness Center for the purposes of public comment and education. Authors / publishers may submit books for consideration of inclusion here.

TERMS OF USE: Read full terms of use. Citations of text from NaturalPedia must include: 1) Full credit to the original author and book title. 2) Secondary credit to the Natural News Naturalpedia as a research resource and a link to www.NaturalPedia.com

This unique compilation of research is copyright (c) 2008, 2009 by the non-profit Consumer Wellness Center.

ABOUT THE CREATOR OF NATURALPEDIA: Mike Adams, the creator of NaturalPedia, is the editor of NaturalNews.com, the internet's top natural health news site, creator of the Honest Food Guide (www.HonestFoodGuide.org), a free downloadable consumer food guide based on natural health principles, author of Grocery Warning, The 7 Laws of Nutrition, Natural Health Solutions, and many other books available at www.TruthPublishing.com, creator of the earth-friendly EcoLEDs company (www.EcoLEDs.com) that manufactures energy-efficient LED lighting products, founder of Arial Software (www.ArialSoftware.com), a permission e-mail technology company, creator of the CounterThink Cartoon series (www.NaturalNews.com/index-cartoons.html) and author of over 1,500 articles, interviews, special reports and reference guides available at www.NaturalNews.com. Adams' personal philosophy and health statistics are available at www.HealthRanger.org.