Blue light therapy is the prevalent treatment recommended by doctors for those suffering from Seasonal Affective disorder (SAD).  I thought I’d give that a go and bought myself a Philips Golite Blu.

How does light therapy work?

Light therapy, sometimes called phototherapy or heliotherapy, is a treatment that is used for a number of conditions:

• Seasonal affective disorder
• Sleep disorders
• Jaundice
• Acne
• Bipolar disorder
• Postpartum depression

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) occurs as a result of changes in light through the year. Those with the condition often find that they become depressed, lack energy or sleep more than usual. A SAD therapy light provides the light that is lacking during the winter months.

Research has shown that the depression associated with SAD can be a result of decreased levels of serotonin. Light, such as that provided in blue light therapy, stimulates the production of serotonin. This returns serotonin levels to normal, which relieves depression and lifts your mood. 

Sleep disorders often happen when a hormone called melatonin is out of balance. Release of melatonin, a sleep regulator, slows when light is present and increases in darkness. Blue light therapy helps the body to reset the melatonin cycle. This enables you to fall asleep faster, sleep easier and awake feeling refreshed.

Acne occurs as a result of bacteria on the skin. Research has shown that some of the light found in sunlight activates a specific compound in this bacteria, which results in the death of the bacteria. Light therapy boxes mimic sunlight, thus providing the same effect. The result is fewer breakouts and a clearer, blemish-free complexion.

A search of blue light therapy devices revealed that there are a number on the market today, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. After doing some research and reading reviews I decided to go for the Philips Golite Blu, the most popular blue light therapy device.

Things to look for when shopping for light therapy boxes

Not all light therapy boxes are created equal. Many of us fall into the trap of buying the most expensive expecting it to be the best. However, price doesn’t always translate to quality. When shopping for a light therapy device, keep these things in mind:

• Type of light
• The settings
• Portability
• Usability
• Durability

What type of light?

After browsing just a few bright light therapy devices, you will find that many have different types of light at differing strengths. The type of light can have an effect on the effectiveness of the therapy as well as the length of time necessary for it to provide relief from the depression of seasonal affective disorder.

Current research indicates that low intensity blue light at 470 nm is twice as effective as other lights and strengths. The Philips Golite Blu uses this type of light.

The settings: Is it made to work for my needs?

With the Philips Golite Blu , you can choose the intensity of the light. If you are new to using blue light therapy  it may be best to start at a lower intensity and work your way up.  In my case, the high intensity  setting hurts my eyes, so I use the medium intensity.

The device doubles as an alarm. This is a nice feature as it can replace your old alarm clock and be easily at hand ready to use when you wake up in the mornings. It also has a timer so you can pick how long you want it to run without having to worry about turning it off after each session.  15 to 30 minutes is a good duration to fight SAD symptoms.

Usability: How much trouble is it to use?

The Philips Golite is easy to use without a lot of fuss. Just turn it on while you’re eating breakfast or checking email at your desk.  The good thing is that you can use it while doing something else, like reading because you’re not supposed to look directly at the light (very bad for your eyes), but the light is supposed to shine at the side of your face.

Portability: Can I take it with me?

The small size of the Philips Golite LED light therapy device makes it easy to carry it along wherever you go (it’s got a chargeable battery). At 7x7x7 inches, it easily fits in your laptop case or suitcase. A lightweight 3.5 pounds, it won’t weigh you down either.

Durability: Will it stand up to use over time?

The Philips Golite is made to last. Light is provided with LEDs. Unlike traditional lights, which require changing on a fairly regular basis, LEDs are made to work for long periods of time.  The manufacturer indicates that it is durable enough to withstand daily use for approximately fifty years.

What do others think?

Checking the user reviews on websites that sell the Philips Golite Blu indicate that it is popular and effective. It is rated 4.5 stars out of 5. Some users have reported relief of their symptoms in as little as a week of use.

Are there any complaints?

There were few complaints about this product. A couple customers indicated dissatisfaction with the built-in stand not being able to direct the light where they desired. These were individuals who were under physician’s orders to have the light therapy boxes directed at a specific angle. This can be remedied by propping the device.

What should I expect to pay?

Prices can vary widely between sellers. Most range in price between $100 and $220. Currently, the lowest price can be found at Amazon, which sells them for $149.99 (at the time of writing). For this price, you get the Philips Golite Blu with:

• Two year warranty
• Rechargeable battery
• Protective case
• Instruction guide
• A sleep education guide written by the National Sleep Foundation.

Click here to buy the Golite at Amazon…

Related posts:

1. The Benefits of Massage Therapy

why wait?

I unfortunately made the same mistakes with my goals when one day I said I was going to write up a new diet next week. My partner said why not do it now and I had absolutely no reply. Then as I thought about it, it begin to make more and more sense.

Everybody has a dose of procrastination in various sorts of degrees, but there are some people that have it in such a large dose that it actually becomes a serious problem and an obstacle for success.

"Procrastination has nothing to do with laziness"

The causes of procrastination:

• Anxiety (solution: deal with the issues that cause anxiety, seek professional help if you can’t find these issues yourself)
• Low sense of self-worth (solution: deal with the underlying motives of your low self-worth, try going into therapy)
• Some tasks are so small that your worry-radar fails to see them (solution: get organized, write down tasks, use a system like David Allen’s Getting Things Done)
• Some tasks are so big that they cause anxiety (solution: break up the big task in smaller tasks.  Again, have a look at David Allen’s "Getting Things Done").  Make sure you set realistic goals for yourself.
• Procrastination can also be a result of a lack of self control (solution: pick up the habit of meditation to improve your self control).
• Perfectionism: if you are a perfectionist, you might postpone a task because you make it bigger and more time-consuming than it actually is (solution: don’t be a perfectionist, learn to make a distinction between important tasks that need perfection and less important tasks)
• In some cases, an illness like depression or ADHD can be the cause of procrastination (solution: if you suspect this is the case, seek professional help)

I often made the mistake of waiting until other issues in my life were sorted out until I realized life will always have its issues and there is no perfect time to get started. What’s important is how you work around these issues and getting started right away is a good first step.

Overcoming procrastination is an important step on your way to success, here’s a summary of the solutions again:

• Deal with anxiety, low self-worth or other psychological issues you might have.  Speed up the process by using tools like NLP and other forms of counseling.
• Systemize your goal setting
• Read David Allen’s book Getting Things Done
• Break up larger tasks into smaller ones.
• Meditate to improve your self control.
• Don’t be a perfectionist.

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