Circadian Rhythms in a new light

How Does It Work?

What is Light Therapy?

In the early 1980’s, scientists researching depressive disorders noted a consistent pattern of symptoms becoming more severe in many patients during the long winter months, particularly in the northern hemisphere. Significantly these symptoms eased or disappeared completely as the longer summer days returned.
In 1982 The National Institute of Health (NIH) identified winter depression and coined the term, ‘SAD’ for Seasonal Affective Disorder. The scientists found that ‘SAD’ was related to an imbalance in the body’s natural circadian rhythms. The Circadian rhythm, or the body’s inner clock governs the timing of sleep, hormone production, body temperature, and other biological functions.
In 1984 these pioneering scientists discovered that exposure to bright white light is very effective at treating seasonal affective disorder. For many years light therapy was relegated to the periphery of credible science. It wasn’t until 2001 that researchers from NIH, Thomas Jefferson Medical University and Apollo Health fully understood how exposure to specialized bright light, stimulates the production of brain chemicals to relieve the symptoms associated with depressive disorders. Dr. George Brainard’s team at Thomas Jefferson Medical University, identified a photo receptor in the human eye, responsible for reacting to light and controlling the production of melatonin. They found specifically that light in the range of 447-484 nm (nanometers) is responsible for suppressing melatonin production and shifting circadian rhythms. Indeed, this particular bandwidth of light is up to ten times more effective than other wavelengths. We now know this technology as BLUEWAVE™.

How does Light Therapy Work ?

When the recipient is exposed to Apollo’s BLUEWAVE™ Technology, waves of light enter the eye. A nerve that connects the retina to a key point in the Hypothalamus region of the brain is activated. Once activated the Hypothalamus sends a signal to the Pineal gland. The pineal gland immediately suppresses the withdrawal hormone Melatonin and stimulates the production of the active hormone Serotonin. As Serotonin is released you become more active, energetic and alert. This action Improves concentration and motivation. more This cutting edge technology is redefining the direction of many sciences and opening the minds of some of the staunchest skeptics. Today light therapy is also recognised as an effective treatment for sleep disorders and is used to combat the effects of Jetlag. It’s used as a safety aid for people working the nightshift or in limited light situations such as underground mining. Research is underway now in the areas of Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Women’s menstrual health to name a few.
You can see the proof in our research articles

Blue Light Therapy helping Depression and sleep disorders

What is Light Therapy?

Depression

It’s as life threatening as diabetes or cancer. It can attack anyone, anytime without reason. One in five of us will get it, and your chances are twice as high if you’re a woman. It will devastate your life and those around you.

Traditional Treatment.

Most people ‘manage’ their depression through therapy and or medication. Relief is rarely complete and medication almost always has unwanted side effects.

Amazing Discovery:

From a woman, a bike and Germany; Ursula had battled depression for years. Unable to sleep, she got out and rode her bike all night. In the morning she felt tremendously better. In fact, she couldn’t remember feeling this good. Immediately she told her doctor, who was also shocked. Sadly, when she woke up again the next day, her depression had returned. From Ursula and thousands of others, doctors discovered that depression could be completely reversed, but only for a day. Still the result was nothing short of amazing, and although it only lasted a day, patients felt tremendously better.

Wake Therapy.

This treatment, known as wake therapy works like this: You sleep until 1:00 AM. Then you wake up and stay awake all day. As long as you don’t sleep, you feel great. You’ll be tired, but you’ll feel great. As soon as you go back to sleep, the depression returns. Why didn’t it last? No one knew for sure, so researchers put wake therapy aside. Still, it happened over and over again for thousands of patients. Then a new science emerged, called Chronobiology (the study of how our body clocks work) Scientists discovered we each have a body clock that controls our daily energy and sleep cycles. Our body clocks also control the production of serotonin and melatonin, both substances implicated in depression. When we get depressed, our body clock can be a major factor.

The Long-term Answer.

Scientists knew that very bright light was the only effective way to reset our body clocks. So, could they combine bright light and wake therapy for long-term depression relief? In 1996, an Apollo colleague at the University of Vienna did the first trial run. Participants slept until 1:00am and then remained awake for the rest of the night and the next day. Just as before, they felt tremendously better, but anticipated a complete relapse once they fell asleep. Not so this time. When they awoke again, they were exposed to bright light. No
depression. It had vanished. Several weeks later it was still gone.
In 2002, Apollo and researchers at UCSD gave it a second try. Same results. Again in 2003, a larger study revealed the same results: Even after months, the depression is gone in most patients! Bright light and wake therapy are now offering an effective, non-pharmacological solution to millions of people like Ursula.

Article taken from ‘The Journals’