The benefits of light therapy
Presentation of the light therapy lamp
A light therapy lamp is an artificial light that is similar to sunlight. Exposure to this light promotes the secretion of melatonin , which regulates numerous hormonal secretions in humans. The secretion of melatonin is improved by the day/night phenomenon and the contrast between light and darkness.
Obviously, there is a difference in exposure depending on the season, since we are exposed to more sunlight in summer than in winter. The majority of homes in northern countries are equipped with light therapy.
The current conditions of confinement and teleworking do not favor our exposure to the sun. Yet we really need it and here is why,
Reduction of stress
Remember, exposure to daylight helps to secrete melatonin, and melatonin reduces the secretion of the stress hormone cortisol. Light therapy therefore indirectly reduces stress.
Better sleep
Also called sleep hormone, melatonin is an integral part of many dietary supplements that fight against sleep disorders. It is also used to counter the effect of jet lag.
Before taking these supplements, exposure to a light therapy lamp can be a good start. It is also advisable to consult your doctor before taking any supplements.
Mood improvement
Melatonin also acts on the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that acts on mood balance.
This light therapy was originally used to combat winter depression.
Maximization of intellectual capacities
It's mathematics, we sleep better and we are less stressed and therefore automatically our intellectual capacities are maximized.
Regulation of weight and appetite
Insulin is regulated by melatonin, so it also acts on blood sugar. Melatonin also has a regulating effect on appetite.
Optimization of immunity
The oxidative stress of the body is reduced thanks to the production of melatonin, thus supporting the immune system.
Thanks to the balance of cortisol, melatonin will have an effect :
- Anti thrombotic
- Anti oxidant
- Anti-lipidemics
- Anti-inflammatory
- Anti-hypertensive
Improvement of fertility
The production of female sex hormones is stimulated by melatonin, so light therapy will not only allow for better follicular growth but also increase the rate of ovulation.
Oxidative stress is also harmful to reproduction, melatonin helps to regulate it.
We recommend that women who wish to become pregnant expose themselves to light therapy for 6 months.
How to use a light therapy lamp?
The ideal is to expose yourself to the light therapy lamp in the morning. Exposure in the morning allows you to reproduce a normal rhythm of life for the human body. You can expose yourself in the morning until noon, then turn off your lamp for the rest of the day. In the absence of exposure to daylight due to the constraints of COVID-19, we can re-create this phenomenon at home using a light therapy lamp.
Face your lamp in the morning until 12 o'clock
30 minutes a day in the morning
Place yourself at a distance of 30 to 50cm from your lamp
Arrange it according to your desires, at your desk, on the kitchen table, ...
Do not use your light therapy lamp in the evening and afternoon.
How to choose a light therapy lamp?
There is a very large number of sellers and resellers of light therapy lamps. The size, the price, a lot of criteria which make that there is a choice of product very broad.
To help you choose, it is essential to look at the power of the lamp, we advise you to go for lamps of more than 10 000 lux.
Here's a lamp we recommend:
Marie Messager
Osteopath D.O
2 rue Alexis de Tocqueville
78000 Versailles
