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Seasonal depression is real, and millions of Americans have a form of Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD. The darker, colder times of year is thought to be when SAD is the worst for many people.
Organic Authority has written about how you can add more healthy, natural light to your days with red light therapy. This article focused on the skin and anti-aging benefits of red light therapy (RLT), used by Hollywood stars like the Kardashians and Jessica Alba for all-natural beauty and collagen treatments.
I’m the co-founder of Joovv, and we make some of the leading in-home RLT devices that many estheticians and Hollywood A-listers are using every day. But RLT is hardly just for skin and beauty. In fact, it has a huge base of clinical research behind it that shows a wide range of natural health benefits like improved sleep, pain relief, hormone regulation, and fitness & performance gains. Some leading mental health researchers and physicians are even using it to treat patients and reduce the symptoms of SAD.
How Does Red Light Therapy Work?
During a red light therapy session, your body absorbs wavelengths of natural red and near infrared light. It’s just like the wavelengths you’d get from sunlight, but without the heat or damaging UV rays. This is why red light therapy is gaining popularity as a solution for SAD: it’s a safe, easy way to add natural light to your day without the need for sunny weather.
Natural light stimulates the mitochondria in your cells and helps your body increase your adenosine triphosphate (ATP) energy production. (To understand why this is so important, check out Organic Authority’s guide to keeping your mitochondria healthy and strong.)
This increased cellular energy from natural light makes a big difference for skin health, sleep, and inflammation relief. And new science and research shows big potential for SAD and depression as well. In 2018, the Elated-2 Pilot Trial tested the effects of red light therapy treatments on people with major depression over the course of eight weeks. The research team wrote that RLT showed antidepressant properties and was safe, easy to use, and well-tolerated.
Can Red Light Therapy Help with Seasonal Depression?
Most people already know about “SAD lamps.” These are the lamps that mimic the sun with super-bright artificial light. They definitely light up a dark room, but ultimately it’s still just artificial blue light, not natural light like the sun.
By contrast, a medical-grade red light therapy device like Joovv actually lets your body bask in a clinically-relevant dose of natural light in just 10-15 minutes. It’s quick, easy, and there are almost no risks or side effects.
Dr. Marc Schoen of UCLA Medical School has over 25 years of experience treating mental health disorders.
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From the Organic Authority Files
Dr. Schoen has also spoken about how red and near infrared light therapy can improve anxiety and compulsive disorders. He’s one of a growing number of researchers and physicians using Joovv devices or other RLT products to improve mental health outcomes.
Sleep, Depression, and Natural Light
Many people who struggle with depression have sleep disorders too, and this is another area where red light therapy treatments are making a big impact on natural health.
Light is a major cue for your brain, telling you when your body should sleep and be awake. When people are surrounded by bright, artificial light from screens all the time, it can seriously throw your circadian rhythm out of whack. Every time we look at our phones or watch TV or use a laptop, we’re subjecting our eyes to intensely bright light—light with a higher color temperature than the noonday sun.
Red light therapy is a much gentler color of light, and it’s been shown in studies to help your brain re-establish a consistent sleep cycle and produce more natural melatonin. Getting quality sleep can go a long way for your mental health, especially in the winter.
The Future of Red Light Therapy and SAD
With the recent clinical successes around natural light, and given how easy it is to use a red light therapy device in your home, I expect RLT to become a bigger part of peoples’ mental health and self-care routines. More and more studies are coming out all the time showing a huge range of health benefits from natural light. The work on SAD and depression is especially promising for people with the “Winter Blues.”
There’s nothing we can do about how early it gets dark at this time of year. But with a quality red light therapy device like Joovv, you can make sure your body is getting all the natural light it needs.
If red light therapy interests you, check out Joovv. When you purchase a Joovv device through Organic Authority and use the code, OA, you’ll receive a free gift with purchase!
Related on Organic Authority
Blue Light Might Be Disrupting Your Sleep Cycles: Here’s What to Do About It
Don’t Do Early Mornings? You May Have a Sleep Disorder
Do These 10 Daily Tasks at the Best Time of Day for Your Body Clock (Sex Included!)
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Note! The opinions and views expressed by the authors at Organic Authority in blogs and on social media and more, are theirs alone and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions or position of Organic Authority, Inc and do not necessarily represent the views of Organic Authority sponsors and/or partners. Organic Authority content is for informational and entertainment purposes, and any views expressed should not be accepted as a substitute for qualified expertise. Any highlighted alternative studies are intended to spark conversation and are for information purposes only. We are not here to diagnose or treat any health or medical conditions, nor should this be relied upon as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, even if it features the advice of medical practitioners and physicians. When making any lifestyle or health changes, consult your primary care physician.
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