Light Therapy has been valued throughout history as a remarkable source of healing. Today, the therapeutic applications of light and color are being investigated in major hospitals and research centers worldwide. Results indicate that full-spectrum, ultraviolet, colored, and laser light can have therapeutic value for a range of conditions from chronic pain and depression to immune disorders.
The oldest form of light therapy is natural sunlight, which is the ultimate source of full-spectrum light. For those living in areas that see very little sunlight this time of year, there are other options; full-spectrum light therapy, bright light therapy, various forms of UV light therapy, syntonic optometry, cold laser therapy, and visual color therapy.
For treating SAD, white light therapy is often preferred over the full-spectrum light because the additional UV light found in full-spectrum light is not necessary to achieve the antidepressant effect of the therapy, and can be harmful to the eyes. Different wavelengths stimulate different aspects of our physiology, all playing a vital role in our functioning. We especially need natural light with its subtle variations that act on our well-being. The rhythm of dark and light from day and night and the full-spectrum of light is essential to our circadian rhythms (biological clock), endocrine, immune, sexual and nervous systems.
Cycles of light and dark play a huge role in our energy levels, sleep patterns and how we relate to our surroundings. Light and color therapy allow us to stay balanced through many ways including diet, meditation, light and color applications and even the clothes we wear.
Our Circadian Rhythm
This is our internal daily biological clock. This clock can be influenced by many different elements, such as light and darkness, time of day and temperature. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the clock shows us how our energy cycles its course through the 12 organ meridians over a period of 24 hours, spending two hours at maximal levels in each organ In general, when treating a patient in accordance with this biorhythm, the best time to treat an excess of energy is at or shortly before the time of greatest meridian activity, while the best time to treat depleted energy is following the peak times.
Biorhythms
Biorhythms are a method to predict three cycles in your life based on your birthday. These cycles are the physical, emotional and intellectual cycle. Each of these cycles goes through different phases: high, low and critical.
The scientists Dr. Hermanna Swoboda and Dr. Wilhelm Fliess discovered biorhythms at the turn of the century. Both scientists weren't working together but discovered biorhythms at about the same time. At the beginning of the last century, Dr. Wilhelm Fliess noticed identical rhythms in the case histories of his patients. He observed active and passive phases in the physical, emotional and mental aspects of humans. From these observations he derived the principle of the biorhythms: The physical curve with its cycle of 23 days, the emotional curve with 28 days and the mental curve with 33 days.
His interpretation of cycles are expressed when the curve of any cycle is above the midline, we experience a "high" in the corresponding field (physical, emotional or mental):
1. If it is the physical curve, you will feel bodily well and, for example, if you were to have an operation the body would be more resilient.
2. If it is the emotional curve, you will be in a good mood and your contact with other people will be positive.
3. If it is the mental curve, your thought processes will be sharper, concentration will be easier and you may have a lot of ideas and insights.
2. If it is the emotional curve, you will be in a good mood and your contact with other people will be positive.
3. If it is the mental curve, your thought processes will be sharper, concentration will be easier and you may have a lot of ideas and insights.
When the curve of any cycle is below the midline, we experience a "low" in the corresponding field:
1. If it is a physical low, you may feel weak and listless.
2. If it is an emotional low, you may feel miserable and out of sorts.
3. If it is a mental low, thinking can be foggy and concentration hard.
When any of the curves crosses the midline, this is a critical time in the corresponding field and if two curves cross the midline at the same point, this is a very critical time. Critical in the physical field means you may feel exhausted and it is better to avoid physical effort and operations. Critical in the emotional field means you may feel irritable and sad, and emotional outbreaks are likely so it is better to avoid conflicts and arguments. Critical in the mental field finally means sluggish thinking and it is better to postpone activities that demand a lot of concentration. Biorhythms can't predict or explain events, they can only suggest how we may deal with them.
Andrew Pacholyk, MS. L.Ac
Therapies for healing
mind, body, spirit
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