Here in Minnesota, where we had sleet this past Saturday, we are still just beginning our gardening season.  It was a joy to be out uncovering and trimming perennials and soaking up the sunshine.  This body loves the UV rays that are essential for Vitamin D production.  I spend as much time outside as possible while still using my light box in the mornings.  My light therapy sessions have decreased to about 15-20 minutes, but I still start my day with my light box.

While gardening, I stepped into the garden and gouged my ankle with a rigid stalk.  It drew blood and was quite sore.  I decided to soak in Epsom Salts and then used my DPL light to speed up the healing.  The DPL is also great for the muscle aches that set in after a day spent bending, lifting, pulling, and toting.  The Nuve is just a smaller version of the same technology, and very portable as well.

Here’s to sunshine and happiness outside!

Here at Light Therapy Products, we are constantly singing the praises of the DPL/LED and the Red Nuve products.  These machines use red and infrared lights to increase the blood flow to the treatment area.  This increase in blood flow also increases the oxygenation to the area as well, which hydrates while reducing inflammation.  There are a multitude of uses for the lights:

Alleviating headaches, reducing fine lines and wrinkles,  increasing healing by 30 times, reducing pain and stiffness, and in the case of the Blue Nuve, reducing bacteria caused acne.

How wonderful to treat something with a light instead of a pill or a cream.  Get relief or results when and where you want them without side effects.

I was interested to find an article in the Minneapolis Star Tribune newspaper this week about iPad usage.  The article stated that 68% of the people who reported to the researchers said that they used their iPad in their bedroom more often than any other room in the house.  Click here for the article.

There are two huge issues at work here if you are one of the aforementioned  people and you also have trouble sleeping.  The blue back-light from the  screen is stimulating to the brain, and the unit when used “online” routinely searches for an Internet signal.  This electronic search can significantly disturb sleep patterns.  There is much research citing the need to remove electronics from the bedroom for both of these reasons.

An iPad may be a convenient way to read, but stick to a printed form of a book if your sleep is suffering.

Sweet Dreams.

A friend just sent me a link to a great NY Times article on aging eyes and circadian rhythm, or body clock, disturbances.  As we age, the lens of the eye yellows blocking the blue light, which in turn leads to the disturbances.  It’s a great article that doesn’t get overly technical.   From the facts in the article it seems like as we age, it is even more important to get more sunlight or light therapy if sunlight isn’t available for a proper length of time.  Click here to go to the article.

This is the time of year that we receive many calls from people asking if it is too late to begin light therapy.  After all, the days are starting to get longer, and spring break vacations are just around the corner.Here in the Northern Midwest, we won’t have reliably good outside weather for 3 whole months yet.  That’s 12 weeks.   There is still lots of time ahead of most of us before we can put away our light boxes for the season.  If you live in an area that has wet springtime weather, you may get use out of your light box through June.  I know that I do here in Minnesota.

The biggest question is this:  Why would someone choose to suffer through the long winter and  spring, when their lives could improve dramatically in less than 2 weeks?  Light therapy can help you to find the energy to get trim and fit for the skin baring spring summer.  Start using light therapy now and have more energy for working out, eating better, and  sleeping more deeply.  So do everyone a favor and use a light box until the spring and summer sun is here to stay!

Here is a great 10 minute video from the TED series about the importance of a positive outlook.  We found it refreshing and just had to share it with all of you.

TEDtalk  Click Tedtalk to watch the video and ENJOY!

I love our customers.  They always keep us on our toes.  I chatted with “Ron” recently for literally hours.  He wanted to know everything about light therapy, the light boxes, and results.  He asked me if I could guarantee 100% that light therapy would work for him.  I answered “No”.   There are simply too many variables.  How could I predict if he would even use the light box correctly? I assured him that if we worked together, I would predict a 99% success rate.

Well, he decided to purchase a Caribbean Sun light box.  He called me after using the light box for 3 days.  He told me that he had already begun to notice a subtle difference in his mood and energy level.  He said that for years, he didn’t feel that he had any reason to get out of bed in then morning.  After using the light box for 3 days he was self described as noticeably more optimistic.   On the 3rd day of use, he turned the Caribbean Sun light box on and rode his exercise bike for 25 minutes.  He couldn’t remember the last time that he had the energy to exercise.

I often tell customers that light therapy may not be the “one” thing that changes your life for the better.  What light therapy does do is create enough change for you to start feeling better, which leads to having more energy and  making better food, rest and exercise choices. Soon, the apathy and exhaustion are part of your past, and something that most people never want to revisit.

There was a great article in the Star Tribune Parade insert this weekend.  Dr Oz, who was often a guest on Oprah and now has his own show, has some very easy to follow advice for better sleep.  It’s all information that we have posted on our site before, but it bears repeating in case you missed it.

“Nearly half of all Americans have occasional insomnia…”

Click here for the link to the article and start experiencing restorative sleep tonight.

This is one of the best articles that I have seen in quite awhile.  It explains light therapy in a logical easy to follow language and format.  As with any article, we have some differences of opinion.  For example, sitting next to a sunny window does suffice  as “therapy” for most individuals.

Click here for the link to the article

I just had a very informative call from a woman ordering a Feel Bright Light Visor.  She had already owned one and it got thrown away – yikes!

During our conversation, she told me that she has bipolar disorder.  She used to own a large white light box, and if she felt down, she would often abuse it by leaving it on all day.  It gave her energy, but abusing it that way also made it so that she couldn’t sleep.  She discovered the bright light hat visor and said that she LOVES it.  She said between the hands-free use that lets her do other things while she is getting her therapy, and the fact that it has a timer that shuts the unit off automatically, she loves how easy it is to use and finds it “hugely beneficial”.  She also said that during hospitalizations in her past, white light therapy has been prescribed, but for her, the blue/green light of the Feel Bright Light Visor is much more effective.  She also told me that she is always happy to share information if she thinks that she can help others.  What a great call!

Thank you.

Sarah