Over the summer, a customer who had ordered the DPL skin therapy light called me.  She was absolutely thrilled that using the light had reduced the symptoms of TMJ (a condition in which the temporomandibular joint does not function properly) to the point that she was eating nuts for the first time in years.  She said that you can’t always believe what you read, but for her, the DPL skin light was like a 9 minute miracle.

I had an interesting customer return today.  He had ordered a dawn simulator and returned it after one use.  He told me that he is EXTREMELY light sensitive.  He woke up at the very start of the dawn simulation cycle when the light was barely on. 

Had I spoken with him I would have suggested that he reduce the wattage in the lamp that he was using, and/or try the dawn simulator for several days and see if his body would begin to get used to a small amount of light before waking fully.  I think that some times, people are so anxious about a dawn simulator not working that they program their body to jolt awake that first morning at the meagerest light.  After several days the person understands that their body will respond appropriately to the light, and they can begin to relax and wake at the alarm time, when the light reaches full brightness.

Read what Robin from Stillwater sent us:

   I purchased a desk light box last fall and it was so easy to flip it up and catch the light rays while doing my morning emails.  It seemed to really help to stave off the winter blues!�

This from a customer who returned a product for a refund and then his check got lost in the US Mail and had to be reissued. 

I want to commend you and your company for the personalized customer service.

Take Care.

–James

I just wanted to share this customer feedback with you.

“I don’t know how I would have made it through the seemingly endless Minnesota winter without my Sunbox lamp!  Each morningI spent about a half an hour in front of the lamp reading the morning newspaper before starting my work day.  Almost immediately, I noticed I was sleeping better at night and starting the day more refreshed.  More importantly, it somehow kept the winter blues away - a feat that was necessary for a much longer period than usual this year!”

 Liz, Minneapolis MN

I just wanted to pass along some customer comments that we recently received via email:

“Great seller!!  Great product, very effective.”  “great speed!!”  “Great well packaged product.  Very professional.  Stay that way please :)  A+++”  “Works great.  Thanks.”�

On June first I was in a rear end collision.  I had a head laceration that required 4 staples and a sprained neck.  I am not one to take medications, so the only pain reliever I took was ibuprofen and homeopathic oral arnica and arnica in lotion form.  I found the DPL skin light indespensible!  I used it on my head laceration to reduce the swelling, reduce the pain and heal the laceration.  I iced my entire spine for 20 minutes in sections from my head to my tailbone.  Then I followed the same path with my DPL light.  I had a lot of pain between my shoulders, apparently because I couldn’t turn my head properly, and I would rest the DPL panels on my back and press the on button through 2 or 3 cycles.    I found that this greatly reduced pain and inflamation in all of the areas where I used it.  After about 5 days, I weaned myself from the ibuprofen and used only ice, arnica and the DPL light.  I’m sold on the pain relief qualities of the DPL.  A friend just called me last week to tell me that he crashed his motorcycle.  He has lost a lot of skin, so I rushed him a DPL unit.  I have total confidence that he will see rapid skin regrowth and pain reduction.  I’ll wait to hear from him and let everyone know….

I got a customer call last week.  The man told me that he received his light box in the afternoon and decided to use it for just 5 minutes because his ideal session time was in the morning.  He turned on his Trav Elite and wept with relief.  He told me that he has suffered from seasonal depression for years and knew immediately that this light was going to help him because it felt so wonderful.  His body loved it! 

Now of course not everyone has such immediate or fantastic results, but these products work.  Most people notice a difference in their mood and energy levels within 7-10 days.  You may not be moved to tears but chances are that you will increase your mood and energy levels and that is something to be happy about!

A dawn simulator is a type of alarm clock that slowly illuminates over time to gently wake the body with light instead of a jolting alarm.  As the light increases, the light slowly brings the body from its current sleep phase to Stage 1 which is the transitional stage between waking and sleep.  In this sleep stage, most people find it easy to wake up if they are well rested.  The dawn simulators also have a sunset feature that starts the bulb fully illuminated and gradually fades over a set time.  This sunset feature helps the body relax and get ready for sleep.  The dawn simulators are very beneficial for: 

• People who have to wake up when it is still dark.
• Children who do not easily wake in the morning or have trouble winding down at night.
• Teenagers who need to conform to a schedule that is not the same as their body’s clock. 
• People who do shift work. 
• People who do not like being jolted awake by an alarm. 
• People who sleep very deeply. 

Some dawn simulators wake the person with light only.  Others have a back up alarm or radio which will turn on at the end of the light cycle. Some models have a battery back up to save your settings in the event of a power outage.

Try a dawn simulator today and you’ll wonder why you waited so long.

There seems to be a connection between vitamin D deficiency and many health related issues including depression.  Recently an article written by Jospehine Marcotty and published in the Minneapolis Star Tribune quoted sources linking vitamin D deficiency to “17 kinds of cancer, autoimmune diseases, chronic pain, heart disease, depression and ADHD.”  On the flip side, a healthy level of vitamin D “regulates hundreds of genes, especially those associated with cell growth.   That’s why, researchers believe, it reduces cancer, slows cell death and regulates immune cells.”  The great news is that Vitamin D is readily available almost anywhere that there is sunshine.  The melatonin in our skin absorbs the UVB rays of the sun.  Lighter skinned people have an easier time absorbing UVB rays than people with darker skin.  Dr. Greg Plontnikoff was quoted as saying in the article that we could get all of the vitamin D that our bodies need by getting one hour of “healthy” sun exposure each day.  By healthy, he clarified that it should be exposure without burning.  UVB cannot be absorbed through windows, so one needs outdoor exposure.  In the far north, the sun is too low in the sky during the winter months to stimulate and create Vitamin D production.    Many other vitamins come from food sources, but vitamin D comes mainly from the sun.  Fish, egg yolks, and enriched dairy products are some of the only food sources of vitamin D.  The RDA of Vitamin D is 400IU (International Units). Recently studies by the American Academy of Pediatrics have suggested that children get between 400-1,000 IU of Vitamin D daily.  Marcotty notes that according to the experts “it is difficult but not impossible to take too much vitamin D.  Adults would have to consume 2,000 units or more a day for a long time.  But too much could trigger too much calcium absorption, causing kidney stones.”   The best measurement of Vitamin D levels would be to have a blood test.   In a culture where many of us rise before the sun and return from work in the waning sun or even dark, it is more important than ever to make a commitment to somehow get some sun exposure every day or to supplement our diets.  Try to take a break during the day and go for a quick walk around your neighborhood, parking lot, or outside area.  Remember that smokers take these breaks to satisfy an unhealthy habit throughout the day.  Those of us seeking better health and wellness should have access to the same breaks during our days. Try it.  You may end up feeling more invigorated, clear headed and happier.  Now, who doesn’t have time for that?