Light therapy: what are its benefits?

Phototherapy consists of daily exposure to artificial white light, the so-called “broad spectrum” that mimics that of the sun or has properties as close as possible to those of the sun. Also called heliotherapy or phototherapy, this therapy consists in exposing the face, but also other parts of the body, to light.

Prevent or fight seasonal depression

This syndrome occurs in October or November (i.e. autumn and winter) when the light outside decreases. The seasonal depression spontaneously disappears in spring. It manifests itself in significant tiredness, increased appetite, depressive mood, excessive need for sleep and has a negative effect on the biological clock. In this case, light therapy can relieve symptoms of seasonal depression or the winter blues.

Combat jet lag

Longer night watches and jet lag throw off body rhythms. In this situation, light therapy enables the internal biological clock to be initialized in order to find a normal rhythm.

Exposure to white light allows the body to hold out until the evening. As the light fades at the end of the day, the body triggers the production of sleep hormones.

Be happy

Phototherapy blocks melatonin, the sleep hormone, and produces serotonin, the happy hormone.

Get good sleep

Phototherapy can facilitate sleep. Artificial light can set the biological clock correctly and return to a clear rhythm. This phenomenon leads to a good night’s sleep. During the day, the daily hormones are stimulated.

When night falls, the night hormones take over and activate. This leads to healthy fatigue and puts the person into a deep sleep. Apparently, this therapy combats all sleep disorders: insomnia, daytime sleepiness, late sleeping, early morning awakenings…

treat depression

Researchers have shown in a study that light therapy is also effective against “classic” depression. To reach this conclusion, they studied a control group of 122 patients with depression. This group was divided into 4 subgroups: the first was treated only with drugs, the second only with a phototherapy lamp at 2500 lux, the third with drugs and light therapy and the last only with placebos. After 8 weeks, the volunteers in the third group were the ones who had made the most progress. They had benefited from 30 minutes of phototherapy per day in addition to conventional drug treatment