Is Red the New Blue for Seasonal Affective Disorder?

The objective of this blog entry is to bring awareness to Light Therapy as a modality to counteract the undesirable changes that occur with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

Our business, our purpose and passion, are to spotlight, highlight, and illuminate the profound effects light has on the body. Light Therapy has been found to help tremendously during the winter months to alleviate the melancholy often associated with SAD.

With all of the events in the world happening these days, and with the Daylight-Saving time switch in some areas, now is a relevant time to become more aware of how the effects of the upcoming seasonal turn-over impact our bodies.

As we slide into winter, moods and physical responses are influenced by these changes. Every year, we all know it’s coming: bouts of bleak thoughts seem to take over as the length and amount of natural light diminishes in the winter months. The crisp beauty of fall, and the shining of the sun teases us toward denial that all of these gorgeous visuals will soon give way to cold. Thinking about the dark and dreary, and the wet and damp, is just another reminder that winter, and SAD, is coming. These seasonal changes alter our perspectives, our circadian rhythms, our ability to handle daily undertakings, and our mental processes undergo profound changes.

What is SAD/Seasonal Affective Disorder?

Seasonal Affective Disorder is a type of depression. It usually runs its course over a period of 4 – 6 months, beginning as the hours of daylight and amounts of light become less and less. Then, as the available daylight hours increase, the mood improves and balances out in the spring. The further away you are from the equator, the more likely that SAD will be felt or experienced.

There are various types of depression and the many facets of depression and moods aren’t limited to simply a few months out of the year, as with SAD. If you’re curious about whether or not you have SAD, there is a questionnaire that is easily downloaded and can be used as a self-test to get started in the SAD assessment. It’s called the Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ), and instructions are included for interpreting the scores. *SPAQ should not take the place of a medical diagnosis.

There can be similarities in symptoms shared by SAD and depression, so it is important to get the proper diagnosis.

What is Light Therapy?

Without going into the physics of Electromagnetic Radiation (EMR), just know that the type of energy that is EMR is commonly known as Light. Photons are the fundamental particle of Light. They are the basic unit of all Light.

There is a narrow band within the electromagnetic spectrum that humans can see (the visible spectrum). The different wavelengths of visible light are seen as the colors of the rainbow – red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet – and our bodies are biologically reactive to these wavelengths of light. Certain wavelengths stimulate cells in the body, and many studies and medical applications are showing just how beneficial these wavelengths can be. We often get asked, “Isn’t sunlight all that we need?” If that were true, all any of us would need to do is walk out into the sunlight and we would be healthy. We all know that is not as simple as it’s made out to be. Some wavelengths we are exposed to, like Ultraviolet (UV), play more than one role in our health. On the one hand, UV wavelengths are harmful to our skin, causing premature aging and even cancer. On the other hand, UV exposure (specifically UVb) is what allows our bodies to naturally produce vitamin D – a key vitamin for immunity and bone health.

Sunlight can be very beneficial, and lack of it plays a role in why so many people in northern climates suffer from SAD. There are many theories as to what causes SAD, but few, if any, definitive answers. It may be due to a vitamin D deficiency – fewer natural daylight hours means our bodies have a tougher time producing vitamin D naturally. Another theory is that a lack of sustained sunshine throws off our circadian rhythm causing sleepiness during the day, and unsatisfying sleep at night. Others attribute it to an overproduction of melatonin and under production of serotonin, so that our bodies are lacking the normal clues for when to get sleepy and when to be alert. Whatever the cause, our goal is to offer a healthy solution for counteracting the effects of SAD.

On the opposite end of the spectrum from UV light are the Red and Near-Infrared (NIR) wavelengths of light. Red and NIR are often paired together in Light Therapy devices because of their scientifically proven benefits to our skin and cellular health. Red penetrates the skin at a deeper level than any of the other visible wavelengths, and NIR (outside the visible spectrum) can penetrate into deep muscle tissue, bone, and even the brain, and the eyes register and process these wavelengths differently than white or blue light.

Click here to see the BEST explanation for Near-Infrared Light!

The benefits of several wavelengths, or colors, on the visible spectrum of light, as well as NIR outside the visible spectrum, are well documented and show up in the news or in a medical journal, or in peer reviewed studies more often now that they have in the past. This is exciting because although Light Therapy has been used for quite some time, it is finally getting the recognition it deserves.

Light Therapy, aka PhotoBioModulation, describes using specific wavelengths of light (photons) to trigger a biological change. Similar to photosynthesis in plants, our bodies also use light, and selecting a certain wavelength can induce a positive, or therapeutic response. For example, red light stimulates the mitochondria in our blood and cells to produce more ATP (adenosine tri-phosphate), the energy cells need to function at their best. When our cells are healthy, our health improves, and the body more easily finds homeostasis, or balance. Light Therapy is most frequently used to improve circulation, stimulate cellular repair, and reduce pain, but scientists continue to document additional benefits, and expand studies to more of the visible wavelengths of the Light Spectrum.

There are many ways to use and receive the benefits of light, and the distinction that is of most importance is how and why Red and NIR Light are different from the white light boxes that are so prevalent for SAD.

Light Therapy for Seasonal Affective Disorder

There are many devices that are used to help people overcome the moods and feelings associated with SAD. There are clip-on table lamps, white light boxes, and others but while there may be relief from products emitting white and blue light, they are limited in application. White and blue light devices stimulate the body by mimicking sunlight, and by creating a much brighter surrounding space, and usually require a person to be in the proximity of the light for long periods of time in order to gain maximum benefits or results. Additionally, some people experience sensitivity to white and blue light, and exposure can trigger migraines. The challenge with these devices is that they can really only be used for one purpose – stimulating the eyes and brain into thinking it’s daytime – and are not a realistic option for many people.

A device that utilizes Red and/or Near-Infrared light, however, can be used not only for the alleviation of SAD, but to increase circulation, reduce pain and inflammation, and stimulate cellular repair, as well. These positive effects are triggered anywhere on the body, not just the eyes, making Red and NIR Light devices highly versatile. Additionally, studies have shown that exposure to Red and NIR Light to be a safe and effective way to lessen the likelihood and duration of migraines.

So, Is Red the New Blue?

Smart phones, tablets, laptops, smart TVs – they all utilize blue light, and modern science shows that blue light can be harmful to our eyes, and alter our circadian rhythms, as well, when used at night. So, while blue light may be helpful for some people in the morning, exposure to it at night via smart phones, tablets, etc., can impact the ability to fall asleep, and stay asleep. For people suffering from SAD, further disruption to sleep schedules, especially if it adds to a feeling of lethargy in the morning, is the last thing that’s needed.

A healthier, more versatile option for both morning and evening use is Red Light (or a combination of Red and Near-Infrared). Not only is it safe for the eyes, it has been shown to actually improve some conditions, and prevent, or delay, others like AMD (age-related macular degeneration), and dry-eye. (1) In the morning, a boost of healthy Red Light will give your cells the energy they need to start the day, and at night, red can be very calming to the nervous system, helping you fall asleep faster, and stay asleep longer.

NIR, even though it is not part of the visible spectrum of light, initiates benefits in deep muscle tissue, bone, and even the brain. There are many documented studies that have found both Red, and NIR, light to be effective for seasonal depression, and there are many cellular improvements and biological benefits that include not only reduction in depression symptoms, but elevated mood, and increased circulation, as well. Even a slight improvement in how we feel emotionally and psychologically, can engage many other positive health results. In addition to helping with depression, Red and NIR light are calming and therefore beneficial for alleviating anxiety. All of these contribute to better sleep, which improves alignment of circadian rhythms.

So, while there’s nothing wrong with bright light therapy, we, as Light Therapists, tend to gravitate toward devices that our clients can use for more than just one thing, and Light Therapy that includes Red and Near-Infrared light does just that.

Here’s a quick reference for a few of the benefits of properly applied Light!

We hope this has shed some Light on one of the many things this incredible modality can do, and has been helpful information for you. To find out more, please contact us.

Lee and Darien

lee@photonictherapynw.com

darien@photonictherapynw.com