For Seasonal Affective Disorder, what’s the difference between full-spectrum bulbs and light therapy lamps?
Thursday, December 10th, 2009 at
3:46 pm
For treating SAD, is there a difference between using full-spectrum light bulbs in your regular lamps and buying the expensive (0+) light therapy lamps? I’ve visited websites that recommend the bulbs for treating SAD, and others that say to buy the 10,000 lux lamps. Which is better and why?
Thanks!
Filed under: General
Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!
Those full-size bulbs use a lot more electricity and are more breakable than the smaller LED light therapy boxes. Not as portable either. I bought a small LED light box several years ago and am very happy with it, it is very effective for my winter blahs. When we have a spell of cloudy weather, I turn it on for my parakeets in the morning, they face toward the light and sing a pretty song, they are happy to get the light too. The LED light boxes are also cool to the touch.
I had chickens about 30 years ago when I lived out in the country. They wouldn’t lay eggs very often all through the winter months. Someone told me if I put a light on them that they would lay eggs. So I strung a 100-watt bulb in the chicken house and turned it on, I had eggs all winter from then on.
If you really have SAD then you may want to visit your doc because they can tell you how to use the lights. The box lights are better because you get the right bulbs and the right amount of light, which it takes, to be effective.
You need to sit in front of the lights for an hour or so, usually in the morning and NOT STARE into them but GLANCE at the light box at least once EVERY MINUTE. This allows the lights to hit your pineal gland in your brain.