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(Every healing journey at Trillium begins with a patient’s timeline. In February 2019 Trillium is taking the journey even farther by joining with ThrivingMind Retreats for a week long brain health retreat in Costa Rica. We will be reviewing participants timelines as part of the pre-retreat consultation. That way we can be prepared to meet your needs and help you find your path to optimal brain health when we are together in Costa Rica.)

I start most of my new patient visits with the same introduction. It goes something like this: “Today is really about getting to know you. We’ll start by going over your intake forms to make sure I understand everything about your current medications, symptoms, and demographic information, and then we’ll look deeply into your history. I like to start with a really thorough history because it helps me get to know you and to see your current symptoms in the big picture of who you are.” Most people respond to that introduction very positively—everybody likes the idea of being heard by their healthcare provider. But still most people are surprised when I start the history part of the visit with the question, “So, what do you know about your birth?”

In Functional Medicine, questions about one’s birth and early life are very important. We even ask patients about their mother’s health during pregnancy and preconception! Many people find it hard to see how their birth can be connected to symptoms they’re having many decades later, but Functional Medicine providers know that what happens to someone early on sets the stage for a lifetime of habits and thought patterns, a healthy or unhealthy microbiome, and alterations in gene expression. When these factors aren’t optimal they can lead to disease, but the good news is that these factors can be modified, and it’s in those modifications where healing happens.

Whether it’s cognitive decline, autoimmune disease, anxiety and depression or any other chronic illness, understanding and working on the root causes brings about healing. That’s the magic of the FM timeline, but it’s not really magic at all. It’s just common sense.

What is Light Therapy?
Light Therapy is a treatment, also known as Phototherapy or Bright Light Therapy, that involves sitting in front of a special light box that emits light very similar to natural sunlight. Light Therapy is a way to treat SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) which is a type of depression that occurs typically in fall or winter. It’s also sometimes used to treat conditions such as sleep disorders and other types of depression.

Light Therapy Boxes used to treat SAD, and other disorders, should provide 10,000 Lux. (Lux is the measurement of the intensity of the light.) Typically, healthcare practitioners recommend that patients sit in front of a 10,000 Lux light source for 15-30 minutes each morning, every day beginning when the seasons start to change (in September in the northeast.) Although you can begin the treatment at any time. This treatment does require consistency. Usually, the patient is asked to glance at the light every 30 seconds to a minute or so, but not to look directly at the light for the entire 15-30 minutes. Looking directly at the light for more than a glance can cause eye damage.

Where to Find a Light Therapy Box?
You can find Light Therapy Boxes (and also some visors/baseball style hats with lights on the brim that allow you to move around during the treatment time) through many online suppliers. You should choose a Light Therapy Box that provides 10,000 Lux and is FDA approved. Avoid light boxes that emit only blue light because blue light might damage your eyes.. Many reputable Light Therapy Box manufacturers offer a 30-day money back guarantee.

When to Use Light Therapy?
Ideally one should start Light Therapy as soon as the seasons begin to change (usually in September in the northeast), but it can be started at anytime and will likely still be very beneficial. The treatment should be continued into the spring season when natural sunlight alone is enough to boost mood and energy levels. If the patient has been diagnosed with SAD, they may find they experience symptoms at other times of the year during prolonged cloudy and rainy periods. Light Therapy can be beneficial during those periods as well.

Who Can Benefit from Light Therapy?
Patients who have been diagnosed with SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), insomnia, and other types of depression, have been found to benefit from Light Therapy.

Caution
Light Therapy boxes with 10,000 Lux emit high intensity light and patients should not look directly at the light for more than a glance. Also, Light Therapy has been reported to lead to mania in some patients with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. Light therapy is generally not recommended for patients with eye disorders such as glaucoma or cataracts . Patients should consult with their healthcare provider before beginning Light Therapy to discuss all conditions, medications, and supplements for possible interactions. Please note that tanning beds are not an alternative to Light Therapy. Tanning beds emit ultraviolet light that can damage skin and also greatly increases the risk of skin cancer.

Sources:
https://www.mdlinx.com/internal-medicine/medical-news-article/2016/11/08/depression/6931187/

http://www.drweil.com/health-wellness/balanced-living/wellness-therapies/light-therapy/

http://evolutionarypsychiatry.blogspot.com/search?q=light+therapy

http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/light-therapy/home/ovc-20197416