Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

Hormones are chemicals that produce a variety of changes in certain areas of the body. Such changes include an individual's rate of growth and level of activity. Our moods and emotions are often linked to our hormones. Experiments in recent years have shown that our Pineal and Pituitary glands, both members of our hormone producing Endocrine system are light sensitive. Less light - and they work slower or less efficiently in their release of hormones.

The result is that, in seasons of short, dull days (winter periods for example) many of us feel less than "100%". You may feel tired, low, 'fed-up', have sleep problems, feel permanently exhausted, even be depressed - to a lesser or greater extent you may be suffering from SAD - Seasonal Affective Disorder.

We all need daily exposure to natural light of at least 30-45 minutes each day. Just go for a walk or sit outside on a crisp, sunny winter's day - and see how much better you instantly feel. Natural (White) Light is made up of the full spectrum of colours from violet to red. Artificial Lighting from ordinary bulbs or fluorescent tubes does nothing to help SAD because the light produced is either too yellow or too blue - it is not balanced. It does not replace the natural white light our bodies need to function correctly.

SAD sufferers become increasingly lethargic and depressed as the winter months approach. As the longer, lighter seasons of the year approach, SAD sufferers spontaneously feel better, feel more full of energy, feel fully alive again. Their enforced 'semi-hibernation' is over. Use of a Light Box for up to one hour a day can completely alter the quality of life for these people.

The light used in these boxes is Full Spectrum Lighting - this is lighting that closely resembles natural daylight - reds, blues and greens in roughly equal amounts. The spectrum of light emitted from a 'normal' fluorescent tube is not full - blues, greens and ultra violets predominate. Light treatment is painless, drug-free and safe - and, in the long term, extremely cheap. Suffers have reported improved sleep patterns, relief from lethargy and depression, and, often, no further need for anti-depressant drugs. Information about SAD and light treatment can be obtained from the SADAssociation. Light Boxes and a wide range of colour light therapy products can be purchased from Outside In and there is much detailed and helpful information about SAD on their website.

Light treatments are delivered by Colour Practitioners using treatment colours and light in precise timings - based on the Fibonacci Series - the pattern of growth seen repeated over and over again in nature. Work has recently been undertaken on Pre-Menstrual Syndrome (PMS) at the Royal Postgraduate Medical School at Hammersmith Hospital in London, England by neurologist Dr Duncan Anderson. He and his team have found that shining a light into the closed eyes of PMS sufferers for only 15 minutes a day, has been more effective against the symptoms of PMS than any other published treatment. Women on the trial have reported less period pain, fewer food cravings coupled with weight loss, and better sleep patterns - in fact an average 76% reduction in symptoms. The treatment consists of wearing a flickering light mask for 10-20 minutes in the evening. It is suggested that a flickering light is more effective for severe conditions because brain chemicals tend to respond more effectively to changing stimuli, in this case light... a fact Colour and Light Practitioners have known for many years!! For more details of colour light masks for the treatment of PMS and Migraine, you can visit The Light Therapy Centre.

To feel better all year long - you can make use of Full Spectrum Lighting bulbs and fluorescent lights. The light output from these is very close to the natural spectrum of white light - the very light our bodies need to function effectively.

Such lighting can be easily purchased at specialist lighting shops, hobby shops or from firms such as Duro-Test Lighting. To select the right fluorescent lamp for a specific application you need to consider both the Colour Temperature and the Colour Rendering Index (CRI). Colour Temperature is expressed in degrees Kelvin (K). For example, daylight at noon is approximately 5500 degrees Kelvin. Fluorescent lamps with lower colour temperatures look red whereas fluorescent lamps with higher colour temperatures look blue. To help understand this, think about an iron bar being heated. As it warms, first it gets 'red hot'. Then, as it gets higher in temperature, it becomes 'white hot' and finally, 'blue-white' hot. The Colour Rendering Index (CRI) is a numerical system that rates the colour rendering ability of fluorescent light in comparison with natural daylight, which has a CRI of 100. For example, a lamp with a CRI value of 98 shows colours more naturally than a lamp with a CRI of 53.

Good colour rendering is critical in situations where skin tones must appear natural or products must look appealing. In office and factory application, high colour rendering increases visual clarity, creates a more productive environment, and makes close colour matching possible. Surprisingly to many people, the actual colour of an object is determined by the light that it reflects. Apple An apple, for example, appears red because it reflects red light.. If a light source was deficient in the red portion of the spectrum, there would not be enough light for the apple to reflect, and it would appear dull or off-colour. Next time you walk under an orange street lamp try looking at the colour of a car that you know is 'red'! Very often, full-spectrum light will be appropriate and at other times, it will be important to create a certain mood or atmosphere, such as warm lighting in settings where people gather, such as restaurants. Other situations will require a specific lamp type, for example, graphical and arts applications. Next time you think how fresh and tempting the fruit in the supermarket looks, take a closer look at the CRI of the display lighting being used! Once you have decided on the appropriate lamp finish (daylight, neutral, or warm) or particular application, it is simply a matter of determining how much light, measured in lumens the situation requires. On the recommendation of the Scarlet Pixel team full spectrum lighting is now being used in some classrooms, with very positive effects on students' learning leading to improved academic results!!

Colour Practitioners, like Chris Gay, the Scarlet Pixel Colour Consultant, train for at least two years. They study the effects of each colour when used in clothing, decor, commerce and a whole host of other factors and are trained to use light and colour in treatments to aid the body to rebalance and stabilise. Light and sound can be used to treat a variety of ailments. Light used as a treatment in certain ailments can alleviate the need for drugs, is safe, and, as medical researchers are increasingly acknowledging, is effective.