Em seguida coloquei um excerto que retirei de um site que explica melhor como surgiu isto da Terapia de Luz e, como agora se utiliza em vez da luz branca a luz azul. Que, segundo os cientistas é muito mais eficaz que a luz branca.
Além de o espectro utilizado ser muito mais reduzido (447-484 nm) faz com que os efeitos secundários sejam reduzidos e, o tratamento seja muito mais eficaz por motivos que iram perceber ao ler o excerto.
"(...) What is light therapy?
In the early 1980’s, scientists researching depression noted a consistent pattern of symptoms becoming more severe in many patients during the long winter months, particularly in the northern hemisphere. Significantly these symptoms eased or disappeared completely as the longer summer days returned.
In 1982 The National Institute of Health (NIH) identified winter depression and coined the term, ‘SAD’ for Seasonal Affective Disorder.
The scientists found that 'SAD' was related to an imbalance in the body's natural circadian rhythms. The Circadian rhythm, or the body’s inner clock governs the timing of sleep, hormone production, body temperature, and other biological functions.
In 1984 these pioneering scientists discovered that exposure to bright white light is very effective at treating seasonal affective disorder.
For many years doctors had relegated light therapy to the periphery of credible science. It wasn’t until 2001 that researchers from NIH, Thomas Jefferson Medical University and Apollo Health fully understood how exposure to specialised bright light, stimulates the production of brain chemicals to relieve the symptoms associated with seasonal depression
Dr. George Brainard’s team at Thomas Jefferson Medical University, identified a photo receptor in the human eye, responsible for reacting to light and controlling the production of melatonin.
They found specifically that light in the range of 447-484 nm (nanometers) is responsible for suppressing melatonin production and shifting circadian rhythms. Indeed, this particular bandwidth of light is up to ten times more effective than other wavelengths. We now know this technology as BLUEWAVE™. (...)"
in (http://www.lighttherapy.com.au/)
fi