Light therapy is a recognized treatment method against fall-winter fatigue and depression. If you suffer from symptoms such as fatigue, a lack of energy, decline in mood, drowsiness, and increased appetite in fall and winter, you may be helped by light therapy. The development of winter depression is related to melatonin hormone located in the pineal gland of the brain. During the darker period (fall-winter), the production of melatonin by the pineal gland is increased and thereby the aforementioned symptoms may develop. Light therapy lamp decreases the production of melatonin in the brain and thereby reduces drowsiness and mood disturbances. At the same time, it has been found that it reduces the levels of the prolactin hormone. High prolactin levels often cause depression that accompanies menstruation. Light therapy also affects the so-called rhythm master located in the diencephalons that regulates periods of sleep and wakefulness. Light therapy is therefore an effective aid in case of sleep disturbances that are caused by night shift work and jet lag. Since the light is transferred through the eye's retina, one should look once in a minute directly into the light source for a few seconds.
Contraindications to light therapy: diseases of the retina and the use of photosensitive medication (chlorothen, lithium, fluoxetin, etc.).
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