Notice INNOSOL Aurora

« shown that as the amount of natural light decreases, the body may physiologically respond to these "unfavourable living conditions" by adjusting certain hormone levels and biological activities. The effects of this adjustment may include: • Intense fatigue, exhaustion and various sleep disorders • Increased appetite leading to weight gain • General passivity and depression • Decreased work efficiency and loss of vitality The strength of light on a sunny day is approximately 50 000 – 100 000 lux, whereas indoors it is as little as 100-200 lux. An effective bright light therapy session requires the eyes to be exposed to at least 2 500 lux. Via the retina and the optic nerves the light affects the brain's light sensitive region (suprachiasmatic cellkernel), which adjusts the body's physiological cycles in accordance with the rhythm of day and night. The light reduces the amount of the sleep hormone melatonin, secreted by the pineal gland. Melatonin is a key factor in the regulation of alertness and sleep cycles, but also in the prevention of SAD. Bright light therapy helps you alleviate these problems and regain vitality. If the symptoms are severe, they should be treated under medical supervision. THERAPY INSTRUCTIONS Start bright light therapy before any symptoms of SAD appear, preferably soon after nights start drawing in. Take a bright light session 3-5 times a week throughout the winter. If the symptoms are not relieved or they reappear, try taking daily sessions for 1-2 weeks. You may even begin with daily sessions or repeat this intensity whenever you feel you need it. One session lasts for 0,5-2 hours. Longer than two hours does not intensify the effect. It is advisable to take the session between 6.00 a.m. and 6.00 p.m. but it is most effective in the morning. A session in the evening may disturb sleep. If you tend to have evening sleepiness (common to elderly people), you might want to try taking the sessions earlier in the evening in order to stay up longer. You can also divide the session into several shorter periods during the same day if it suits your schedule better. There is no need to look straight into the light source, but you should keep it within your visual field during the whole session. You can read, write or do other things in the meantime. The effectiveness of bright light therapy correlates with the distance between your face and the light source. Make sure that your face is approx. 45 cm away from the lamp. You can shorten the required session time by sitting closer to the lamp. Bright light therapy also helps speed recovery from jet-lag. A session in the evening will delay your sleep cycle, a session in the morning will have an opposite effect. IMPORTANT NOTES ON BRIGHT LIGHT THERAPY The lamp comes with an electronic ballast which raises the light frequency up to 30 000 Hz, where flicker is not noticeable to the eye. After the first few sessions, mild headache or eye strain may occur. This is quite normal and such side effects usually disappear in a few days. If this does not happen, stop the therapy and consult your doctor before continuing. Not all people suffer from SAD due to lack of daylight. Exhaustion, sleep disorders and depression may have other causes. Bright light therapy is most effective when combined with regular physical exercise and a healthy diet. Consult your doctor before startin... »