Up until now, light therapy was considered a treatment option for people who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder, also called the winter blues. The logic behind this: When the days get darker and shorter, some people need more light. But a surprising new study shows that light therapy is also effective in treating regular depression, all year long. Canadian researchers compared the effectiveness of the light therapy to placebo treatments, and treatments combining light therapy and antidepressants. Study participantswho received only light therapy showed considerable changes in their mood, with people receiving a combination with anti-depressants showing most progress. The results are exciting because light therapy is inexpensive, easy to use and has no side-effects. The study also shows that we are only at the beginning of understanding the importance of light for our health.
Light therapy effective for depression treatment, not just for the winter blues
More of Today's Solutions
Vision board ideas for adults: how to create one that inspires real change
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM A vision board might look like a crafty throwback to childhood afternoons spent collaging. But don’t write it ...
Read MoreIndia’s social experiment: how paying women directly reshapes welfare, autono...
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Across India, millions of women now receive a modest but unwavering deposit each month into their bank accounts. ...
Read MoreNew Zealand’s groundbreaking shift to renewables promises massive emiss...
New Zealand launched its most ambitious emissions reduction initiative to date in an incredible undertaking. The government announced a historic switch from coal to ...
Read MoreGoing for the goal: the impact of team sports on boosting young girls’ ...
In a pioneering study, the Here for Every Goal report demonstrates that team sports, particularly elite women's soccer (referenced from here on in this ...
Read More
