Introduction
Today, we are living in a sunlight-deprived world and are paying for it with our health. We’re in the office or store by eight, on the run all day – mostly inside – then back at home – inside again – glued to the tube or the monitor. Some call this “progress” – and to be sure, in many ways it is. But the problem is we’ve progressed faster than we’ve evolved – so it is no wonder that so many of us are suffering the effects of this indoor 'contemporary cave-dweller' existence. We evolved to spend most of our waking hours outside, in the bright sunshine – but today our lifestyles are causing us to suffer from a term coined "mal-illumination" by the late Dr. John Ott, renowned photobiologist and the father of health-enhancing, full-spectrum light.
Unfortunately this dramatic reduction of natural light exposure, that our DNA has been programmed to run on, and its’ associated disturbance to our vital circadian rhythms has contributed to many health issues...some quite serious. Controlled by light, circadian rhythms regulate appetite, energy, mood, sleep, libido and other essential mind-body functions. Unknowingly, millions suffer from chronic mal-illumination. Like malnutrition, mal-illumination deprives one of a level of nutrients and rhythmic stimulation that is essential for living as whole, healthy humans. This means that whether one is suffering or feeling generally “fine”— more timed, biologically-beneficial light can actually improve wellness and the levels of alertness, mood and energy... for the healthy and sick; young and old.
The good news is that researchers in light therapy have made great strides in recent years in understanding the impact of light and its' many different wavelengths. An important 'specific' wavelength example is ulta violet light (UV) and vitamin D production for health and wellness. Fortunately there is an increasing awareness among the general population about the importance of getting enough of the right kind of light.
The reality, however, is that we are not likely able to change our lifestyle significantly to go outside and get 'charged' on nature's light and make the vitamin D we need on a daily basis. So bringing the light we need to us in the form of light therapy is the next best solution.
LIGHT THERAPY
"Light is the basic component from which all life originates, evolves, and is energized. Light and health are inseparable"
Timothy Conway Ph.D
Director
Enlightened-Spirituality.org
