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Sunbox SB558 SunRay
the Sunbox SB558 SunRay was a so-called full spectrum lamp
SEASONAL-AFFECTIVE-DISORDER
The effectiveness of light- or photo
therapy for the treatment of Seasonal
Affective Disorder (SAD) or sleep
disorders like jet-lag was for the greater
part attributed to its influence on the body
clock. The control of our body clock is
located in the brain and it is the hormone
melatonin that plays a vital roll is the
process of wake and sleep. Melatonin is
a hormone that influences the sleep and it
is produced by the pineal gland (glandula
pinealis). The production of melatonin
increases at night and it breaks down
again as soon as daylight starts entering
the eyes. Individuals who are sensitive for the amount of melatonin in their body are
at risk to suffer from disturbances of their body clock when the days shorten during
wintertime or when the levels of light decline during longer periods of bad weather
conditions. Their body clock may shift since there is too little light entering their eyes
to sufficiently break down the melatonin. This causes fatigue and dullness. Exposure
according a tight timetable to an additional quantity of artificial daylight was thought to
be able to correct the disorder. Blue light seemed to be the most effective element
for the treatment of SAD and related complaints. Under normal work- and living
conditions, daylight was commonly simulated with blended lamps or with tube-lights
with enhanced yield in the upper part of the spectrum, so-called full spectrum lamps
like the Sunbox SunRay SB558 on display here. The light source could also be
integrated in a sun flap or in a monitor that was used frequently during daytime. At
wake-up a full spectrum lamp in combination with an alarm making a natural
background sound could be helpful too. It simulated the dawn before the real sunlight
appeared.
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