Costco, Light Therapy, and Mood
Author: Dr. Mollie Brennan, Naturopathic Doctor
Have you ever seen the Happy Lights at Costco? As a naturopathic doctor they caught my eye. I’ve always known about light therapy but never really dug into the research. A big barrier in recommending them in the past was that patients had to buy them online or search for them. How convenient that there are a thousand boxes stacked in the Costco nearest you.
I think many people have heard of light therapy but they don’t really know what it is. It’s a certain bandwidth of light that hits the retina of the eye. This sends signals in the brain to somehow help with mood and motivation in the Winter months.
Who is it for?
It can help with many conditions besides Seasonal Affective Disorder. I have started to recommend it more and more for people who are on many medications for mood, or when interactions with supplements and medications are a problem.
Prenatal and postpartum depression: an excellent option because medications and supplements are limited. Ask your naturopathic doctor, medical doctor, or nurse practitioner about this one. In one small prenatal study it improved depression scores by more than 50% in 5 weeks.
Perimenopausal and postmenopausal depression: it is considered a 2nd line treatment, adjunctive to counselling or medications.
Depression side of bipolar disorder: is an option but there are some cautions with this one, speak with your primary care provider first. Not meant to replace medications.
Sleep disorders: trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, jet lag, trouble waking up in the morning.
Dementia: studies are small. Circadian rhythm disruption is a big problem in this population. ie. tired and napping during the day, wired and agitated at night. Might be an option for caregivers who can implement it.
As with anything, there is a commitment of making it a daily routine, and there are side effects. Headaches, eye strain, and insomnia are the bigger ones, although it is a safe therapy. Always check with your healthcare provider before starting.
If mood is on your mind, book a naturopathic appointment to have a comprehensive approach!
References:
1) Garbazza C, Cirignotta F, D'Agostino A, Cicolin A, Hackethal S, Wirz-Justice A, Cajochen C, Manconi M; “Life-ON” study group. Sustained remission from perinatal depression after bright light therapy: A pilot randomised, placebo-controlled trial. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2022 Oct;146(4):350-356. doi: 10.1111/acps.13482
2) Wang S, Zhang Z, Yao L, Ding N, Jiang L, et al. (2020) Bright light therapy in the treatment of patients with bipolar disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLOS ONE 15(5): e0232798. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0232798
3) van Maanen A, Meijer AM, van der Heijden KB, Oort FJ. The effects of light therapy on sleep problems: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Sleep Med Rev. 2016 Oct;29:52-62. doi: 10.1016/j.smrv.2015.08.009.
