Light Boxes, SAD Light, SAD Light Boxes

Light Therapy and Depression

Studies show that Bright Light Therapy affects the pineal gland’s production of melatonin, a hormone that is believed to help prevent and relieve symptoms of depression. Here are a few nutritional suggestions for treating depression and Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) in conjunction with Light Therapy.

Nutrition and Depression
The following list of nutrients taken from Stephen Langer, M.D. and James F. Scheer’s book, the Pocket Guide to Natural Health, have been shown to be effective in relieving depression:

Vitamin B-Complex: 100 mg daily. Necessary for maintaining the biochemical balance of all B vitamins when supplementing with any single B vitamin.

Vitamin B 1: 400 mg daily. Helps restore brain levels of the neurotransmitter acetycholine, a mood elevator.

Vitamin B 12: 2,000 mcg daily. Needed for making BH4, the raw material for synthesizing antidepression neurotransmitters. Always supplement when taking high amounts of folic acid.

Vitamin C: 1,000 mg three times daily. Needed for making BH4, the raw material for synthesizing antidepression neurotransmitters.

Folic Acid: 5 mg daily. Needed for making BH4, the raw material for synthesizing antidepression neurotransmitters.

L-tyrosine: 1,500 mg after breakfast and lunch. Deficiencies linked to depression.

DL-phenylalynine: 1,000 mg taken twice daily with L-tyrosine. Deficiencies linked to depression.

S-adenosylmethionine:
(SAMe) 400 mg twice daily for three weeks, then 200 mg daily for maintenance. Activates the brain to make the neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine