Does UV Light Therapy Work for Major Depression

In this modern world everyone is struggling to cope with the challenges of everyday life. Life is very hectic and everyone wants to meet the demands of their life. When one cannot meet the challenges, he/she may suffer from depression. Depression is very common disease now-a-days.

In the state of depression, you cannot meet the challenges of life. You may certainly need treatment of depression and dysthymic disorder symptoms. There are different ways to treat depression. Everybody has his/her mind set about the treatment. Some individuals may prefer synthetic antidepressant and other may prefer natural antidepressants. With the passage of time, way of remedy may change.

Natural Antidepressant

From ancient times, different methods to treat depression were adopted. But, the most reliable way of treatment is with natural antidepressants. Natural antidepressants are very effective to treat depression and also could my diet help my seasonal affective disorder. Sun light is one of the natural antidepressant entities to treat the depression successfully.

Now-a-days UV light therapy is commonly used to treat the uni-polar depression and other psychiatric disorders. UV light therapy is a good way to treat depression. The disease that is most commonly treated with the help of UV light is SAD. SAD is a type of depression that appears at specific time every year. During UV light therapy, you sit or work near the light box therapy. These light boxes are specially designed to emit UV light. These light boxes can be placed near your work place or where you feel easy.

UV Light Therapy Information

UV light therapy information reveals that UV light affects the brain chemicals that are related with mood. UV light therapy is also known as phototherapy. UV light therapy information also brings to light that UV light effects are on the visual pathway and suprachiasmatic nucleus activated by light suppresses the secretion of melatonin. Light has direct affect on the melatonin secretion.

With the change in light, there is also change in melatonin secretion. When light is provided in less quantity, there will be an increase in the secretion of melatonin. Melatonin is a hormone that affects brain chemical mediators gives the brain alertness. When an individual lives in such a place where light exposure is not proper, there will be an increase in the level of melatonin. When melatonin level increases, it may cause depression.

Serotonin

When level of melatonin decreases in the brain at suprachiasmatic level, there is increase in the level of serotonin. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that boosts the mood and relieves the depression. When the level of melatonin increases, it suppresses serotonin. Patient sits in front of light box during UV light therapy, and UV light therapy effects appear in the form of mood elevation. UV light enters from retina of the eye to the suprachiasmatic nucleus and UV light therapy effects appear due to change in the chemical mediators of brain.

UV light therapy is provided artificially with the help of light boxes. These light boxes are designed in such a way that they filter the harmful UV light rays that may cause damage to skin and other human parts. UV light information also gives us idea about the harmful UV light therapy effects. To avoid these harmful effects of UV light therapy, you should consult your doctor before use.