Luminothérapie

The luminothérapie , belonged to the big family of phototherapies, and consists in exposing the eyes of the subject to a light deprived of infra-red (IR) and of ultraviolet (UV). The unit of illumination is the lux. With the traditional lamps, not easily transportable because of their dimension , one exposed the eyes to a strong luminosity: 2 500 luxes during 2 hours, 5 000 luxes during 1 hour or 10 000 luxes during ½ hour. Some novel methods of luminothérapie (often presented in the form of glasses ) , propose apparatuses which, thanks to their optical high technology, make it possible to obtain the same therapeutic effects with a proportioning of 2 000 luxes during ½ hour, which decreases the dazzling compared to a lamp with 10 000 luxes.

Mode of action

The luminous rays stimulate the ganglionic cells of the Rétine ( not-coloring photoreceivers ) whose nerve impulse influences the Biological clock which blocks the secretion of the Mélatonine ( hormone of the sleep ) in the épiphyse (or pineal Body).

Physiological activity of the light

By its inhibition of the secretion of mélatonine, the light allows an improved alarm clock and a better vigilance.
It controls the biological clock and improves synchronization of the biological rates/rhythms: what will involve a better form and a better vital energy.
It stimulates the areas of the base of the brain and increases the production of Sérotonine ( Neurotransmetteur ) which has an antidepressant effect and regulator of the appetite.

INDICATIONS

seasonal Depression or blues of the winter

The seasonal Dépression is characterized by a fall of energy and an increase in the appétance for sugar. If a subject presents these symptoms of October to March during at least two consecutive years, one will speak about seasonal depression (Winter blues) . One can consider that 10 to 15% of the population of the Benelux countries suffers from seasonal depression including more or less 75% women and 25% men. One pourcent of this population requires a hospitalization. According to American doctors, the light constitutes a treatment of first choice to look after this type of affection and has the advantage of avoiding the side effects of the drugs.

(Dr. Norman E. Rosenthal and Gerard Pons: " Thirst for lumière" Youth editions)

nonseasonal Depressions

Certain American studies propose the association of the luminothérapie and a Antidépresseur serotoninergic . This association makes it possible to shorten the deadline for reply of the antidepressant and, even in certain cases, to decrease the proportioning of the drugs. Used at the end of the treatment, the luminothérapie makes it possible to lengthen the period of " bien-être" of the patient.

Night-work or work of " pauses"

For a night-work , the luminothérapie is used at the time which corresponds at the beginning of day's work. A second exposure to the light is recommended towards 1:00. morning (moment of the " blow of pompe") and at the end of the work, the person will avoid the light of the morning in order to better sleep during the day.

For a work of " pauses" , it is necessary that there is no change of schedules over one duration of minimum 7 days. This moment, it will be necessary to adapt each change of work hour while being based on the treatments of luminothérapie recommended in the jetlag (change of time zone at the time of air voyage).

Disorders of the Sleep and luminothérapie

The luminothérapie makes it possible to give per hour the internal clock of the patient who has shifts of phases or insomnia.

1) Lead phase of the sleep : the patient falls asleep early (17 h. p. e.g.) and awakes early (p. e.g. 3:00 of the morning). A meeting of luminothérapie towards 17:00 will delay the phase of sleep about the night.

2) Delay of phase of sleep : the patient falls asleep late and awakes late. A morning meeting of luminothérapie will readjust the phase of sleep about the night.

3) " Bad sommeil" : a morning meeting of luminothérapie will improve the sleep of the patient while avoiding the side effects of hypnotic (morning somnolence, reduction in the memory and decapitation of phases III and IV of the sleep (phases of recovery), reduction in the libido, risks of habituation and dependence).

The luminothérapie was quoted like one of the best nonmedicamentous therapies of insomnia.

Air voyage: Jet lag or " Jetlag "

When a person travels in " sautant" time zones, it feels a state of tiredness or awakening at a bad time of the day. To recover in phase with the new schedule from the country in which one goes, we need one day of " réadaptation" by time zone " sauté" . As example, a voyage the Benelux countries <---> the United States generates a 6 hours shift compared to the starting schedule. A normal individual would need normally 6 days of " réadaptation" to the new schedule but, thanks to the luminothérapie, 1 to 2 days will be enough for him. Each voyage will have to be analyzed individually and certain methods of calculating make it possible to establish different treatments of luminothérapie according to the number of time zones " sautés".

Some additional councils:

On the aircraft, drinking at least two liters of water (by avoiding alcohol and the coffee).
to put itself directly per hour of the destination: to regulate the watch per hour of the future destination and to imagine the presence on the spot.
To adapt the behavior according to the new schedule.
to remain waked up longer, to take a meal rich in Protein S (meats). To consume proteins, rich in Tyrosine and low in sugars increases the excitation of the Neurotransmetteur S whose Sérotonine and causes the awakening.
to find the sleep, to take a meal rich in Glucid S. Consommer products like milk rich in Tryptophan ( precursory of serotonin ) and sweetened products increasing the rate of Insulin and helping the transport of tryptophan through the hemato-encephalic Barrière will cause an increase in the rate of Mélatonine.

to prepare your voyage towards the east:

Two days before your departure, to earlier awake to you 2:00 each day and made a scéance of luminothérapie the morning to the rising during ½ h.

to prepare your voyage towards the west:

The two days which precede your voyage, pouver to make you a meeting of luminothérapie (½ h.) the evening, 2:00. later each day.

Handing-over per hour of the Biological clock

The Chronobiologie indeed recommends the catch of a drug according to the Métabolisme of this one our Biological clock rule the hepatic rates/rhythms. By choosing one hour quite precise for the catch of a drug, variable according to the type of drug, the therapeutist will be able to optimize the treatment and to be allowed to decrease the amounts of this one . This quite particular case of medicine is used in Cancérologie where one has recourse to very toxic drugs. In the event of cancer, the sudden patient of the shifts compared to one day normal, those being due in his state of stress, insomnia, of nauseas,… the luminothérapie used at the beginning of treatment will allow to give the internal biological clock of the patient in phase compared to the real clock of the day. The therapeutist will be able to then choose the best hour for the administation of the anti-cancer treatment.

Chronic syndrome of tiredness

For the doctor, the diagnosis is not easy and this type of state of the patient is very discussed. This intense tiredness can " cacher" good number of problems: Depression, Fibromyalgie, infectious Mononucleosis,… In a general way, the luminothérapie, by its regulating action on the Circadian rate/rhythm (+-24h.), will have a beneficial action on the tiredness of the person. Certain individuals were relieved of this abnormal state of tiredness by a simple morning exposure to the light.

Depressive states before and after Childbirth

A woman on ten approximately present a depressive state during its pregnancy. For the period of gestation, the doctor avoids as much as possible the use of drugs (effects Tératogène S, effects Abortif S,…). A great number of patients will present a depressive state after the childbirth (Baby-blues). Meetings of luminothérapie started during the pregnancy and continued after the childbirth will improve the depressive state handle and postpartum.

Premenstrual syndrome

the Premenstrual syndrome is a disorder applicable to the days preceding the menstruations among certain women . It is characterized by a catch of notable weight due to an excessive retention hydrosaline, by a painful swelling of the centres, headaches, the heavy legs, cutaneous eruptions or herpes and by behavioral problems: nervousness, anxiety, emotivity, depression… This state is with an imbalance of the serotonin ratio/mélatonine. The light can restore this balance. One will recommend simple a luminothérapie a few days before the usual appearance of these symptoms.

Tire in the Multiple sclerosis and the Parkinson's disease

A morning meeting of luminothérapie can improve the intense states of tiredness which know the people reached of Multiple sclerosis or of the Parkinson's disease. an ophthalmologic examination is necessary .

Elderly and senile insanity

The elderly often present phase leads of the sleep: the person falls asleep early and awakes early. an exposure to the light towards 17:00. the appearance of the sleep will delay and will thus shift the phase of sleep about the night . Medical staff is very few during the night, which increases the accident risks of the elderly who are raised the night without monitoring. Let us not forget that many hypnotic present many side effects in particular of the negative effects on the memory, balance, they decrease the vigilence, they cause effects of night sedation but also diurnal, they have a depressogene effect and cause a dependence and a habituation. The luminothérapie does not present these disadvantages and certainly is very well placed to replace or, in any case, to decrease the hypnotic ones.

Cognitive states and disturbance of the cycles sleep-awakening in the Disease of Alzheimer

These states are due to a degeneration of the cells of the biological clock because of the disease. At the beginning of disease , when the biological clock is still active, one can hope to improve the general state of the patient by exposing it to a morning meeting of luminothérapie. (The light improves synchronization of the biological rates/rhythms).

Bulimia - Anorexia - catch of weight

The food states compulsifs such as the Bulimia and the Anorexie can be improved by a morning meeting of luminothérapie. A study published in Int. Journ. off eat disorders (January 2003 flight 33; 76-77) a " proposes; aide" therapeutic by means of the luminothérapie with all the teenagers reached of anorexia. In the catches of weight, the luminothérapie will be able to come to assistance in the direction where it decreases the appétances for sugar. These food compulsions are more often present at the beginning of the autumn and for all the period autumn - winter. This attraction for sugar is due to a lack of Sérotonine. By eating sugar, the increase in the rate of Insuline allows an easier passage of the Tryptophane ( precursory of serotonin ) the level of the hemato-encephalic Barrière. This reflex can be included/understood like an internal reflex of regulation.

Alcoholic abstinence

A study published in Newspaper off Clinical Psychiatry (1993) (Jul, 54.7,260-2) shows that the " noirceur" call alcohol . Without factor of added stress, rats subjected to a total blackness prefer drinking of alcohol that water. In this same newspaper, the author shows that the luminothérapie can prove very useful in alcoholic weanings. One can notice that the relapses in alcoholism are more frequent for the period autumn - winter. Especially for this period, a morning meeting of luminothérapie managed with these patients will help them to prevent the relapses. By its stabilizing effect on the sleep and the composition of this one, the light used during alcoholic weaning will find a choice place in complement with the conventional treatments.

Sport

Studies were made on the state of vigilence of the brain of volunteers exposed or not to the light. It proves that the people exposed to an intense light answer more quickly and with more understanding than those put in the half-light. The sportsmen, practitioner a sport requiring a great attention, will see an unquestionable interest in the use of the luminothérapie. For the professional sportsmen, a problem of Jetlag can be added.

Active people and in Good health

A small meeting of luminothérapie, in the two hours after the rising, will get for each and everyone same tonicity as one morning sunny of spring or summer.

SIDE EFFECTS

The light being deprived of ultra-violets and infra-red, the luminothérapie is deprived a priori of side effects. One observes sometimes light headaches and insomnia, especially at the beginning of treatment. A reduction in the more important exposure time and a spacing of the meetings will make disappear these small inconveniences.

It will be necessary to be careful at the people sensitive to the light, neat with the Sels of lithium or the Tétracycline S (sensitizing).

Prudence is of rule at the maniaco-depressive (i.e. suffering of bipolar Maladie) which will not make a luminothérapie apart from a medical supervision: be likely to make a state maniac, all the more important if the patient tends to prolong the meetings of luminothérapie. One advises with maniaco-depressive some 10 minutes meetings during the depressive phases and a stop of the treatment as of improvement of the symptoms.

COUNTER-INDICATIONS

macular Degeneration related to the age.
Rétinopathie .
Glaucome .
Cataract.
Disease (S) being able to cause an attack of the eyes (p. e.g. diabetes,…).

In all these cases, it is recommended to consult a ophtalmologist

External bonds

Luminothérapie
Phototherapy
Luminette - Luminothérapie
Solvital - Luminothérapie

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