Full Spectrum Lighting

Full Spectrum Light Therapy - Used for (SAD) Seasonal Affective Disorder - Helps provide you with the natural full spectrum of sunlight that humans require.

Full Spectrum Lights are specially made lights that mimic the full spectrum and intensity of sunlight.  It is well known that the human body requires the sun's light spectrum. Without this the body will degenerate over time.  Depression, Vitamin D deficiency (we provide Vita D Sunlamps) and other problems will result. When sunlight enters the eye, it stimulates the pituitary gland which then, it is believed, creates certain compounds that stimulate or balance the body via the brain. A full spectrum light will help or eliminate most if not all sunlight deficiency problems.

What is SAD?

SAD stands for Seasonal Affective Disorder. Common symptoms of SAD are depression, anxiety, extreme fatigue, hypersomnia, carbohydrate cravings, and weight gain. Women through the ages of 20 to 40, their sexually reproductive years, are most susceptible (Rosenthal, 1993). The first controlled study using light therapy to treat SAD was published in 1984. SAD was officially accepted as a clinical malady in 1987 by the American Psychiatric Association and described in its then current diagnostic manual, the DSM-III-R. Since that time, a great number of studies on the topic have been completed.

Each year, 6% of northern populations are affected with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and another 14% have a milder form of SAD, called the winter blues. Surprisingly, SAD may occur at any time of year and even in equatorial regions although the ratio of northerners with SAD as compared to those living in the tropics is about 10-1.

Treating SAD
“Light box” therapy has been traditionally used to reduce the symptoms of SAD in 60% to 80% of SAD patients (Lam, 1999). White light therapy, using intensities of 2,500 lux, requires exposure times from 2 to 6 hours, a considerable behavioral investment for the user (Terman, et. al., 1989). Light exposures in the intensity of 10,000 lux for 30 minute exposures has been found to be more effective than 2,500 lux intensity with exposure times of several hours (Terman, et.al., 1990). Some people have reported that over-use of light therapy can leave them feeling “wired” and restless (Rosenthal, 1993).

Full Spectrum Lights were originally developed by Dr. Ott.  Dr Ott was the pioneer of Time Lapsed Photography. He found that when plants are grown without the full spectrum of light, they did not grow healthy and did not live as long. Plants are known to become damaged over time if NOT exposed to any full spectrum band of light.  Full spectrum lights were also developed to combat the symptoms of SAD and to provide healthier light for your eyes when doing your everyday tasks. It has been proven that the lack of the full spectrum of sunlight will create or intensify diseases.

Methods to measure Full Spectrum Light or Sunlight

Candle Power - Used by lighting designers to calculate the foot-candles illuminating a surface (C.P. /distance in feet squared) or Lux illuminating a surface (C.P./distance in meters squared).

Correlated Color Temperature (CCT) - refers to the apparent color of the light source. 2800K - 3200K considered "warm" ; 4100K-4900K considered "white" and 5000 K + "cool". Comes from heating a blackbody (think of a piece of coal) up to a certain temperature; as the coal gets hotter and hotter, it changes from orange (i.e., 2300 K) to yellow (3000 K) to white (4700 K) to blue (5000 K) rendering.

Lux - Measurement of light output in candles per square meter. 10 lux is generally Considered enough light to perform most tasks.
Another definition is:

LUX - The SI (International System) unit of illumination: one lumen uniformly distributed over an area of one square meter.

All Full Spectrum lights Promolife sells emit approx 1.5% of the UV spectrum. This is the only brand that has this feature. All other competitors' lights contain 0% UV. The UV spectrum is necessary for the bulb to be considered Full Spectrum. This small amount is not enough to present any harm.

Promolife also offers a Blue Lux bulb. This bulb produces the full spectrum at a much higher brightness and intensity. You will only need about 15 minutes of treatment compared to 45 minutes with a regular full spectrum light.  We have many different models. The Combo unit incorporates both Full Spectrum and Blue Lux.  The Blue Light Box only contains Blue Lux bulbs. Our Full Spectrum Light Box contains the standard bulbs only. Also available is the Glad Desk Lamp with standard full spectrum and a blue lux bulb as an option and of course Compact Fluorescent Bulbs.