Bright Minds Therapy Lamp

Bright Minds is an acronym made up by Dr. Daniel Amen, founder of Brain MD. It corresponds to the 11 brain health risk factors:

1. Blood flow

2. Retirement/Ageing

3. Inflammation

4. Genetics

5. Head trauma

6. Toxins

7. Memory

8. Immunity

9. Nutrition

10. Depression

11. Sleep

A therapy lamp works on these principles to reduce the risk factors for brain health.

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that many people experience in the fall and winter months, owing to less access to natural sunlight. Light therapy can help reduce low-energy feelings and depression.

It works well when combined with SAD therapies like talk therapy or antidepressant therapy. They don't replace SAD treatment. Consult your healthcare provider to see whether light therapy can be of benefit to you.

Brain MD Bright Minds Therapy Lamp is one of the top light boxes with the following features:

• Full-spectrum LED lights: Mimics the natural daylight for a balanced effect. Absolutely safe.
• Bright 10,000 LUX: The standard intensity clinically for effective light therapy. With LUX being the measure of light intensity, for instance, it could be 1,000 LUX even on cloudy days, while exceeding 50,000 LUX on sunny days. The standard for SAD therapy is 10,000 LUX.
• Modes of white and blue light: White light gives a natural tone while blue light provides high efficiency. Select between these two modes based on what is convenient for you.
• Compact design: Can be used at home or in the office. It's particularly useful for windowless offices.
• Timer settings: You may set the timer according to your choice: 15, 30, 45, or 60 minutes.

If users follow the safe usage guidelines, light therapy can be safely used for a long time. Many people report that they use this light box on all winter days.

1. How long should I use a Bright Minds light therapy lamp per day?

The ideal recommended time for using Bright Minds therapy lamp is between 30 minutes to 1 hour. The ideal time that many users find it useful is between 6 am and 8 pm. Start with a shorter duration first. Reflect on how the light is working out for you and gradually increase the number of minutes you spend with the light per day. It's not advisable to use it for more than 1 hour per day.

2. Is 10 minutes using a SAD lamp effective?

Using a SAD lamp for at least 20 minutes to up to 60 minutes per day is recommended by experts. While 10 minutes is better than nothing, if you want to see effective relief against SAD, using a light lamp along with SAD treatment is more beneficial. 

3. How close should you be to a light therapy lamp?

You must use the light therapy lamp placed on a flat and levelled surface. You should have at least one arm's length from the lamp. It must be approximately 50-75 cm or 20-30 inches away from you. It must be within visibility so that the light bathes your face. At the same time, you must not look directly at the light.

4. How to use the light lamp for SAD?

While the lamp is closer to you, you can continue with your daily activities. Many users prefer to have this lamp on near the table when they have breakfast. You can also read while sitting close to the lamp. 

5. How long does it take for Bright Minds light therapy lamp to work?

To see results from using the lamp, you must use it for at least 7 days continuously. You can use it for as many days as you want. 

6. Which light lamp is better white light or blue light?

Blue light is more effective in improving light exposure. Just 200 lux of blue light is similar to 1000 lux of white light. Bright Minds therapy lamp has both modes – white mode and blue mode. Each person reacts differently to the light. Use one mode for a few days and feel the difference. Change the mode and notice how different you feel. Use whatever mode is more useful for you. 

6. Can you overuse a light therapy lamp?

Overuse of a light therapy lamp is possible if you don't follow the instructions. You should use it in a way that you don't disrupt your body's natural rhythms. Here are some tips to avoid overuse:

• Keep the light therapy lamp at least 50-75 cm away from you
• Don't look at the light directly
• Use it for 30 minutes to 1 hour only 
• Headaches and eye strain may be experienced initially
• Too much light for a long time may make you restless, anxious, or irritable
• Using it too late in the day can affect your natural circadian rhythm and affect your sleep
• Try to use the light lamp at the same time every day