Heliotherapy: Difference between revisions
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#REDIRECT[[Light therapy]] |
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Heliotherapy is medical therapy by exposure to light or literally, light therapy. Often, this means direct sunlight or artificial light that may contain [[infrared]] or [[ultraviolet]] as well as visible light. |
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Some of the medical conditions for heliotherapy include psoriasis, eczema and SAD ([[Seasonal_affective_disorder]]). For these disorders, a light with high amounts of UVA and/or UVB is used to provide the benefits. As with any exposure to UV, there are some risk associated, but these are usually outweighed by the benefits provided by the treatments. Often, UV treatments are given at a doctors office, but it is becoming more common for a doctor to prescribe regular visits in a [[tanning bed]] for persons who have moderate problems, as this is lower in UV than medical devices, and is more convenient and less expensive for the patient. |
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Other wavelengths, particularly infrared, are used to treat arthritis and even simple sore muscles. This is because infrared light generates heat deep into tissues, which helps relieve pain. Far infrared (beyond what the eye can see) is often used in infrared [[saunas]] for these reasons, and because it penetrates the skin more deeply. |
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There is also evidence that exposure to some frequencies of light (UV in particular) causes the body to release small amounts of [[endorphines]], which would explain the benefit for some disorders such as SAD, as endorphines are often called "the body's own morphine". |
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Latest revision as of 12:06, 12 November 2013
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