If you suffer from occasional or chronic insomnia – the struggle to get to sleep or to remain asleep for an adequate length of time – then you may feel that you have tried everything and wonder how to get to sleep in an effective, long-lasting, and restful way.

Though there are many “how to get to sleep” instructions that you may be following, ranging from keeping a regular schedule, not eating too close to bedtime, and even drinking chamomile tea, these may not be giving you the quality of sleep that you need.  Sometimes doctors prescribe drugs to help, but these often come with side effects, the risk of addiction (and withdrawal symptoms) and a drowsy morning to follow.

For over thirty years, studies have been showing that blue light can lead to a more alert daytime and a more restful nighttime.  In the pursuit of how to get sleep using blue light therapy, a great deal of research has been performed, such as the following.

The results of research performed in 1975 were published in the Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment, and Health.  Scientists exposed workers to white light enriched with blue light during the daytime.  The participants reported that they were more alert and effective during the daytime and achieved a more restful sleep at night.

More recently, the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism published a study in September 2003 that showed that the natural sleep and awake cycle of the body is influenced by exposure to blue light.

In March 2005, that same journal published another study that showed that exposure to blue light brought about a more steady melatonin cycle, and encouraged steadier thermoregulation, daytime alertness, and heart rate.

If you want to know how to get sleep naturally and effectively, without the use of powerful drugs, you may consider a product as inexpensive as a $3 blue party bulb, installed in a standard bedside lamp.  By exposing yourself to blue light for a half hour to an hour before bedtime, your body will begin to produce a hormone called melatonin that will make you feel tired and begin your natural sleep cycle.

With blue light therapy becoming more and more popular, many are looking for blue lights they can use at home.

Here is a list of the best blue lights for light and color therapy purposes. Follow the links  for more information on each and see which one is best for you.

GE Dichromatic 150 watt Incandscent Flood Light	GE Dichromatic Blue Lights This light is best for broad spectrum blue light applications. The wide beam angle makes it great for full body or large area treatments. The 150 watt incandescent flood light throws considerable heat, making wintertime treatments wonderful. Also, the infrared from the heat has its own benefits! Click here for benefits & drawbacks, pricing and the best place to buy. Price: less than $30
enLux 415nm LED Floodlight	enLux 415nm Blue Lights This blue light was customized specifically for acne treatment, and is still one of the best blue lights available for this purpose. It also has a wide beam angle which makes it great for back and body acne treatments. This light is also an excellent choice for MRSA treatment and prevention, being close to the power of UV with very little UV transmission. Click here for benefits & drawbacks, pricing and the best place to buy. Price: less than $50
enLux 465nm Blue LED Floodlight	enLux 465nm Blue Lights This is the standard blue LED floodlight by enLux. It’s peak wavelengh of 465 also includes 470nm, the wavelength proven effective against MRSA bacteria. This is also a great choice for acne treatment for those wanting a blue light with zero UV. Click here for benefits & drawbacks, pricing and the best place to buy. Price: less than $40
LightWave AB Blue Light by Light Therapy Options	Light Therapy Options LightWave AB Blue Lights This light contains both 405nm and 470nm blue light. These are the two specific wavelenghts proven effective against MRSA bacteria. This is also a great light for acne treatment. Click here for full details. Price: less than $200

While considering blue light acne treatment for yourself or your kid, there are five key safety issues that you should investigate. Those are:

1. Chemicals
2. Side effects
3. UV Content
4. Your Eyes
5. FDA approval

Chemicals
No chemicals are used in blue light or blue/red light therapy for acne. Blue light is a 100% natural acne treatment. If blue light is used with a chemical such as ALA or Levulan, it is then called Photodynamic therapy, or PDT, which is NOT the same form of treatment.

Side Effects
There are no adverse side effects connected to the use of blue light therapy, when it is used either short or long term. In study after study, and year after year, no adverse side effects have been reported.

Consider the following two examples from the wider field of blue light therapy to set your mind at ease:

1. Blue light therapy for Neonatal Jaundice: Around the globe, newborn babies are treated for jaundice every day using blue light. This is shone on the most delicate and tender example of human skin, and yet no short or long term side effects occur.

2. Blue light therapy for Crigler Najjar Syndrome: Patients with this condition need to spend extended amounts of time under blue light every day – for life.   However, despite the quantity of hours spent under blue light on a daily basis (typically 10 hours or more), no short or long term side effects are reported.

UV (Ultraviolet) Content
It is my position that UVA in acne lights is a benefit, but I understand it may be a legitimate concern for you.

The fact is, (whether a website will disclose it or not), if a light peaks around 415nm or below, it is going to also have a little UV in it. Because of their broader spectrum, incandescent and fluorescent lights will have more UVA than LEDs with the same peak.

For example, the lights used in the original research reported in the British Journal of Dermatology (fluorescent tubes) contained 9% UV A (blacklight). “No attempt was made to filter out this UV contamination as the output fell well within the Health and Safety Executive guidelines for occupational exposure of unprotected eyes and skin.” In fact, “it is possible that the UV content of the tubes contributed to the clinical effect of the treatment”.

If you are seriously concerned about UV, there are a couple of things you can do. First, you can purchase an LED acne light instead of one that uses fluorescent tubes. If you would like to further eliminate the presence of UV, get an LED light that peaks between 430nm-470nm. It will still be effective, just a little less so, and may require a longer treatment time, but it will most likely have zero UV in it.

Your Eyes.
There was at least one study done where blue light was blamed for Macular Degeneration. Also, the LEDs of today are glaringly bright. Do not ever look directly into them. Even with your eyes closed some can cause you to see spots for awhile afterwards. As a result of these issues, all acne lights should come with free eye protection, which you should wear during your therapy.

FDA Approval
Now for “FDA Approval.” The first blue light therapy device, ClearLight, gained FDA approval in 2002. Since then many ‘acne lights’ have hit the market. Although they use generally the same color (wavelengths of) light, few of them actually have “FDA approval.” There are many websites throwing around the terms “FDA Approved”, or “FDA Cleared”, or “FDA Accepted” and what they are really referring to is the concept of using blue light for acne treatment, NOT their specific product.

We know by now that “FDA approval” does not necessarily mean the approved thing is safe. But if FDA approval means a lot to you, seek proof that the product has obtained it. If their website is misleading, scratch their product off your list.

To sum it up, blue and blue/red light is a 100% natural acne treatment with no adverse side effects in the short or long term. Potential risks can be negated by using your chosen product only as directed.

2008. Katelyn & Zoe undergoing daily blue light treatment. Visit www.KatelynsLight.com for more information and updates.

Katelyn Bachman and her sister Zoe suffer from a condition which is known as Crigler-Najjar Syndrome, an extremely rare disorder.  It requires the children to need to spend as much time as possible in the sun during the daytime, and to remain under a special blue light every night, including when they sleep.

This light exposure is necessary for the girls to survive, leading their mother to nickname them “little sunflowers”.  If the girls did not have the blue light therapy on a daily basis, they would suffer debilitating muscle and nerve damage, as well as brain damage, and eventually death. The light, combined with medication for the condition, has been so effective that it has allowed them to be taken off the National Transplant list.

Crigler Najjar Syndrome affects fewer than 50 people in the United States and fewer than 200 people in the whole world.  The condition is a metabolic disorder and is hereditary.  It is caused by an enzyme deficiency in the liver which prevents bilirubin – a normal byproduct which results from the body’s natural disposal of red blood cells when the cells die – from being broken down in the blood as it should.

The blue light therapy allows Katelyn and her sister to naturally eliminate the excessive bilirubin levels in their bodies.  These lights are highly effective and yet very gentle.  Spending 8 to 10 hours under the lights every night (and more when the girls are ill, such as in the case of a cold or flu) is a treatment that is perfectly safe for the girls and they have experienced no side effects.

The use of phototherapy on Crigler Nijjar Syndrome patients is becoming increasingly widespread among in the United States, as well in other parts of the world, such as Europe and Australia.  Blue light therapy for this condition most frequently involves 4 foot bulbs or 2 foot bulbs.  In the Netherlands, there are special 5 foot  bulbs that have been used extensively in Europe.  The ideal spectrum for these bulbs should have a peak wavelength of 450 nanometers, with nothing below 400 nanometers or above 520 nanometers).  At this intensity, blue light should not cause any unwanted side effects.

Sources: http://carmonet.50webs.com/CNS/phototherapy.html and http://www.katelynslight.com/

Shining Blue Light on Neonatal Jaundice. This photo won third place in the November 2010 FrontLines photo contest.

In the news 2011: new blue light LED blanket for Africa.

Neonatal jaundice is a condition seen in some infants where their skin discolors to a yellow shade.  It is an exceptionally common condition that affects approximately 70 percent of newborn babies as a result of heightened bilrubin levels in the blood.  Though some cases of neonatal jaundice will disappear on its their within a week or two, others require additional treatment.

Blue light is a favored treatment for neonatal jaundice because it is simple to administer – as it consists of a light simply shining onto the skin – and yet it does not have any short-term side effects such as stinging, burning, or peeling, even though it is shone onto the most delicate and tender skin areas.

The process of blue light phototherapy allows the blue light to be absorbed by the skin and the capillaries of the baby enabling the body to change the bilrubin in the blood so that it can move through the system and be passed.  It involves using a 430 to 490nm light emitting diode (LED) bulb in an overhead lamp (at a distance no greater than 20 inches) or a fiber optic blanket for sessions of varying lengths, depending on the product used and the degree of the condition (the amount of bilrubin which must be irradiated).

The sessions of blue light therapy are most effective when the baby is not distressed – as there will be less movement, so that the light will better remain in place – wearing a diaper, and has his or her eyes protected from the light with special soft eye patches.

Constant back orders on the GE Dichromatic lights forced us to look for a new solution for acne light therapy around 2005.

We chose enLux LED because of their superior product, excellent service, and their commitment to the planet.

enLux LEDs are a good choice for many light and color therapy applications because they are affordable, easy to use, and they last about forever.

Where to get enLux LEDs?

The best place to get enLux LEDs now is directly from enLux. To order, visit their online catalog, and enter the part number.  If you have any trouble, give them a call, they have great service.

In the past these lights came in various fin colors, including red and blue. Now they are only available in black and white fins.

enLux R30F (Flood light 80 degree beam angle) 120 Volt

415nm Blue Part number 002001 $84.95 + shipping

630nm/415nm Hybrid Part Number 002740 $84.95 + shipping

470nm Blue Part number 001900 and 001901 $39.95 + shipping

620nm Red Part Number 001600 and 001601 $39.95 + shipping

Prices and part numbers as of June 2011 and subject to change.  Many more are available on their website.

For the 415nm and Hybrid, if you don’t see the 220 volt available on their site, just contact them, I think they still have some.

How to Use enLux LEDs for Light and Color Therapy (General Guidelines)

enLux LEDs can be used in place of more expensive LED light therapy products for most applications where the same wavelength or wavelength range is called for.  For specific treatments, follow these guidelines first, then use the recommended treatment procedure for the LED product you are replacing.

1. These lights are very bright.  Always wear protective eye wear when using them, especially when using them on your face.  Keep your eyes closed even with the eye protection on, unless they’re block out glasses.

2. Use them a minimum of 6″ from your skin. enLux LEDs are much more intense than regular LEDs.  The treatment distance can be from 6″- 24″ away from your skin or more depending on they type of therapy you’re doing.  Many products on the market will direct you to use their light right against your skin.  With these lights, 6″ is as close as you should get.  Too much intensity is not usually good when it comes to light therapy.  There would be no danger in using them closer, just the possibility of rendering your therapy ineffective or worsening the condition you are trying to treat.

Specific instructions for acne and MRSA treatment will follow soon.

Staphylococcus aureus, abbreviated S. aureus, is commonly known as Staph.

The only purpose of this post is to let you know that blue light kills Staphylococcus aureus, 100% naturally, and inexpensively.  Even the antibiotic resistant strain, the MRSA ‘superbug.’   If this follows in the path of most light therapy of it’s kind, there will also be zero negative side effects.

As the researcher points out, this finding could be applied to treatment of Staphylococcus aureus infections of the skin, or just under the skin, prevention of such infections, and for decontamination of environmental surfaces.

You can read more about the bacterial effect of blue light on staph from an earlier post I wrote when this first became news.

Detailed investigation of the bactericidal effect of the blue-light treatment on Staphylococcus aureus suspensions, for a range of different population densities, demonstrated that 405-nm LED array illumination can cause complete inactivation at high population densities: inactivation levels corresponding to a 9-log₁₀ reduction were achieved. The results, which show the inactivation of a wide range of medically important bacteria including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, demonstrate that, with further development, narrow-spectrum 405-nm visible-light illumination from an LED source has the potential to provide a novel decontamination method with a wide range of potential applications.

Quoted from:

Inactivation of Bacterial Pathogens following Exposure to Light from a 405-Nanometer Light-Emitting Diode Array

Blue Light MRSA studies:

Click the links for full details.

Visible 405 nm SLD light photo-destroys methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in vitro

Conclusion

At low doses, blue light photo-destroys HA-MRSA and CA-MRSA in vitro; raising the prospect that phototherapy may be an effective clinical tool in the on-going effort to stem MRSA infections.

Effects of combined 405-nm and 880-nm light on Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in vitro.

CONCLUSION:

Appropriate doses of combined 405-nm and 880-nm phototherapy can kill Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in vitro, suggesting that a similar effect may be produced in clinical cases of bacterial infection.

Blue 470-nm light kills methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in vitro.

CONCLUSION:

At practical dose ranges, 470-nm blue light kills HA-MRSA and CA-MRSA in vitro, suggesting that a similar bactericidal effect may be attained in human cases of cutaneous and subcutaneous MRSA infections.

In vitro bactericidal effects of 405-nm and 470-nm blue light.

CONCLUSION:

The results indicate that, in vitro, 405- and 470-nm blue light produce dose dependent bactericidal effects on Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus but not Propionibacterium acnes.

Don’t be misled by the low price.  GE Dichromatic flood lights are among the best lights available for many light and color therapy purposes.   They are highly recommended by, and used in the practices of many natural health practitioners, some listed below.

What makes them so good?  The special dichroic lens.  It works by letting out only the wavelengths of light you want.  All other colors are reflected back into the lamp.  No color energy is lost through the filter. These lights have an incandescent (white) source, and so the broad, natural spectrum of color is emitted.  For example, the blue light emits wavelengths of blue from around 400nm all the way to 470 and above.  This broad range is the natural expression of light and color.  GE Dichro-Color lamps produce colors that are richer and clearer and far more intense than those produced by ordinary color lamps.

I’ve sold GE Dichromatic lights with Sci\ART Global since 2000 for all kinds of light and color therapy applications including treatment for acne, rosacea, hair loss, wrinkles, colds/flu (immunity boosting), sleeplessness, anxiety and more.   I own a full set of these lights myself and I use one or more of them daily for my own light/color therapy.  One of my favorite things about these lights is the heat they throw off.  Most times of the year this is a welcome addition to light therapy here in New England.

The best place to get GE Dichromatic lights now is Bulbtronics.com. They were our supplier for many years, but they have made their stock available to the public at near wholesale pricing. At the time of this post, these lights are selling for only $24.88 plus shipping.  The suggested retain price for these lights is around $65.00 now.

	Amber Part Number GE150PARFLA120V
	Blue Part Number GE150PARFLB120V
	Green Part Number GE150PARFLG120V
	Red Part Number GE150PARFLR120V

Doctor Recommended

Russell Jaffe, MD

Sara Rodgers, NMD

Issam Nemeh, MD

Dr. Michael Sabarese, DDS

Dr. Robert Corish MD

Dr. Chad Oler, N.D.

How to Use GE Dichromatic Lights for Light and Color Therapy (General Guidelines)

GE Dichromatic lights can be used in place of LEDs for most applications with the guidelines below.  For specific treatments, follow these guidelines first, then use the recommended treatment procedure for the LED product you are replacing.

1. Use a surge protector.  I know of three lights (in the last 12 years) that have exploded while in use.

2. For use longer than 5 minutes, use a ceramic socket, or one rated for 150 watts plus.

3. Do not touch the bulb after you turn it on or for 20 minutes after you turn it off.

4. Be aware of children and pets while the bulb is hot.  If you are using light therapy to help your aging parents, or the elderly, be responsible for their safety. These lights get HOT.

5. Minimum treatment distance is about two feet.  Do not use the light (any color) closer than two feet from your skin.

6. When using blue light, always wear protective eye wear. This could be tanning goggles or regular sun glasses.  Any glasses with an amber lens will block blue.