Not as good as living in a sunny climate, but not so SAD either! (Innosol Mesa SAD Light Box)

Member Name: chezza99

Product:	Innosol Mesa SAD Light Box
Date:	17/04/09 (168 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Makes the room sunny in winter :)

Disadvantages: Cost

I've always been tired and morose in the winter months. I didn't make the connection until my gap year in the South of France: the Mediterranean climate kept me healthier and happier all year round, without my annual plunge into aching misery. I also noticed I didn't crave the mountains of carb-laden food I needed, for energy, through the English winter.

After that, I made sure to take a holiday somewhere hot each winter, in January if possible, and used sunbeds. The dramatic mood lift I gained from sunbeds was, to me, worth the increased melanoma risk; it was immediate, and lasted for several days. I knew others who felt the same way (my brother, for one) but we were considered a bit odd until SAD made the headlines.

Seasonal Affective Disorder affects measurably more people, and hits them harder, the further you travel from the Equator. It is known to be linked to the notoriously high levels of suicide during Scandinavian winters: it can be that serious.

Between 15% and 20% of Britons suffer from SAD. Symptoms range from feeling sluggish to profound clinical depression, with all its accompanying physical problems.

I was OK with my sunshine holidays and sunbeds until I became clinically depressed. As the days grew shorter and the skies more overcast, my condition deteriorated faster than my doctor could change my medication. I didn't feel like a person at all: more like a vegetable, and a rotten one at that. Too ill to organise a holiday; too weak to get to a sunbed; I decided to try bright light therapy.

Light therapy takes effect when bright light enters your eyes, stimulating the pineal gland near the centre of the brain. This gland regulates hormones such as melatonin and serotonin.

Bright sunlight provides about 10,000lux, which is 100 times as bright as an ordinary light bulb. Most SAD lamps nowadays deliver 10,000lux but their power varies: with the smaller ones, you have to stare directly at the lamp for at least 30 minutes.

I knew I'd need longer than that and wanted the best chance of a treatment that worked, so I went for a near top-of-the range lamp.

SAD lamps deliver full-spectrum light using special fluorescent bulbs. The Innosol Mesa gives 10,000lux at 65cm (about 2 feet away) so you can keep it at a sensible distance. It has both a stand and a wall fitting; as long as the Mesa lamp is near your face - and you look at it from time to time - it does its job.

* So does it work?

SAD lamps are VAT-free if you declare to the vendor that you have Seasonal Affective Disorder. So, clearly, the tax man believes they work.

It doesn't give me the instant lift I get from a sunbed but it helps a lot. At times when I've used it almost constantly, there's been a very noticeable improvement. That first winter it probably saved my life.

These days I use it for about an hour a day (unless it's sunny outside). I would say it is effective because, if I don't use my lamp for a few weeks, I feel worse.

The light is instantly comforting. Even people who don't suffer from SAD enjoy it; it really is like sunshine!

* Does it give you a tan?

No, I'm afraid not! I have a few patches of skin that discolour in sunlight and they do show up after using the Mesa lamp but my freckles don't come out, even after several hours.

* Does it give you energy?

I sometimes work through the night and have kept my lamp on by mistake. I then find myself bounding around in the small hours, doing housework and exercising. So, yes!

* Are there any health risks?

Not unless you have a photosensitive disorder or Reverse SAD (it does exist!). Quality lamps screen out harmful UV rays.

* How should you use it?

Not by keeping it on through the night! Melatonin, one of the hormones affected by light, is your sleep regulator. Using the lamp early in the day is recommended, as that prompts your brain to wake up in the morning and go to sleep at night (as you know, depression can interfere with sleep patterns).

Many people like to use it in the afternoon as well, to get them through the draggy part of the day. The more SAD you are, the longer you should use your lamp.

Because the Mesa lamp is quite strong, it's suitable for use in small groups. The makers suggest putting one where your family has breakfast. I think that's a great idea!

* Is it worth the money?

I paid £199 for my Innosol Mesa. That's less than a holiday and about the same as I would pay for sunbeds over 3 months. It's more constant, healthier, and lasts longer. I've been using mine for 4 years now: yes, it's worth it.

Replacement bulbs are £17. I haven't needed any yet.

* Product description

This lamp is an oblong shape, slightly convex and curved at the top and bottom, and measures 68cm high by 41cm across. It has a white steel frame, which incorporates a sturdy flip-out stand. In the back, there's a hole for hanging the lamp on a wall and a carrying handle. The switch is at the top.

The entire front of the Mesa (the curved part) is made of white, semi-opaque resin that diffuses the light evenly. It's a very simple design; everybody likes it. The lamp is portable and plugs in normally.

The Mesa uses two full-spectrum, 80 watt bulbs. It gets warm with extended use, but not scorching hot.

* Recommended?

If you have SAD, I would recommend getting the best quality lamp you can afford. This one isn't cheap but the quality shows. There's no glare, no flicker, it gives off plenty of bright light and can take a few knocks.

Bright Light therapy has also been recommended for post-natal depression, bulimia and ME/CFS (which I have). Logically enough, it's great for sleep disorders including jet lag.

Some households might consider getting one even if they don't have SAD, just because it's nice to have a bit of sunshine on a grey day. Mine is certainly very popular - and it looks good enough for the living room.


* Wikipedia page about SAD:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seasonal_affective_d isorder

* I bought mine online from:
http://www.electronichealing.co.uk/products/sadme sa.htm

Summary: Worth considering if winter gets you down.