A doctor says Sunlight is good

[Jim Fisher]

Sent to me from a friend

According to popular natural health expert Dr. Joseph Mercola, there is a simple and safe prescription for pain and inflammation: natural sunlight, complemented by indoor full spectrum lighting.



(PRWEB) January 24, 2006 -- Stop reaching for that bottle of pain relievers or anti-inflammatories whenever you have those aches and pain. Instead, Dr. Joseph Mercola, founder of the worlds most popular natural health website Mercola.com, recommends a simpler and safer prescription. He urges people to spend an hour in the sunshine daily.



And, because that isnt always practical, he also recommends that everyone install full spectrum lights in their home and work environment. (Full spectrum lighting duplicates the full color spectrum of natural light, as well as ultraviolet and infrared wavelengths.)



According to Dr. Mercola, sunlight is an overlooked yet effective remedy for reducing pain and inflammation. Findings of one recent study published in the medical journal Psychosomatic Medicine demonstrated that post-operative spinal surgery patients who were exposed to increased amounts of sunlight experienced significantly less pain and stress and needed less analgesic medication.



Some current researchers also theorize that ultraviolet (UV) exposure leads to the release of endorphins, chemicals in the brain that are linked to pain relief and feelings of euphoria.



Of course, sunlight has been used therapeutically for thousands of years, long before the discovery of indoor full spectrum lighting. Healing with sunlight was popular in Greek and Roman times; there was even a special name for it: heliotherapy. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, long before the development of antibiotics, tuberculosis was successfully treated by putting people in TB solariums and exposing them to simple sunlight.



Unfortunately, according to Dr. Mercola, todays population is virtually starving for sunlight. Conventional medical thinking has most people afraid to go out in the sun anymore. Contrary to popular belief, Dr. Mercola encourages common-sense exposure to outdoor sunlight, exposure that avoids burning.



Even those who do get out in the sun are unlikely to be receiving adequate exposure to the suns ultraviolet rays, due to seasonal decreases in light, latitude, air pollution and smog, the use of sunscreens, and the prevalence of indoor work. For these reasons, Dr. Mercola encourages the use of full spectrum lighting to make up for those lost outdoor rays.



Scientists have already confirmed that bright light triggers the release of the brain neurotransmitter serotonin, termed the feel-good chemical. In fact, one 2002 study reported in the prestigious medical journal Lancet demonstrated that serotonin production was directly related to the duration of bright sunlight. The studys authors cited their findings as further evidence that the release of serotonin by the brain underlies seasonal affective disorder or SAD, a form of depression common in the winter. Treatment of these mood disorders with full spectrum light and light therapy has been proven highly effective, often achieving results equivalent to the use of anti-depressant drugs.



Not only do sunlight and its closest counterpart, full spectrum light, decrease pain and enhance mood, but they also decrease inflammation. The reason? Vitamin D, produced in the body with exposure to ultraviolet light, is a natural anti-inflammatory. This has been demonstrated by numerous scientific studies, which indicate that vitamin D lowers inflammation in conditions as diverse as heart disease, diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis.



By the same token, critically ill patients have been shown to be markedly deficient in vitamin D, and have higher levels of C-Reactive Protein (CRP), a measure of inflammation in the body. Since our widespread sunlight deficiency corresponds to low vitamin D levels, Dr. Mercola cites this as another reason to supplement natural sunshine with full spectrum lights.



Sunlight and full spectrum lighting can be a great boon to anyone, but especially those who would otherwise be relying solely on expensive prescription and over-the-counter pain relievers, which are often loaded with potentially dangerous side effects.



For further information, readers are encouraged to take advantage of a free Special Report, detailing the essentials of sunlight, health and full spectrum lighting, at http://store.mercola.com/light.

[sparky]

From the same site. Dr Mercola is based out of Schaumburg, IL which is the next Suburb over from mine. A year or two ago, his office contacted me about a tanning survey. I contacted Don Smith, Bob Wagner, and also spoke to Dr Grant at that time.

I requested that Dr Mercola set up a protocol with this group, but I never heard anything back from Mercola's office.

He is definitely Pro-Sun, but Anti-Tanning Bed.

Dr. Mercola's Comment:

My patients ask me this question and I thought many people would benefit from my writing down my thought on the matter.

In theory, a tanning bed can be safe, but the practical reality is that most all commercial tanning beds are accidents waiting to happen.

There are two problems with them relating to two different types of radiation.

The first one is X-rays which are emitted by the ends of both bulbs. This occurs with any fluorescent bulb. The X-rays can be shielded with a piece of lead tape wrapped around the last inch of the bulb.

The second is EMF emitted by the magnetic ballast used for most all of the tanning beds. It is these magnetic ballasts that give the tanning bed the hum that you here.

The EMF decreases by one over the square root of the distance from the bulb. In simpler terms it drops off very rapidly the further you are away from the ballast, but in a tanning bed one is only several inches away from the magnetic ballast.

This problem also has a solution, in that one can remove the magnetic ballast and replace it with a very quiet and much more efficient electronic ballast. Nearly any handy electrical person can install the replacement and most electrical supply stores carry them.

So one can actually construct a "safe" tanning bed, but I don't know anyone who actually has done this.

There really is a huge market here for an entrepreneur who understands health and can market a "safe" tanning bed.

So, what are the options if you want to protect yourself prior to the summer sun or going on a vacation?

The key is to limit your initial exposure and never, never get sunburned.

The sun's most intense rays are emitted one hour on either side of 12:00 (non-Daylight Savings Time). So stay out of the sun from 11 to 1 and increase your exposure gradually.

I am not a fan of sun screens as some experts believe that the sun screen chemicals themselves actually contribute to increased risk of skin cancer as well.

http://www.mercola.com/2001/jun/2/tanning_beds.htm