Circadian Rhythm: The Science of Sunnlight and Health

Circadian rhythms have become a hot field of biomedical research recently. Studies in chronobiology have suggested that our internal 24-hour clocks control not just sleep and wakefulness, but a wide variety of physiological processes. Because a healthy circadian rhythm is important and even essential to health, circadian sleep disorders present a very real threat to many people.

In circadian sleep disorders, people suffer from a circadian rhythm that is off sync. For instance, people with delayed sleep phase disorder do not release sleep-supporting hormones such as melatonin until early morning hours. Circadian sleep disorders can lead to fatigue, depression, lessened memory and increases in heart attacks, car accidents and other potentially deadly events. Light therapy has become increasingly popular as a natural treatment option for many people who have a circadian sleep disorder or merely out of sync circadian rhythm.

Sunnlight and Circadian Biology

People who are using light therapy to bring their circadian rhythm back into sync need to be particular about the type of light used. It must be the correct strength and have the correct wavelengths. In addition, light therapy before and immediately upon waking is more effective when it mimics the natural light of the sun, beginning weakly and then growing in intensity.

While many therapeutic lights do not have these features, the new Sunnlight lamp offers some unique features aimed to improve sleep disorders. The wavelength and maximum strength of light are a therapeutic range. In addition, Sunnlight is unique because it mimics the behavior of the sun in your area.

The Development of Sunnlight

Designed by Kelton Ray Minor, Sunnlight brings the benefits of natural sunlight into one’s home. Minor was inspired to create this light after living in Copenhagen while studying there as a Fulbright Scholar. After a long stretch of gray days, he wished for and set out to design a light that would bring him the psychological and biological benefits of the sun in any location.

This dream came to fruition when Minor partnered with John Ciecholewski and Andrew Vaslas. The company was launched on Kickstarter, where its implementation was financed by almost 500 supporters. The company is now getting ready to roll out the first generation of both its app and its lamp. Consumers are eager to see what their lives and their health will be like with the benefits of light therapy that mimics natural sunlight.

How Sunnlight Works

The Sunnlight lamp and app are designed to bring the benefits of natural full sunlight into your home or office in any weather. The Sunn alarm begins the morning with gradually increasing light. Throughout the day, the intensity and color of the light matches that of the sun in the user’s preferred location and time. The light can even be set to sync with the current light levels outside one’s home. In the evening, Sunnlight goes through an “ember fade” cycle during which light gradually becomes dimmer leading up to the set bedtime. It even has a moon glow setting that is activated by simply shaking one’s phone so that people can see at night when necessary without the melatonin-blocking effects of a brighter light.

Sunnlight is unique because it is controlled by a smartphone app. People can customize the light for their own needs, creating a sunrise level of light before they wake and a sunset level before they sleep. They can set the light to sync with the light in different areas of the world, allowing them to overcome jet lag and similar disorders. If you decide that you need more than the amount of light in your area, you can set the light to mimic that of an area such as the tropics. Finally, people who live in the modern world can bring the sun inside their homes or work place to benefit from phototherapy.

Hope for Disorders of the Circadian Rhythm

Until recently, modern medicine had little to offer those who suffer from the desynchronization of their circadian rhythm. However, thanks to devices such as Sunnlight, many people may be able to overcome their out of sync cycles and reclaim health. This can have huge implications for our society. People who have circadian sleep disorders have a higher risk of disease as well as heightened psychological and behavioral challenges. Sleeplessness and insomnia create a variety of health problems and even lead to a higher rate of accidents. This app and lamp combo could prevent some of these unfortunate events by helping people to adjust their circadian rhythm. Natural light can help people lead healthier and more energetic lives.

Light therapy has been found not only to treat an out of tune circadian rhythm but also to encourage good health in all people. However, Sunnlight’s new technology goes above and beyond, giving the user the correct intensity of light and mimicking the natural patterns of sunlight. Because it is controlled by a smartphone app, getting a healthy dose of sunlight has never been easier.

To learn more about this groundbreaking technology, please visit their website at www.sunnlight.com.

All photos and videos are compliments of Sunnlight.com. Thank you to John Ciecholewski for providing us with information about this unique product!