Ask the doctor - seasonal affective disorder

First, you are going to need some form of light therapy--the application of light to the forehead in order to regulate hormones in the brain. Research has shown light therapy to be the single best remedy for SAD. To perform light therapy at home, try a light box or a dawn simulation system.

The light box contains fluorescent light bulbs with a 5,000 lux rating at 8 inches for portable units, or a 10,000 lux rating at 14 inches for countertop units. Place the light box where the light can shine on your face. The light should shine on your "third eye," which is the area on your forehead between and a little bit above your eyebrows. Research has shown this area to be photosensitive, and it is connected to the hypothalamus of your brain, which regulates hormones. Exposing yourself to the light for 30 minutes per day normalizes hormone levels affected by SAD.

The dawn simulator consists of either a lamp or a small computerized device attached to a light source such as a tabletop lamp. Position the light so it shines on your face in the morning. It works like an alarm clock--turning on a dim light at a pre-set time, typically 45 minutes before you want to wake up. Over the next 45 minutes, the intensity of the light increases until you wake up to a simulated summer dawn. Your "third eye" senses this light, and your brain makes the necessary hormones as a result.

I also have my patients use 5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) at doses of 300 milligrams (mg) per day. The brain uses 5-HTP to make serotonin, which helps people who suffer from SAD because they usually have low serotonin levels. Be advised, however, that you should not take serotonin if you're on antidepressants or pregnant.

I also recommend taking 1,000 international units (IU) of vitamin D and 2-3 grams of Siberian ginseng per day. Your body uses sunshine to make vitamin D, and some people's systems have a hard time doing this in the low light of winter. Siberian ginseng (Eleuthero), which helps the body adapt to stress, should be taken in the morning and avoided by people with high blood pressure. Take it for 8 weeks, and then give yourself a week off.

Lastly, I always make sure my patients are taking a good multivitamin with adequate amounts of [B.sub.12] and folic acid. This protocol takes a little time and investment, but almost every SAD sufferer says the results are worth it!

Frank Ervolino, ND, practices as an acupuncture physician at the Mind/Body Institute of Jupiter Medical Center in Jupiter City, Florida. lie also serves on the advisory board of Martin Memorial Hospital Cancer Center in Stuart, Florida, and is a member of the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.

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