New research has shown that sunrise is not only beautiful, it is also the key to maintaining healthy circadian body rhythms.

 

Dr. Norman Rosenthal has recently characterized a malady called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Early morning nasal congestion, carbohydrate craving, weight gain, low productivity, reduced capacity to concentrate and other complaints are common from people with SAD which seems to have its roots in poorly synchronized circadian rhythms thought to be caused in part by seasonal changes in light exposure.

 

Over the last five years, researchers at several unrelated institutions have been evaluating human subject responses to simulated sunrise or "dawn simulation" as it has become known in the research community. Dr. David Avery of the University of Washington, for one, having completed several past studies, is now in his second of a four year study funded by the National Institutes of Health. The ultimate objective of these studies is to scientifically determine if dawn simulation can successfully mimic the circadian rhythm timing characteristics of real dawn. The results are very encouraging. If it is as effective as the research indicates so far, the whole world could benefit. You'll be able to entrain your body rhythm to a stable work day, rather than the solar day which changes seasonally. Instead of experiencing seasonal ups and downs, you'll maintain a steady state body rhythm all year long. Think of the personal and national productivity increases available.

 

To evaluate human response to simulated dawn, specially programmed SunUp dawn simulators, have been employed to administer either accurate or placebo dawns to numerous subjects with the symptoms commonly associated with SAD. The first five years of trials have met with remarkable success, reducing Hamilton Depression Ratings from a range of 17 to 20 down to between 3 and 7 within a few days time. What is most exciting is that while drugs may take up to two weeks to help, and bright light boxes one week, Dr. Norden, in his book "BEYOND PROZAC" concludes, from his research, that substantial gains can be seen in subsyndromal patients in three days or less.

 

Early, research with photo-periods has demonstrated the potential for controlling plant growth cycles and animal breeding cycles simply by adjusting local environmental photo-periods. Specially programmed dawn simulators are being employed by bird breeders to enhance their breeding programs and to reduce bird panic.

 

What is clear, at this point, is that dawn simulation is for real. However, no medical claims are made about it, so they are obtainable without a prescription. Although you may have seen references to dawn simulation on CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, NPR or your news publication, it is a new technology; up to now only those close to the research have known much about it.

 

Morning broke when seasonal photo cycles and the need to be up before dawn became a schism between natural and economically forced life styles, which resulted in circadian body rhythm problems for a very large portion of the population. Academic achievement, career progress and homemaking efficiency are often devastated by these circadian rhythm problems.

 

When in darkness, the human eye adapts to background light levels. In darkness, human visual sensitivity can increase by up to 100,000 times over daylight levels. This process, called dark adaptation, is due mainly to a buildup of rhodopsin in the rods of the retina. The buildup of rhodopsin is assumed to be the primary reason that the body responds so readily to photo-period regulation.

 

Light and dark cycles appear to be the most influential functional rhythm timer for man, beast and plants. In man, the gradually increasing light at dawn penetrates closed eyelids and breaks down the high levels of rhodopsin. Apparently, the breakdown of rhodopsin leads to a reduction in the level of melatonin secretions of the pineal gland and possibly other brain fluids as well. While high melatonin levels promote sleep and lethargy, low levels promote wakefulness and ability to concentrate.

 

The earliest attempts to control human rhythm problems with artificial light began in the mid 80s when bright light boxes were employed in Seasonal Depression treatment research. The bulk of the studies supported the theory that, exposure to bright artificial light can re-set body rhythms. Dawn simulation was developed to approach the same rhythm problem but from the seasonal photo-period perspective. We don't try to cure the body -- just morning. Over the last five years numerous trials have shown that dawn simulation may be even more effective than bright light, with many subjects noting improvement in about one half the time of bright light box exposure. And since dawn simulation works on the sleeper's eyes, no valuable day time hours are lost to sitting in front of a bright light.