>I've got a *very* tired and frustrated dear friend whose sleep pattern
>is getting worse by the day (night). One of his 'good' nights this week
>was falling asleep about 2:30am but the last couple of days it's taken
>him 'til about 5:30am (and then he gets up at 8:30.) Anyone got any
>suggestions? Any special 'shoulds' and/or 'should nots'?
>
>Thanks in advance, :-)
>
>Helen Spence
 
I too have had trouble with sleeplessness. In my search for relief on many
fronts I have come across a book, ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE (The Definitive Guide)
compiled by The Burton Goldberg Group which is of great aid in many areas. I
came across the following reference--Light and the Internal Clock which
follows:
 
The body's internal clock, known as the circadian system, is regulated by the
pineal gland. This gland is controlled by the presence or absence of external
light, and serves to synchronize and coordinate the biological events of the
body.
 
Melatonin, the chief hormone of the pineal gland, is produced only during
darkness. Its production is actually inhibited by light. Melatonin has
sedative qualities and helps reduce anxiety, panic disorders, and migraines
as well as inducing sleep. It is also thought to be a primary regulator of
the immune system.
 
Researchers have found that when a person ignores the 24-hour dark-light
cycle and keeps irregular hours of work and rest, the body's internal rhythms
go awry. The number of hours one sleeps is less important than when one
sleeps in respect to daylight.
 
People who work in rotating shifts or at night have been shown to experience
a higher incidence of heart disease, back pain, respiratory problems, ulcers,
and sleep disorders. These people also have a higher rate of error and
accidents and often experience a significant loss of alertness and ability to
make decisions. However, reserachers are using carefully timed,
high-intensity bright lighting (five to ten times brighter than ordinary room
level), as well as the administration of melatonin to help shift workers
adjust to their schedules.
 
Travel between time zones often results in jet lag, a less serious, but often
debilitating and disorienting condition caused by the upset of the body's
internal clock. Melatonin, full-spectrum, and bright light therapies are
being explored as useful antidotes. Some airports are now considering the
installation of full-spectrum lights in their first class lounges to help
passengers adjust to their destiination time zones. *   *   *
 
This section of the book also talks about Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome:
 
Delayed sleep phase syndrome (falling asleep late--2:30-3:00am) may also be
treated with bright light. "People who have delayed sleep phase syndrome have
seen it disappear for the first time in their lives using light therapy,"
says Michael Terman, Ph.D., of the New York State Psychiatric Institute at
Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, New York. By getting a dose of bright
light in the morning, the day starts earlier and patients fall asleep earlier
at night. Bright light early in the night works similarly for those who fall
asleep early and wake early, allowing them to sleep later. *   *   *
 
The book also notes: "Most artificial lighting, both incandescent and
fluorescent, lacks the complete balanced spectrum of sunlight and interferes
with the body's absorption of nutrients, a condition known as
'malillumination'. In order to maintain health it is important to be exposed
to light containing the full wavelength spectrum found in natural sunlight. *
  *   *
 
Melatonin in conjunction with light therapy are what I am looking into to see
about getting a restful night's sleep. For those who blessed with road maps
in their eyes like me and would like to know more about light therapy:
 
College of Syntonic Optometry
1200 Robeson Street; Fall River, Massachusetts; 02720-5508
Phone: (508) 673-1251
[This is an organization of optometrists who incorporate optometric
phototherapy into their treatments. The college will refer you to one of
their members who practices in your area]
 
Environmental Health & Light Research Institute
16057 Tampa Palms Boulevard, Suite 227
Tampa, Florida 33647
(800) 544-4878
[This Institute continues the work of  light pioneer, Dr. John Ott, and can
provide information on full spectrum lighting]   *   *   *
 
Recommended Reading includes:
 
Light: Medicine of the Future
Liberman, Jacob     Santa Fe, New Mexico
Bear & Co. Publishing, 1993
[The book discusses the use of light in the treatment of various cancers,
depression, stress, visual problems, premenstrual syndrome, sexual
dysfunction, learning disabilities, and the human immune system.]
 
Health & Light
Ott, John D.Sc.    Old Greenwich, CT
The Devin-Adair Co., 1988
[As an outgrowth of his work with time-lapse photography, Ott explores the
influence natural and artifical light have on the human endocrine system]
 
Color Therapy
Amber, Reuben, B.          Santa Fe, NM
Auroa Press, 1983
[A 2-part book on the theory and philosophy of chromotherapy and a
specific-applications guide for daily use]
 
Let There Be Light
Dinshaw, Darius           Malaga, NJ
Dinshaw Health Society, 1985
[An in-depth study of color therapy and how and why it works as a treatment.
This book also contains a list of diagnosed disorders with specific
treatments for each] *   *   *
 
And this brings me to Blue glasses. I also found the following reference to a
real, honest-to-gosh Scientist who studied light and its effects:
 
There is mounting evidence that different colors of light have different
effects on the body. In 1942, the Russian scientist S. V. Krakow demonstrated
that red light stimulates the sympathetic nervous system, while white and
blue light stimulate the parasympathetic system. Earlier experiments revealed
that certain colors stimulate hormone production, while other colors inhibit
it. [Kravkov, S.V. "Color, Vision and the autonomic Nervous System" Journal
of the Optical Society of America 31  (Apr, 1944): pp 335-337]
 
Among other things, the parasympathetic nervous system is the craniosacral
division of the autonomic nervous system. Effects of parasympathetic
stimulation are the constriction of the pupils, contraction of the smooth
muscle of the alimentary canal, constriction of the bronchioles, slowing of
heart rate, and increased secretion by glands, except sweat glands. The
autonomic nervous system as a whole (of which the parasympathetic is a part)
is concerned with the control of involuntary bodily functions It regulates
the function of glands, especially the salivary, gastric, and sweat glands,
and the adrenal medulla; smooth muscle tissue, and the heart. The autonomic
nervous system may act on these tissues to reduce or slow activity or to
initiate their function.  *   *   *
 
Blue light or blue glasses could indeed affect our ability to move more
easily. My husband is a lighting designer with 20 years experience in the
theater. As part of his "toolkit" he has a full color strip set of lighting
gels (colored plastic) that go over lighting instruments to change their
color. He let me try placing the various blue gels over my glasses to
determine what was the right shade of blue for me. Next month when I have the
money set aside, we are taking the gel sheet with the color of blue we want
to the technician who works in a ooptical shop of a Wal-Mart Supercenter. She
has agreed to attempt to dye my glass lenses the color of blue we bring her
on the gel for a small fee.
 
For those who do not have a lighting designer in the family, my husband
suggested that you call a local live theatre and ask to speak to whoever
handles the lighting. (Try a local college theatre if there is no local
theatre.) Tell them why you're interested in obtaining some small pieces of
blue gels in a variety of shades of blue. Oftentimes, the blue gels are cut
to fit the lighting instruments and the excess is tossed in the wastebasket.
Chances are, they'll oblige you with a stack of blue gels to select from. If
you're house-bound, they might even mail them to you.
 
Once you receive them, try them in the variety of light settings you normally
have (i.e. morning lighting, outside, work, evening lighting). I personally
found two different blues fit my needs: one medium blue (like the blue stripe
on American Flag) for home and work and one darker blue for outside.
 
Hope this helps many of you.
 
By the way, I've really appreciated the poetry (i.e. smiled, cried, felt
good, etc.). Keep up the good work!  [PS:  Rita Weeks, ever thought of having
your poem bronzed into a plaque and firmly affixing it to your Neuro's office
door?]
 
Llyn Gruber   <[log in to unmask]>