Just like plants, humans have a requirement for a certain amount of light to remain healthy.
Carla Allen photo
S.A.D. gardeners
It’s not uncommon for gardeners to spend eight to 10 hours daily outside during the growing season - digging, dividing, weeding and fertilizing - soaking up higher than average levels of ultra violet rays. Is it any wonder that some of us fall into the doldrums during the dark days of winter when sunlit hours are few and far between?
This condition has received scientific recognization in the past 15 years and is now known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D.) Symptoms include a drop in energy level, feeling tired all the time, a tendency to oversleep, weight gain, craving sweet or starchy foods, difficulty concentrating, irritability and tendency towards anti-socialism.
There’s an easy solution to S.A.D. There are special ‘light boxes’ sold for just this purpose. They provide a measured amount of bright, color-balanced light (10,000 lux) that is approximately 20 times brighter than normal room lighting. Subjects must keep their eyes open as the light is registered by the eyes through the retina, which then transfers impulses to the hypothalamus in the brain to normalize the body clock function.
I’ve taken to tanning these past few winters under lights that certainly don’t provide the same form of light but the experience does make me feel good. It’s not so much the change in skin tone I’m seeking, but the opportunity to soak up all that heat and brightness.
While browsing the Internet for more information on S.A.D. I came across a landscaper’s forum where members were discussing the topic.
“I've had severe S.A.D. for many years, since my teens or 20's (I'm now in my 40's). Mine starts in October and doesn't let up until mid to late March. Back when I was a stay-at-home mom, I did find myself wandering around the few greenhouses that were open in the winter, trying to get some light and a plant fix,” wrote one woman.
Would you believe there’s even a Seasonal Affective Disorder for Dummies book available?
The Holden Arboretum in Kirtland, Ohio, is one of the largest living museums of its type in the world. It’s offering ‘An Uncommon Cure for the Cold’ program from Jan. 12 – Feb. 17. Visitors can sooth themselves surrounded by the tranquil sounds of a waterfall and the scents of hundreds of flowers, including orchids, begonias and African violets. One of the main attractions will be an interactive display of full-spectrum lighting used to counter the effects of S.A.D.
