Lumie Arabica SAD Lightbox

Arabica is equipped with 2 x 24W daylight spectrum bulbs

The power of light

The Lumie Arabica Lightbox provides extra bright levels of light from two special daylight bulbs. It can be used to treat SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) and sleep disorders, or to give anyone a mood, energy and concentration boost. Arabica is Lumie's most affordable lightbox, perfect for treating SAD at home. It comes with a three year guarantee.

Not many people realise how important bright light is. As the nights close in towards winter and the days become more glum, most of us begin to feel more downbeat. For some this is something we just accept--that we are more sluggish in the darker months, more tired at work, less happy overall. For others (estimated one in four in the UK), it is more serious. The winter blues or the more severe SAD syndrome can be crippling, making sufferers depressed, lethargic and unproductive.

Luckily it doesn't have to be like this. Light therapy is a readily available, scientific, proven treatment to help treat sufferers of SAD and the winter blues in a natural and healthy way.

The science behind light therapy

Numerous published studies have linked the lower levels of light in the autumn and winter to tiredness, overeating, low moods and social withdrawal. And they have found that in the darker days exposure to bright light--much brighter than normal home or office lighting--can make people feel alert, upbeat and energised.

Light therapy works by resetting your internal body clock. Your body clock, which tells you when to sleep and when to be awake, is controlled by a small group of cells at the back of the brain. These cells release hormones and other chemical messages to prepare the body for sleep or activity, based on how much strong, regular light is reaching the eye. This light is affected by irregular sleep routines, poorly-lit environments and low levels of light over the winter, meaning that we can feel sluggish even when we are supposed to be awake. Exposing ourselves to very bright light sends stronger signals to the brain that it is daytime. This makes us feel more awake during the day, and more ready for sleep at night.

79% of people are less productive or energised in winter. View larger.

Low serotonin levels (a feature of depression) improve significantly with light therapy, and the production of cortisol (which helps us to get up and go) increases. Bright light suppresses the production of the hormone melatonin, which tells the brain it is dark and therefore time to sleep. In the darker winter months or inside dimly lit rooms the lower light levels can be an insufficient signal to stop melatonin being produced. A lightbox can change this.

Who is the Arabica Lightbox for?

Lumie Arabica is an affordable, medically certified lightbox with a fast treatment time designed for use at home. The high dose of light provided by Lumie Arabica Lightbox is perfect for those who miss the light of summer and suffer from the winter blues or the more serious SAD. Many SAD sufferers have found that bright lights make a big difference to their lives.

Look out for lux levels

Light from the Arabica has a brightness level of 10,000 lux at 20cm. Lux is a measurement of brightness as the light reaches your eye. Genuine SAD lightboxes should tell you their lux level and the distance at which it is achieved (and this distance should be a natural one for sitting next to the lightbox – 5cm would be impractical!). The Arabica lux level has been independently tested and verified. Even the brightest office will only provide about 500 lux, compared to the Arabica's 10,000 lux.

Arabica Lightbox is a certified medical device

The Arabica Lightbox is certified to the Medical Devices Directive EC93/42. As a medical device, it conforms to European manufacturing standards and carries the correct CE mark. All of Lumie's lightboxes and SAD lights have been designed according to the results of relevant clinical trials. They come with clear guidelines for correct medical usage. Lumie's lamps are independently tested to confirm that they emit an only negligible amount of UV light, much less than normal daylight, which means they are completely safe.

Lux levels in Lumie's lights are independently verified. View larger.

Made by specialist light therapy inventors

With a Lumie product you will benefit from years of experience and testing. Lumie's products are developed according to scientific research, are independently tested, and are certified medical devices. Lumie provides guidelines for correct usage of its devices.