Light from a naturopathic perspective

Light from a Naturopathic Perspective, a research paper by Reiss Faber, NHT

The PDF attachment is my writing on Light from a Naturopathic Perspective as part of my studies toward becoming a traditional Naturopathic Doctor.

I spent 3 years studying light almost every day, taking endless notes trying to put the pieces together. While I’d been an outdoor-lover and sun bather my entire life, when I applied circadian principles to my life in a serious way, my health turned for the better. Some people thought I was ridiculous for wearing red glasses at night to protect from artificial overhead lighting, but I felt the difference when I protected myself versus not. Then, for a few months I was in denial of the whole thing. Regardless of my newfound knowledge, I stopped my light hygiene practices and lived my life as a typical modern person did…. and I felt the negative shifts. Poor mental health, trouble getting up in the morning, hormonal disturbance, all because I stopped listening to nature’s laws. Since that moment of realization, I haven’t turned my back on circadian health and natural principles.

Upon entering Naturopathic school, we are to write a research paper each year on a topic of interest. I had noticed that light wasn’t a huge topic of discussion in my classes so I realized there was a gap in knowledge that I’d obsessively accumulated the past few years and the fundamental teachings of my highly respected school. Deciding on my research topic was the easiest decision I’d ever made. For some reason it has been a calling of mine to endlessly research and talk on this topic.

What should’ve been a 20 page paper outlining the inseparable relationship between light and health, I realized the rabbit hole went way further than I ever thought. My writing ended up covering my 1st, 2nd, and 3rd years of Naturopathic school, and I’m considering still adding another 50 pages to cover my final 4th year.

I wrote this paper for those who are curious about the topic of light, but are overwhelmed with the amount of information out there. There are so many conflicting ideas which led me astray many times as I continued to dig through research to find truth. By intermingling foundational ideas from key historical figures, to observing animals, to digging through modern scientific research, I consider this to be the ultimate guide to light and health. Not only is it full of important information, but it has actionable steps to move forward in a positive direction.

Stay tuned for a continuation and development of the ideas in this text.

For now, I hope you enjoy. If you have ideas or questions in regards to light and health, feel free to contact me.