LIGHT BOX

Hud, regarding dirty el.: i didn't measure the effect,
i could feel the negative effect in the entire house when the analogue transfo/ballast was on, but i didn't feel it when the digital transfo was on

Karen, yes we need sunlight, and i guess sun high in UV is better than no sun at all, but sunlight exposure really is better for us when UV is not too high (so in summer best during early or late hours)... you may want to read on sunbathing, sungazing etc.

and EHS people are on average probably more intolerant to UV-light than other people

Hud, HID (HPS or MH) (incandescent) lights don't contain mercury...

(the CFL's do)

Look into high doses of Vitamin D.  If you can take that, you likely can skip the lightbox altogether.  I've used that for many years during winter, and in just a few days you should see a significant difference.   Myself I use 5-7,000IU a day, which is perfectly safe.  Your body can make 20,000 in a day if you got sufficient sunshine.
Hope that helps.
~ Snoshoe

Hi all

Thanks for this - it is very interesting - partic the debate about UV light and cancer treatment

I will look out for the bulb you mentioned Marc to try in a table lamp in the evenings.

Snoeshoe thanks for the vitamin d tip - I usually supplement with vitamin d - but never really know how much to take - I have maybe been erring on the low side. Because we had good weather this summer and I was trying to manufacture as much from the sun exposure as I possibly could I stopped my vit d and only re-introduced it since October - and only at the level of 10001u pd - over the last week I doubled that and noticed an improvement - so I am going to up it a bit again in 1000iu increments - but certainly there is more energy, and less lethargy/desire to hibernate so thanks for the info.

Thanks to everyone

Steph