Well Women Guide to Sunlight as a Therapy

It has come to my own attention and I really want to share this with you, that every time I go on Holiday to Spain, I seem to be really well. This has even happened when I have been at my worst.

I have just returned from Spain and once again, I felt the benefits of the sun. I suffer from sun allergies and sun sensitivity but despite these, I really felt well. Why?

I have been researching this since my return a week ago mainly because I wondered why there should be such an improvement.

The points that I mainly noted were substantial reduction in joint and muscle pain, almost to the point of non existence, increased energy, general feeling of increased wellbeing and substantially elevated mood, increased libido and better quality unbroken sleep. However, there were also some negative points, those being return of daily headaches, albeit comparitively minor ones and probaby due to sudden desire to drink Sangria when I don't normally drink, prickly heat, oilier facial skin and skin rashes. The temperature in Ronda in Andalucia, Spain was over 100 degrees so my fair skin had to be watched. I wore factor 30 by Lavera and factor 20 by Purenuff Stuff and even though my skin is ultra sensitive, these seemed fine. I avoided lying in the sun as that would be asking for trouble, but sat in shade but I had to walk around a lot in sunlight so needed to make sure I was wearing sunscreen all the time. The natural sunscreens do not make factors over 40 as then synthetic methods of protection would need to be added. However by being vigilant and applying regularly, excellent protection can be achieved.

I did not have any aches and pains at all. That amazed me the most as I am generally in constant pain and very stiff, especially in the mornings. I generally get a lot of cramps in my legs and feet and weak thigh muscles (quads) but these also disappeared.

What are the benefits?

Sunlight increases endorphins

It brings about the natural production of Vitamin D and you actually only need about 15 mins exposure to sunlight for a rich source of this important vitamin responsible for protecting us from many illnesses including cancer and chronic illness. It has also been shown to prevent and even reverse coronary disease. Studies have also shown that those with higher cholesterol levels had lower levels in the summer than the winter.

I suspect that the increased vitamin D levels helped me and bearing in mind that I am indoors most of the day, summer and winter, I feel that perhaps I should be thinking about getting my daily 15 minutes of sunlight without heavy jackets. So just by wearing shorts and a t shirt and enjoying 15 minutes in the sun, I could hope to be feeling a lot better.

What about in the winter?

Well since vitamin D is produced from exposure to UV rays, then this will be much limited in the winter. But bear in mind that vitamin D is stored in the body, so with daily exposure during the summer, the body will store enough for use during the winter months until reserves can once again be replenished.

Like all natural therapies, less is more, but consider daily brief sun exposure as a means to increased wellbeing.

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