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- 40+ Years in Business
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In the early 1980s, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) was still a mystery. Doctors had only just begun recognizing a recurring pattern in patients experiencing winter-related symptoms oversleeping, lethargy, mood dips, weight gain, and intense cravings for carbohydrates. It wasn’t just “winter blues.” It was something deeper. Something more serious.
That’s when researchers at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) began exploring a groundbreaking solution: bright light therapy.
Around the same time, Neal Owens — who would go on to found The SunBox Company, was dealing with the very same symptoms. After learning about the NIMH’s research, he reached out, hoping to participate in their clinical trials. But because he was already taking antidepressants, he was ineligible to join.
However, Neal was determined. And the researchers saw that. While he couldn’t officially be part of the study, the NIMH allowed him to borrow one of their experimental light boxes to try at home.
Within just two weeks of daily use, the difference in Neal’s mood and energy was undeniable. The improvement was so profound, he didn’t want to return the light box.
When he asked where he could purchase one for himself, the researchers told him it wasn’t an option, the units were hand-built in labs and not commercially available.
So, Neal built his own.
Using the NIMH’s specifications for brightness and safety, he created what would become the first SunBox, a brighter, sturdier, and more efficient version of the experimental units. When NIMH researchers saw what he had made, they were so impressed, they invited him to help design the official light boxes for ongoing clinical research.
As patients completed their trials and saw real benefits from bright light therapy, many were referred directly to Neal to purchase light boxes for personal use.
This marked the beginning of The SunBox Company, founded in 1985 and officially incorporated in 1987.
SunBox became the first light therapy company, and we’re proud to say that more than 30 years later, we’re still leading the way.
Our light therapy boxes have been used in homes, clinics, and workplaces around the world. We’ve helped thousands of people manage symptoms of seasonal depression, boost their energy, and reclaim their well-being through safe, effective, and clinically respected solutions.
Trust the Original
When you choose SunBox, you’re not just purchasing a product,
you’re trusting the brand that helped define the category.
