PPD on meds, management questions

[Guest guest]

> I may start working with someone who has PPD. She is currently on

meds and is seeing a therapist. I don't know what kind of med she is

on I talked to her husband briefly. Can I use Eos on her and could

she have any herbs while taking meds?

 

Dear Sonya;

My experience with clients who are on meds already is very intersting

and these factors are best taken into account, even before looking at

how to support her also with our " tool kit " . The SSRIs, which is most

likely the class of medications she is taking, because they increase

pitta and vata, while covering up the depression by (yes, at first

increasing the serotonin, and holding it more avaialbe) but the excess

creates blocking ability to feel. Also, because she is in the hands

of a therapist " qualified " to manage her meds, you will likely observe

resistance or don't do it messages from them. It becomes complicated,

and such a serious matter they choose those they " know " are

professionally qualified, and I don't beleive you have the advanced

ayurvedic practitioner training yet, right? I would be referring her

" up " for full consult in terms of herbal support if she decides what

you are doing inspires her for more from the obviously wise ayurvedic

model of care. We will discuss what is going on in these cases.

 

So the causative level of the depression is increasing. Your supports

will help reduce it, but only so much: With already natural (from

birth process) weak agni (digestive fire) which continues to create

ama and poor nutritional absorption, gas, possibly bloating and

constipation, the accumulations of excess meds means agni and other

vata management is a bigger issue than usual. She is needing more

focused address dietarily and with whatever otehr supports as you know

how to give, such as ensuring only warm liquids if you can, etc.

 

The accumulations of both this natural ama (incomplete products of

digestion) and the drug residues reported by Dr. Ann Blake Tracey of

" hard slimy coatings around the brain glands " from buildup of

seratonin because the " uptake " ie breakdown! digestion of excess is

blocked (this is how the SSRI's work, as you must remember from

class). They block not only ability to feel but also natural hormonal

functions of these glands, including HGH, the balance partner to

cortisol. That's another interesting discussion for another time.

 

Remember the pitta increasing factors? This is very much about the

high cortisol, best I can tell. For the group reference, one Prozak,

(not among the strongest SSRIS) doubles ones' cortisol levels. By

comparison, 3 cups of coffee or cans of caffienated sugared soda or

similar amount of sugar intake by itself they measure holding the

cortisol at a high for 18 hours. Doubled cortisol means living in

fight or flight all the time, including assessing everything that

comes at you with doubt and fear. That increases vata also. So

severe PPD clients often are very edgy, they tend to change their

minds a lot, as well as forget and not have good priority sense about

them.

 

The result is women will be more effectively functioning from will and

mental,(not a great service postpartum when they need ot attend to

finer feelings, bonding, and their body's need for warmth and rest)

instead of the natural feedback loops of the body, which are saying " I

need help here, feel emotionally unstable in my ability to feel

connected " etc. Most likely with the higher pitta there is more body

heat, sweats, agitation, and craving cold things.

 

SO, that is mostly background for the other readers. AS far as your

questions to support with eoils and ayurvedic herbs, definite yes, but

you may have her therapist's caveats not to take anything else because

" we don't know how it may interract " . For this reason I am suggesting

you refer her up to Saraswati Buhrman, Terra Raphael (midwife) or the

Ayurvedic MD there. I would go Saraswati first as I know of her

client results and experience with these issues, she is even published

in the unfortunately no longer available Protocol Journal of Botanical

Medicine on discussion and management of the three types of depression

(by dosha) and is very knowledgeable about herb/drug interactions.

 

Basically she says unless there is manic depression, bhrami (gotu kola

variety) she finds is then contraindicated, but the classically used

ayurvedic herbs for depression such as shankapushpi, ashwaghanda,

shatavari, jatamamsi, the brahmis, arjuna and others are I beleive all

safe to take alongside the meds.

 

FYI, Dr. Saraswati Buhrman's management, of course including suitable

agni and other individually indicated herbal formulation, has the

client taking meds and herbs for 1 month simultaneous without changing

med dosage, while the herbs build up their influence. Then gradually

weans the med dosage. She finds this weaning goes faster than Dr.

Tracey's suggested minimum 6 months if they have been on the meds over

1 year (but probably she was off them during pregnancy? I hope ...

good to understand more of her history).

 

Dietary and other management significantly applies, and the postpartum

home spa care with warm oil treatment will be SO valuable, as will her

internal oleation for supporting the body's loosening and excorting

out of excess meds. The Home spa care and possibly cooking may be

your best services for her while you watch the crazy medical

management take its course. It will have " rescued " her, but her

course of recovery will be a long one, and not very satisfying

compared to what we can do. But you have to let it go, unless she is

convinced to work with an ayurvedic physician.

 

Aside from this ... the essential oils tend to be very well

received, but not lasting as long in effect. One of the things the

eoils do in the system is " sacrifice themselves " in bonding with free

radicals to neutralize them. Lots of free radicals in these

situations! They also as you know enhance prana and oxygenation, this

is very well received.

 

So the ones best are things grounding, hormonally balancing and

calming such as clary sage and vetiver, prana increasing such as

citruses (Bergamot, or the blend Peace and calming is very nice here)

and evergreens which also lift the spirits. And the sweet florals if

you use the Valor protocol first or just spruce on the feet so they

feel grounded and more balanced, are the pitta and vata reducing

antidepressants (everything from lavender and geranium to rosewood,

rose).

 

Frankincense is always good to have available and wear in - often if

depression is long term or linked with emotional blaming or abuse

history, the frank helps clear old tags in the energy field, and is

also antidepressant.

 

Wear oils on yourself in any case to " diffuse " them and help keep

yourself in the present simple clarity.

 

With no ill will intended, these clients are like having a monkey to

take care of, will probalby keep you both giving more deeply of your

knowledge and energy, and be on your toes to much changeable

conditions. Please keep us informed how it goes if you get this job!

Namaste;

Ysha