Natural Alternatives for Depression

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Natural Alternatives for Depression

 

Depression is the most prevalent of all the emotional disorders. Symptoms may

vary from feelings of minor sadness to sheer misery and dejection. When sadness

persists and impairs daily life, it maybe an indication of a depressive

disorder. Depression brings together a variety of physical and psychological

symptoms which together constitute a syndrome.

 

1. " Melancholia " which was, for centuries the encompassing name for all emotional

disorders is considered Major Depression. Clinically, in major depression, five

symptoms on a daily basis for at least two weeks are considered a diagnosis.

 

The most common symptoms of depression are feelings of acute sense of loss,

inexplicable sadness, loss of energy and loss of interest. The patient usually

feels tired and lacks interest in the world around him. Sleep disturbance is

frequent. Usually the patient wakes up depressed and is unable to return to

sleep. Other disturbed sleep patterns are difficulty in falling asleep,

nightmares or repeated waking. Often, emotions of guilt, oppressive feelings and

self-absorption are apart of this syndrome. Cases of severe depression may also

be characterized by low body temperature, low blood pressure, hot flushes and

shivering.

 

• Dysthymic Depression

 

This form of depression is considered chronic ongoing, yet milder, less severe

and less disabling.

 

 

• Atypical Depression

 

Other symptoms of depression are: loss of appetite, gidiness, itching, nausea,

agitation, irritability, impotence or frigidity, constipation, aches and pains

all over the body, lack of concentration and lack of power of decision. Some

persons may lose interest in eating and suffer from rapid loss of weight while

others may resort to frequent eating and as a result gain weight.

 

Irregular diet habits cause digestive problems and lead to the assimilation of

fats. An excess of carbohydrates like cereals, white sugar, coffee, tea,

chocolates and comparatively less quantities of vegetables and fruits in the

diet may result in indigestion. Due to indigestion, gases are produced in the

digestive tract, causing compression over the diaphragm in the region of the

heart and lungs. This in turn, reduces the supply of oxygen to the tissues,

which raises the carbon dioxide levels, causing general depression.

 

 

• Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorders

 

(PMDD) is considered severe depression with irritability and tension and PMS

including five or more symptoms of major depression.

 

 

• Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a form of depression. Most people tend to

slow down a little in

the winter and experience some form of " winter blues, " but full-blown

SAD can be extremely disabling.

 

SAD is often the result of the winter season when the days are shorter. People

tend to sleep more, become sedentary, crave carbohydrates, gain weight, and

avoid social interaction. Psychologically, they are depressed.

Attaining a balance of yin-yang or light and dark is innate in the Feng Shui

philosophy. Although we cannot see the electromagnetic frequencies of the earth

or planets, it is important for us to live in an environment that allows us to

be synchronized with these forces.

 

2. BiPolar Disorders

 

• BiPolar I - encompasses unpredictable swings in mood from mania (hypermania)

to depression.

 

• BiPolar II - full criteria for mania is lacking, but encompasses recurrent

depression seperated by periods of mild activation with increased mania.

 

• Cyclothymic - numerous hypomania periods of short duration, alternating with

clusters of depressive symptoms that fail to meet criteria of major depression.

 

 

3. Medical Depression

 

• Cardiac, cancer and neurological disorders, diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism,

and autoimmune disorders are all considered the basis for medical depressive

diagnosis. Diabetes, low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) and weakness of the liver

resulting from the use of refined or processed foods, fried foods and an

excessive intake of fats which may also lead to depression.

 

• Alcohol abuse and reasons why alcohol are abused are factors considered.

 

• Substance abuse includes the excessive and indiscriminate use of drugs also

leads to faulty assimilation of vitamins and minerals by the body and ultimately

causes depression. The abuse of aspirin leads to deficiencies of vitamin C and

antacids can cause deficiencies of calcium and vitamin B. Medications that can

induce depression include: Antihypertensive drugs, Anticholesterolemic drugs and

Antiarrhythmic drugs. Antihypertensive drugs such as beta-adrenergic blockers

and calcium channel blockers are most likely to cause depressed moods.

Antidepressive drugs which provide temporary relief, have harmful side-effects

and do not remove the causes or prevent its recurrence. The harmful side-effects

include gross liver damage, hypersensitivity, insomnia, hallucinations, a

confused state, convulsions, a fall in blood pressure which brings on headaches

and dizziness , blurred vision, difficulty in inhaling and urine retention.

 

 

Current biochemical theories of depression suggest that biogenic amines may play

a significant role in depression. This group of chemical compounds transmits

nerve impulses across a synapse - a junction where nerve impulses pass to a

neuron or another cell. Amines such as neropinephrine, serotonin and, to a

lesser extent, dopamine, acetylcholine and epinephrine have been extensively

studied for their roles in the pathophysiology of depression. Serotonin, in

particular, has been the subject of intense research for the past 25 years.

 

Antidepressant medications affecting these amines include monoamine oxidase

(MAO) inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants and selective serotonin inhibitors

(SSRI). MAO inhibitors increase norepinephrine levels, SSRIs block serotonin

inactivation, and tricyclics enhance norepinephrine transmission.

Psychotherapies combined with conventional antidepressant drugs such as Prozac

and Paxil have become more widely used in the past several years and have been

found to be effective remedies. However, patients have reported unpleasant

side effects such as dry mouth, nausea, headache, or impaired sexual

function or sleep.

 

Because of these side effects, many patients have turned to natural treatments

such as amino acid supplementation and herbal phytomedicines as an aid in

treating mild depression. Popular choices include 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP),

SAM-e, St. John's Wort, Kava kava and Ginkgo Biloba. Researchers continue to

study the benefits of these products and suggest that natural alternatives may

provide fewer or less severe side effects than most conventional antidepressants

drugs.

 

Amino Acids and Other Precursors

 

Amino Acids can act as neurotransmitters or precursors to other

neurotransmitters such as serotonin. Supplementing with amino acids can ease

symptoms of depression. Amino acids and related compounds used in the treatment

of depression include L-tryptophan, L-tyrosine, L-phenylalanine and 5-HTP. Other

players such as melatonin and SAM-e have also been suggested as effective

antidepressant therapies.

 

L-tyrosine: A precursor to norepinephrine; may be valuable to the

people who do not respond to most antidepressant drugs except

amphetamines.

 

 

L-phenylalanine: Converted to tyrosine (a naturally occuring form of

phenylalanine); D-phenylalanine (which does not normally occur in the

body or in food) is metabolized to phenylethylamine (PEA), an

amphetamine-like compound that occurs normally in the human brain and

has been shown to have mood elevating effects. Studies have shown

that depressed people commonly have low levels of phenylethylamine.

 

 

5-HTP: A close relative to tryptophan and a part of the metabolic

pathway that leads to serotonin production. Studies from around the

world have found that 5-HTP has true antidepressant properties.

 

 

SAM-e: A chemical compound found in all living cells; SAM-e can be

found in more than 40 biomedical processes in the body. Supplementing

the diet with SAM-e in depressed patients can result in increased

levels of serotonin, dopamine and phosphatides, improve binding of

neurotransmitters to receptor sites and increase serotonin and

dopamine activity. The key to SAM-e's effectiveness is its ability to

make brain cells more responsive to neurotransmitters such as

serotonin and dopamine.

 

 

Phytomedicines

 

Phytomedicines such as St. John's wort, kava kava and Ginkgo biloba

may also have compounds that can aid in treating depression.

Phytomedicines can not only serve as weak MAO inhibitors but can also

help alleviate specific symptoms of depression. According to Harold

H. Bloomfield, M.D., author of Healing Anxiety with Herbs (Harper

Collins, 1998), anxiety and depression frequently occur in

tandem. " Irritability, difficulty concentrating, indecision, guilt,

fatigue, sleep and eating disturbances, and chronic aches and pains

are symptoms common to both disorders, " said Bloomfield. In addition,

almost half of the people who suffer repeated panic attacks develop a

major case of depression, which can be attributed to low levels of

serotonin found in individuals who suffer from either anxiety

disorders or depression. With this in mind, herbs such as kava and

ginkgo, which have been proven to help with anxiety, may also help in

treatment of depression.

 

St. John's Wort: Researchers have discovered that this herb works

like an SSRI (a class of antidepressant medication) and a weak MAO

inhibitor. Numerous studies have confirmed that St. John's Wort does

possess antidepressive effects in cases of mild to moderate

depression.

 

Kava kava: Has soothing and stress relieving qualities; studies have

shown its effectiveness in treating anxiety and depression.

 

Ginkgo biloba: Improves blood flow through the brain, accounting for

its use as an aid in mental acuity. Appears to normalize

neurotransmitter levels; a potent antioxidant that protects nervous

system cells and regulates blood platelet stickiness. Studies have

shown that ginkgo biloba may be used to improve mood and may be

useful in conjunction withy standard antidepressants to enhance

effectiveness in patients who are resistant to standard drug

therapies. Another study showed ginkgo's effectiveness in decreasing

sexual dysfunction problems caused by antidepressant drugs.

 

 

Andrew Pacholyk, L.Ac, MSTOM

Peacfulmind.com

Therapies for healing

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