Natural Management for Depression
Jacob Farin, N.D.
Lou often felt melancholic and sad, not having the motivation to do much. Many times he would sit by the window and watch the rain while sipping on a cup of coffee. He had persistent negative thoughts about his life and felt hopeless in ever meeting new friends. Though he was able to work and complete his tasks, he had little pleasure in doing them. Life for him was barren and without purpose. Lou seemed to have had mild depression.
The causes of depression are numerous. Sometimes they are obvious, such as a specific traumatic event; and sometimes they are hidden, such as environmental pollutants, nutritional deficiencies or hormonal imbalances. One biological correlation that has been observed with depression is a functional deficiency in serotonin, a chemical produced in the brain. This imbalance can create negative moods. Conversely, elevation of serotonin can create positive moods. Furthermore, through a complex neural pathway, negative thinking and emotions can also create chemical imbalances that disrupt serotonin levels. Therefore, with persistent sadness and thoughts of worthlessness, a vicious cycle of chemical imbalances and depression can occur.
The conventional treatment for depression is the use of synthetic antidepressants. Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil and other pharmaceutical antidepressants work by increasing the levels of serotonin in the brain. Though they are useful with severe depression to break the cycle and give patients relief, they can create side effects, such as mental agitation, loss of appetite, sexual dysfunction and intestinal upset.
Natural therapeutics, such as St. John's Wort, Ginkgo, SAM-e, inositol, phenylanaline, tyrosine and 5-hydroxytryptophan, have been shown to be as effective as standard antidepressants for the treatment of mild to moderate depression. Though they work similarly to Prozac by increasing serotonin, they have fewer, if any, side effects. Other natural therapies include correcting nutritional deficiencies. Many patients report greater emotional stability when taking the B-vitamins, vitamin C, zinc and magnesium. Diet and exercise also play an important role in managing depression.
Every patient with depression should be screened for hypothyroidism, which can affect normal brain chemistry. As many as 30% of patients with depression have hypothyroidism. In some instances, the depression clears up when the thyroid dysfunction is corrected.
Counseling should also be considered. One researcher found that behavioral medicine, such as cognitive therapy and hypnosis, alone was more effective in creating long term benefits than Prozac. Behavioral medicine teaches patients to correct faulty assumptions they may have about themselves and helps them obtain a clearer perspective and deal more effectively with life issues.
At the Center, we offer a complete health evaluation with any assessment of depression to uncover possible nutritional deficiencies and hypothyroidism. A careful history also helps to pinpoint precipitating traumatic events, while behavioral medicine allows one to cope with daily life more effectively. Using natural management for depression along with behavioral medicine, the vicious cycle of negative thinking and chemical imbalances in the brain can be broken. The results are increased energy and a greater optimism towards life.
As for Lou, he has recently experienced a new positive awakening of the many possibilities that await him.