NATURAL TREATMENTS FOR
DEPRESSION
Depression has
been called the common cold of psychiatric illnesses. About 13-20% of the population has a touch of
it at any given time. However, only 2-3.5%
of us suffer major depression. Women get
depressed more than men, but bipolar disorder affects the sexes equally. How do you know that you’re depressed? Syd Baumel in his book “Dealing With
Depression Naturally” comments, “Passive negativity – being stuck – is the
hallmark of depression, the heart is a barren chamber, devoid of positive
feelings and impulses. It may even feel
like you’ve lost your soul. In psychotic
major depression, the negativity becomes delusional. The rich believe they’re bankrupt; the healthy
that they’re dying (or dead), the virtuous that they’re guilty of unspeakable
sins, even that they’re the Devil himself.
Physically, the negativity of depression manifests itself in tiredness
and fatigue, in an increased sensitivity to body aches and pains, and in a
neuropsychological dulling of the mind’s edges (enough to make some elderly
persons seem senile). The severely or
psychotically depressed may think, say and do everything in extreme slow
motion, and may even be catatonically “paralyzed.” People who have major depression may sleep too
much or suffer from insomnia. They may
overeat or starve themselves. They feel
hopeless, sad, and in despair. I suffer
from depression and I cannot get life insurance because of it. Major insurance companies consider depressed
persons to be too much of a risk of suicide.
Should I Take Antidepressants?
There are many
antidepressants on the market that are prescribed for depression – Effexor,
Zoloft, Paxil, Prozac, Wellbutrin, Elavil, Sinequin, etc.. However, the side effects may include weight
gain, loss of libido, dry mouth, memory impairment, and many other unpleasant
effects. If you suffer from major
depression your mental health professional will probably insist on you taking
antidepressants. I suffer from bipolar
disorder so I have to take medication for depression or I would not be able to
function. The frustration I have with
medication though is that for the first few weeks the antidepressants seem to
lift me up and then, as my body becomes accustomed to the drugs, I find that
the therapeutic effects are diminished.
What I’m going to talk about in this article are natural supplements
that can brighten a dark mood and can be taken while you are taking
antidepressant medications. If you
suffer from mild to moderate depression you may be able to use herbs and
supplements exclusively and forgo the drug treatments all together. You have to decide if your depression is
severe enough to put up with the side effects of the antidepressant drugs or
not. Certainly, if you are suicidal you should seek counselling, a help line,
or professional help.
Mood Sabilizing and Enhacing
Supplements
Lecithin and Bipolar Illness
It recommends taking
Lecithin (Phosphatidyl Choline) to help bipolar depression. The site comments, “A fairly convincing
number of studies suggest that this substance has significant effects on the
manic-depressive, with some claiming that it stabilizes moods while others
suggesting that it serves as a mood depressant.
It is probable that it actually as both actions. For that reason, although lecithin may be
useful in helping to stabilize moods, it should probably be used cautiously,
with the patient starting at a fairly low dosage (perhaps 2 capsules of a 35%
concentration of the substance per day) and then
Increasing gradually until moods are stabilized or mild
depression is encountered. … The recommended amount of this substance for this
use seems to vary widely – some people suggest that relatively small amounts
(perhaps 3-12 capsules per day) can be quite effective, while others suggest
that only much greater amounts tend to be fully effective … . Even if lecithin is only particularly
successful in reducing mood swings, however, this may still be helpful for
those who want to reduce their dosages of prescription medications (for
instance, because of side effects at higher amounts) or for those who
suffer less mood swings. Most writers seem to recommend splitting the
doses of lecithin over the course of the day (2-3 times per day), or taking the
full dosage at night. With bipolar
illness eliminating the manic phase is important in controlling the depressive
phase, because what goes up must come down.
Phenylalanine for Depression
In “Dealing With
Depression Naturally” Syd Baumel reports, ‘L-phenylalanine’s antidepressant
effect first became apparent in 1966 when intravenous infusions induced
euphoria in patients with Parkinson’s disease.
Nearly 20 years later, low doses of LPA were added to the regimen of 155
depressed patients unresponsive to an antidepressant drug. Sixty-nine recovered; 15% improved. That same year, at a major Chicago medical center, large doses of LPA
were administered to 40 mostly ‘refractory’ (treatment resistant)
depressives. Eleven recovered; 20
improved. Shortly thereafter, a
psychiatrist reported that half of the depressed bipolar patients he treated
with a low dose of LPA recovered rapidly.’
You may be a candidate for phenylalanine supplementation if you are
suffering from severe mental or physical stress, are hypothyroid, have
Parkinson’s disease, have chronic pain, or are addicted to stimulants.
L-Trpytophan
Depression is
thought to result from a shortage of serotonin and taking L-Tryptophan can
enhance antidepressant medication. Syd
Baumel comments, ‘Depressed persons tend to have low blood levels of
tryptophan, the amino acid from which serotonin is made, and low levels of
tryptophan relative to other amino acids that compete with it for passage
across the blood-brain barrier. More
importantly, abundant laboratory research suggests there is a deficiency of
serotonin or serotonin activity in the brains of most depressed (and bipolar)
persons, especially those who are (or were) violently suicidal … In about six
out of seven clinical trials, tryptophan has performed equally well with
antidepressant drugs against major depression.
I take 3 grams of L-Tryptophan at night to help me sleep and to augment
my antidepressant medication. My doctor
gives it to me on prescription.
Fish Oil
On the Internet
site:
http://www.omega-3.us/omega-3/bipolar-omega-3-fish-oil-research.html
it points out that, ‘All valid studies show that people who get less fish oil
have significantly more depression and bipolar and those who get more fish oil
have less mental disorders. Here are a
few examples: Depression is 60 times higher in New Zealand, where the average
fish consumption is 40 pounds a year compared to Japan, where it’s 150 pounds a
year … An Israeli study of 20 patients with major depression found fish oil
resulted in ‘highly significant benefits’ by week three compared to a placebo.’ I have found that taking fish oil has helped
me not to crash as much. Some people recommend
taking pharmaceutical grade fish oil.
You would have to get that from a pharmacy or an Internet company.
Conclusion
For mild to
moderate depression it is worth trying things like St. John’s Wort or SAMe. However, for severe depression a combination
of medication and supplements are needed.
If anxiety is a problem with the depression the B vitamin Inositol will
help in the dosage of 500 mgs. up to 4,000 mgs. . I find that 500 mgs. is plenty for me and it
is just as good as an Ativan under the tongue.
Some people who are stressed out and depressed find that taking a high
potency B 50 complex helps them deal with stress. Depression can be endogenous or related to
stressful circumstances. If it is coming
from a physical illness like bipolar depression then supplements and
psychotropic drugs are needed. However, if the depression is stemming from
events around you like grief from a loss you may need specialized grief
counselling. Whatever the cause of
depression other self-help things that are important are regular exercise, a
healthy diet, light therapy, recreation, and adequate rest. If your depression is threatening your life,
then please reach out for professional help.
Source of Help in a Suicidal
Crisis
