Natural Treatment Options for
Depression
by Kevin
Doherty
zone3
Depression is a serious ailment that 19 million Americans are currently
experiencing. Many people have turned to antidepressants to treat their
symptoms. While there are certainly many success stories regarding these
medications, many people have not found them to be helpful. This is
because the medication had no apparent effect, made the person emotionally
flat, or caused various side effects that did not make it worth pursuing
any further. Unfortunately, there are probably millions of Americans who
feel enslaved by their depression, convinced there is no way out.
People have suffered from depression throughout human history. Before
we had pharmaceutical companies offering various drugs to help us cope,
our ancestors used natural methods such as plants, food, meditation, and
yoga to cure their mental imbalances. This was done for many centuries,
which attests to the effectiveness of natural methods. Below is an
overview of a few natural treatment options for depression that can offer
hope to those who are caught in its web.
Acupuncture: Practiced for over 2,500 years in various Asian cultures,
acupuncture has made its way West where it is soaring in popularity. This
safe and powerful system has been shown to boost serotonin levels and
release endorphins. 5 Element acupuncture offers profound support for
healing depression. I recommend getting one treatment a week for several
weeks.
Chinese Herbs: There are a variety of herbal formulas that can have a
positive effect on the mind. Many of these formulas tonify one’s Qi, or
vital energy, to create more vitality and spirit.
Meditation: I recommend using mindfulness meditation, which has been
practiced for thousands of years, on a daily basis for several weeks. This
practice cuts through the judging mind and creates space from depression.
If you need help with starting a practice, I recommend my guided CD,
Meditation: Mindfulness Practice for Beginners. Go to
http://www.havinghealthnow.com/meditationcd.html
Yoga: Another ancient practice that is a virtual panacea for all
stress related complaints. Yoga can have a profound impact on one’s state
of mind.
Exercise: Get 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week of cardiovascular
exercise. This has been proven to boost serotonin and norepinephrine
levels.
Eat well: Give up refined sugar and caffeine, drink a lot of water,
and eat mostly whole foods such as fish, fruits and vegetables.
Supplement your diet: Take 3,000 mg of fish oil a day and consider
taking 150mg of 5HTP a day. Fish oil contains essential fatty acids which
are usually deficient in depressed people. 5HTP is a natural precursor to
serotonin and can have many of the same benefits as antidepressants
without the side effects. Do not combine 5 HTP with antidepressants.
Indeed, there are numerous alternative strategies for treating
depression that are safe, balanced, and have stood the test of time. These
therapies should only enhance your overall health and wellbeing without
creating unwanted side effects that weaken certain systems of the body. If
you follow even one or two of these guidelines for a period of 2 months,
you will most likely feel lighter, more optimistic, and more in control of
your life. Good luck!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kevin Doherty, L.Ac., MS is a licensed acupuncturist in private
practice in Superior, Colorado and the staff acupuncturist at Exempla
hospital in Lafayette, Colorado. Kevin has helped many of his patients get
off of antidepressants using the therapies mentioned in this article. To
learn more about Kevin, please visit his website at http://www.havinghealthnow.com/
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