-IBIS-1.7.6-
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mental/emotional
Depression
Integrative Therapies
Home Care
This is a condition in which a person is unable to cope with emotional or physical stress. Depression manifests itself in uncontrollable sadness, indifference, and loss of self-esteem. Symptoms include fatigue, inability to maintain daily functioning, loss of appetite, and insomnia. Also present may be overeating, excessive sleeping, constipation, an inability to concentrate, and a decreased sex drive.
Depression can have many causes, and it is important to identify them. These may include illness, genetic predisposition, stress, drug and alcohol abuse, and reactions to drugs such as steroids, digitalis, oral contraceptives, high blood pressure medication, appetite suppressants, or aspirin. Other causes include hypoglycemia, hormonal imbalances, nutritional deficiencies, and environmental factors, particularly overexposure to solvents such as those used in painting and carpentry or exposure to heavy metals.
If symptoms of depression last longer than a week, threaten your day-to-day functioning, or if the depression brings on thoughts of suicide, consult your physician. Seek professional help for drug or alcohol problems.
In cases when depression is associated with extreme fatigue, constipation, and cold extremities, low thyroid hormone should be ruled out. For more information about this, you may want to refer to the "Hypothyroidism" article.
Normal bowel function is important in maintaining good mental health. If constipation is present, the buildup of waste products in the body can make depression symptoms worse. Add fiber to your diet and increase the intake of fluids to 8 glasses per day. For more information about this, refer to the article on constipation.
THE FOLLOWING SUPPLEMENTS ARE USED FOR CONSTIPATION AND CAN BE TAKEN UNTIL SYMPTOMS IMPROVE:
1. B-vitamin complex 100 milligrams 2 times a day.
2. Vitamin C 1,000 milligrams 3 times a day.
3. Folic Acid 400 micrograms per day.
4. Magnesium 500 milligrams daily.
5. Tyrosine, an amino acid 2,000 milligrams 2 to 3 times a day. Used when depression is associated with excessive sleeping and low energy.
THE PROPER DIET FOR DEPRESSION WILL INCLUDE:
1. Eliminating food allergies. Certain foods seem to be more likely to aggravate depression. Removing these foods from the diet is a good way to determine if one or several of them are responsible for the problem. The main problem foods are dairy products (including milk, cheese, ice cream), eggs, wheat, corn, and sugar.
After eliminating all of those foods from the diet, and the symptoms have gone away, one food at a time can be reintroduced to see if the symptoms reoccur. A new food would be introduced each week. If you need more information, refer to the article on Food sensitivities.
2. Caffeine can bring on anxiety, nervousness, and irritability as well as depression. Decrease or eliminate consumption of caffeine, found mostly in coffee, black tea, chocolate, and some over-the-counter medications.
3. As much as possible, avoid sugar foods such as candy, cake, cookies, and refined carbohydrates such as white flour products.
4. Be sure to get enough high-quality protein. Replace red meat with fish and chicken as much as possible, and include beans, nuts, and seeds in your diet.
NOW, ABOUT THE HERBS USED FOR DEPRESSION:
1. St. John's Wort tincture, which is a liquid herbal extract 2 teaspoons, 3 times per day or 2 capsules, 3 times a day.
2. Kava-Kava: 400-600 milligrams twice a day
3. Lemon Balm leaves 1 to 2 cups of the tea per day for 1 to 2 weeks. To make the tea, 1 teaspoon of the dried herb per cup of boiling water is used.
4. Cayenne Pepper 1/4 of a teaspoon 3 times a day. It can be put into a gelatin capsule for easier swallowing.
HOMEOPATHY:
From the following homeopathic remedies, choose the one that best matches your symptoms. Dissolve 3 pellets under your tongue.
Ignatia amara 12C: For depression associated with grief accompanied by sighing. Take 2 times a day.
Kali phos. 12C: For depression due to mental strain where it is hard to concentrate. Take once per day.
Natrum mur. 12c: For disappointment due to romance; also for symptoms of increased thirst, weight loss, and obsessing over problems. If the condition is aggravated by being consoled or by listening to music. Take 2 times a day.
Arsenicum album 12c: If the condition is improved by being with people. If the person feels anxious or has loss of hope and disgust with life. Take 2 times a day.
Sepia 12C: For depression during menstruation or after childbirth. Take once per day.
Note: A wide range of homeopathic medicines can be helpful for individuals with depression. Consultation with a health care professional trained in homeopathic prescribing will usually be the best way to select the correct medicine.
AS A PHYSICAL THERAPY MEASURE:
Exercise is of tremendous benefit in improving one's mental health. It is important to exercise regularly. At least 30 minutes 3 times per week should be engaged in physical exercise that will get the heart working vigorously. Brisk walking, aerobics, swimming, tennis, and raquetball are all excellent forms of exercise.
Clinic
Footnotes
Adams PW, Wynn V, Rose DP, et al. Effect of pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B6) upon depression associated with oral contraception. Lancet 1973;I:897-904.
Abstract: 22 depressed women were suspected of having B6 deficiency depression due to BCP. 1/2 of them took a placebo for 2 months and the other 1/2 20mg B6 2x/day. They then switched. 11 of the women were found to have decreased serum B12 levels in the blood. Every one of these women responded favorably when on the B6 while none of the women who were not deficient responded.
BarShalom R, Soileau J. (eds.) Natural Health Hotline. Beaverton, OR: Integrative Medical Arts, 1991-1999.
Bell IR, Markley EJ, King DS, Asher S, Marby D, Kayne H, Greenwald M, Ogar DA, Margen S. Polysymptomatic syndromes and autonomic reactivity to nonfood stressors in individuals with self-reported adverse food reactions. J Am Coll Nutr. 1993 Jun;12(3):227-238.
Brown M, Gibney M, Husband PR, Radcliffe M. Food allergy in polysymptomatic patients. Practitioner 1981;225:1651-1654.
Buist. The therapeutic predictability of tryptophan and tyrosine in the treatment of depression. Int Clin Nutr. 1983;Rev. 3:1.
Abstract: 2 groups of depressed patients were studied. Group A, which had low urinary levels of the norepinephrine metabolite, MHPG, failed to respond to amitryptyline (Elavil), which tends to raise norepinephrine levels more than serotonin. Rather they responded to imiprimine (tofranil), which tends to raise the level of serotonin. Group B, which had high levels of MHPG, responded more to amitryptylin (Elavil) which tends to raise levels of norepinephrine. They tended to not respond to tofranil.
Carney MWP. Psychiatric aspects of folate deficiency. Folic Acid, in: Neurology, Psychiatry and Internal Medicine. Botez, Reynolds, eds., New York: Raven Press, 1979.
Abstract: 13 of 36 patients with endogenous depression or schizophrenia were found to have low serum folate levels. They were treated with folic acid along with standard treatment. 12 of the 13 subjects treated with the folate made a full social recovery (either with or without residual symptoms vs. 16/23 controls. Of 18 patients with endogenous depression who were hospitalized 10 or more days, the 10 folate treated patients average 23.3 days while the 8 controls averaged 32.9 days, a significant difference.
Christensen L, Somers S. Comparison of nutrient intake among depressed and nondepressed individuals. Int J Eat Disord. 1996 Jul;20(1):105-109.
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: The study investigated the nutrient intake of depressed and nondepressed subjects. METHOD: Twenty-nine depressed subjects and a matched group of nondepressed subjects completed a 3-day food record. RESULTS: Results revealed that depressed and nondepressed groups consume similar amounts of all nutrients except protein and carbohydrates. Nondepressed subjects consume more protein and depressed subjects consume more carbohydrates. The increase in carbohydrate consumption comes primarily from an increase in sucrose consumption. DISCUSSION: The increased carbohydrate consumption is consistent with the carbohydrate cravings characteristic of the depressed and may relate to the development or maintenance of depression.
Christensen L, Bourgeois A, Cockroft R. Dietary alteration of somatic symptoms and regional brain electrical activity. Biol Psychiatry. 1991 Apr 1;29(7):679-682.
Christensen L. Psychological distress and diet-effects of sucrose and caffeine. J Applied Nutr 1988;40:44-50.
Di Palma C, Urani R, Agricola R, et al. Is methylfolate effective in relieving major depression in chronic alcoholics? A hypothesis of treatment. Curr Ther Res 1994;55:559-567.
Ellis FR, Nasser S. A pilot study of vitamin B12 in the treatment of tiredness. Br J Nutr. 1973;30:277-283.
Fava M, Rosenbaum JF, Birnbaum R, et al. The thyrotropin-releasing hormone as a predictor of response to treatment in depressed outpatients. Acta Psychiatr Scand 1992;86:42-45.
Gelenberg AJ, Wojcik JD, Growdon JH, et al. Tyrosine for the treatment of depression. Am J Psychiatr 1980;137:622-623.
Gettis A. Food sensitivities and psychological disturbance: a review. Nutr Health 1989;6:135-146.
Gibson, Gelenberg. Tyrosine for the treatment of depression. Adv. Biol. Psychiat. 1983;10: 148-59.
Abstract: 3/5 patients had at least a 50% reduction of symptoms compared to 1/4 on the placebo. The reduction in depression was positively correlated with the increases in fasting plasma tyrosine.
Gilliland K, Bullock W. Caffeine: a potential drug of abuse. Adv Alcohol Subst Abuse 1983-84;3:53-73.
Greden JF, Fontaine P, Lubetsky M, Chamberlin K. Anxiety and depression associated with caffeinism among psychiatric inpatients. Am J Psychiatry 1978;135:963-966.
Godfry, PSA, et al. Enhancement of recovery from psychiatric illness by methylfolate. Lancet, 336:392-95, 1990.
Abstract: 24/76 pts with major depression referred as out patients or candidates for psychiatric hospitalization had borderline or definite folate deficiency according to red-cell folate levels. These 24 people who were low in folate and were proven to have normal B12 levels, randomly received placebo or 15mg folate in addition to standard psychotropic drugs. After 3 and 6 months there were significant improvements noted in the folate supplemented group compared to the placebo group.
Gunn ADG. Vitamin B6 and the premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Int J Vitam Nutr Res 1985;(Suppl 27):213-224. (Review)
King DS. Can allergic exposure provoke psychological symptoms? A double-blind test. Biol Psychiatry. 1981 Jan;16(1):3-19.
Abstract: 30 patients with depression, confusion, difficulty concentrating or other psychological symptoms noted significantly grater cognitive emotional symptoms when tested with sub-lingual antigens (foods and chemicals) compared to placebos (p=0.0001). There was also found to be the most severe reactions to the real antigens than compared to the placebo. There was also a greater variability of heart rate change was found for allergens than for placebos (p=0.008).
King DS. Psychological and behavioral effects of food and chemical exposure in sensitive individuals. Nutr Health. 1984;3(3):137-151. (Review)
Kishimoto H, Hama Y. The level and diurnal rhythm of plasma tryptophan and tyrosine in manic-depressive patients. Yokohama Med Bull 1976;27:89-97.
Kleijnen J, Riet GT, Knipschild P. Vitamin B6 in the treatment of the premenstrual syndrome. A review. Brit J Obstet Gynaecol 1990;97:847-852.
Lindenbaum J, Healton EB, Savage DG, et al. Neuropsychiatric disorders caused by cobalamin deficiency in the absence of anemia or macrocytosis. N Engl J Med 1988;318:1720-1728.
Martinsen EW. Benefits of exercise for the treatment of depression. Sports Med 1990;9:380-389. (Review)
Abstract: In general, depressed patients are physically sedentary. They have reduced physical work capacity but normal pulmonary function compared with the general population. This indicates that the reduced fitness level is caused by physical inactivity and is a strong argument for integrating physical fitness training into comprehensive treatment programmes for depression. Exercise is associated with an antidepressive effect in patients with mild to moderate forms of nonbipolar depressive disorders. An increase in aerobic fitness does not seem to be essential for the antidepressive effect, because similar results are obtained with nonaerobic forms of exercise. More than half of the patients continue with regular exercise 1 year after termination of the training programmes. Patients who continue to exercise tend to have lower depression scores than the sedentary ones. Patients appreciate physical exercise, and rank exercise to be the most important element in comprehensive treatment programmes. Exercise seems to be a promising new approach in the treatment of nonbipolar depressive disorders of mild to moderate severity.
Martinsen EW, Medhus A, Sandivik L. Effects of aerobic exercise on depression: a controlled study. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed). 1985 Jul 13;291(6488):109.
Martinsen EW. Physical activity and depression: clinical experience. Acta Psychiatr Scand Suppl. 1994;377:23-27. (Review)
Moller SE. Tryptophan and tyrosine availability and oral contraceptives. Lancet 1979;ii:472. (Letter)
Muldner VH, Zoller M. Antidepressive wirkung eines auf den. Lancet, 1990;336:392-395.
Rippere V. Some varieties of food intolerance in psychiatric patients: an overview. Nutr Health, 1984; 3(3):125-36.
Abstract: In this review it is stated that foods may cause many mental and behavioral symptoms by a variety of different mechanisms including cerebral allergy, food addictions, hypoglycemias, hyperinsulin reactions, caffeinism, hypersensitivity to chemical food additives, reactions to vasoactive amines in foods and reactions to neuropeptides formed from foods.
Rose DP, Cramp DG. Reduction of plasma tyrosine by oral contraceptives and oestrogens: a possible consequence of tyrosine aminotransferase induction. Clin Chem Acta 1970;29:49-53.
Russ CS, Hendricks TA, Chrisley BM, et al. Vitamin B-6 status of depressed and obsessive-compulsive patients. Nutr Rep Internat 1983;27:867-873.
Abstract: 7 depressed patients were studied for plasma pyridoxal phosphate levels. It was found that 4 of 7 depressed patients were B6 deficient, and none of the 7 controlled patients were. Using an enzyme stimulation test (EGOT), all of the depressed patients were deficient in B6 and none of the controls were.