Depression: Alternative Treatments

There are many ways of treating depression today. In this thread I plan to cover various alternative and complimentary methods for treating depression and various types of therapies.

Please note: The purpose of this thread is not to debate if depression is an illness or not. To people who suffer with depression it is very real. Please respect that. It is not a thread to criticize those who have chosen to use either alternative medicine or who have had success with pharmaceuticals or a combination of both. It is a thread to discuss the various methods, as well as pros and cons, from people who have used them and to educate those who suffer from depression or know people who love those who suffer.

Each person is different and what works for one person doesn't always work for another. Some people have great success with ‘alternative methods’, some with ‘talk therapy’, some with a combination of both medications and therapy , some do well with medication and alternative therapies (complimentary) , while some do well on medications. Some don't like the way they feel on medications and prefer alternatives. Some people can’t afford the cost of medications although many pharmaceutical companies offer programs for those who have difficulty paying for medications.

If you are currently on medications, please DO NOT stop taking your medicines abruptly or without your doctor’s knowledge. If you are having suicidal thoughts please call a suicide hotline 1-800-448-3000 in the US or 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433), 1-800-799-4TTY (4889) Deaf Hotline, or go to your nearest emergency room or call an ambulance to take you there.

I highly recommend anyone interested in utilizing alternative medicine to seek out a naturopath, orthomolecular psychiatrist or holistic psychiatrist who has experience in alternative treatments.

Some of the alternative or complimentary methods available include the use of acupuncture, aromatherapy, orthomolecular psychiatry, cognitive therapy, relaxation, mindfulness, and herbal medicine.

The first we will look at is acupuncture, a form of energy medicine.

altmedicine.about.com...

What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a component of traditional Chinese medicine that originated in China over 5,000 years ago. It is based on the belief that living beings have a vital energy, called "qi", that circulates through twelve invisible energy lines known as meridians on the body. Each meridian is associated with a different organ system. An imbalance in the flow of qi throughout a meridian is how disease begins.

Acupuncturists insert needles into specified points along meridian lines to influence the restore balance to the flow of qi. There are over 1,000 acupuncture points on the body.

psychcentral.com...

www.voanews.com...

Researchers at Stanford University in California say acupuncture can be an effective weapon against depression in pregnant women.

Depression can pose serious health risks to mother and baby, according to Rachel Manber, a Stanford University psychiatry professor. "Depression is associated with suffering, can be associated with suicide or wishing to not live." She adds that depression has been linked to babies who are more difficult to console.

Need for safe alternative treatment

Psychological counseling is commonly used to treat depression in pregnancy. But many women avoid taking antidepressants while they're pregnant because of safety concerns. That makes finding an alternative treatment important.

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov...

This study discusses the use of auricular acupuncture (ear acupuncture) in self injurious behavior. Although the treatments were only done once a week and no significant decrease in depressive symptoms were noted after 3 treatments, the mean internalizing anger scores were greatly reduced at 4 weeks post study.

Comments at follow-up included: “I felt as if the stress was relieved”, “I was calmer and didn’t have any urges (to self injure)”, treatments “three times a week would be better”, as well as one person indicated that “it doesn’t help”. No major or minor adverse effects related to the acupuncture treatment were noted.

The next we will examine is Aromatherapy. What is aromatherapy?

www.naha.org...

Aromatherapy can be defined as the art and science of utilizing naturally extracted aromatic essences from plants to balance, harmonize and promote the health of body, mind and spirit. It is an art and science which seeks to explore the physiological, psychological and spiritual realm of the individual's response to aromatic extracts as well as to observe and enhance the individual's innate healing process. As a holistic practice, Aromatherapy is both a preventative approach as well as an active method to employ during acute and chronic stages of illness or 'dis'-ease.

It is a natural, non-invasive modality designed to affect the whole person not just the symptom or disease and to assist the body's natural ability to balance, regulate, heal and maintain itself by the correct use of essential oils.
"Aromatherapy is essentially an interaction between the therapist, client and essential oils, working together to bring forth the healing energy which will help the client regain their sense of well being and vitality." Jade Shutes

www.holisticonline.com...

depression-sypmtoms.com...

This article discusses using essential oils for treating depression. Please note: THESE NEED TO BE DILUTED in a carrier oil and are mostly used on the skin or in the air, NOT taken internally!

Single oils can also be used, and should be investigated so one can learn the different energies of each plant. For depression associated with negativity: Bergamot, Chamomile, Helichrysum, Neroli, or Sweet Orange. For a profound lack of joy, try Rose, Jasmine, Patchouli, or Ylang Ylang. For overthinking and worry, try Frankincense, Lemon, Marjoram, Myrrh or Vetiver. For pessimism, regret and remorse, try Clary Sage, Cypress, Hyssop, or Pine needle. For doubt of one’s capacity to cope with overwhelming situations, try Juniper Berry.

Next we will look at Orthomolecular Psychiatry.

www.artofwellbeing.com...

What is Orthomolecular Psychiatry? The term Orthomolecular was first coined in 1968 by Nobel Laureate Linus Pauling, PhD, in Orthomolecular Psychiatry, an article published in the journal Science. The literal translation of the phrase is Right Molecule and he used it to refer to treating psychiatric disorders by first addressing the nutrient environment of the brain. He believed that an optimum nutrient environment was necessary to promote healthy mental functioning. On the cellular level, there are millions of chemical reactions that occur throughout the brain on a daily basis. He encouraged first optimizing the use of molecules normally present in the human body to correct any deficiencies which might be playing a role in the mental condition. Today, orthomolecular psychiatrists expand on these basic principles, integrating each persons unique behavioral, emotional, interpersonal, spiritual, genetic, nutritional, environmental, and lifestyle factors into the overall treatment plan of the individual. Conventional medications are prescribed when necessary; however, focus is on the assessment and treatment of the underlying cause of the illness, thus minimizing or eliminating the use of traditional medications.
How is this different from the drugs traditionally prescribed by psychiatrists? Conventional medications prescribed in the psychiatric field today work on the receptor level of the brain, modifying uptake and concentration of neurotransmitters in the spaces between neurons. However, they do not address the possible deficiencies at the cellular level that may be a significant factor in mental illness. Orthomolecular treatments work on the biochemical level of the brain, supplying the needed nutrients and cofactors needed for proper cellular reactions and functioning, aiming to address the root of the problem. An orthomolecular approach also differs from traditional psychiatry in that it aims to use natural substances to treat mental disorders, not synthetic derived medications common to the traditional drug industry.
What mental disorders can be treated with an orthomolecular approach? All of them. Whether it is anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, drug abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder, ADHD, or any other mental disorder, it can be treated with an orthomolecular approach. The goal of orthomolecular psychiatry is to address the root of the problem in a holistic manner that can be tailored individually to promote well-being and healing.

www.newmediaexplorer.org...

　

Sometimes a simple deficiency of vitamin D causes depression. 3,000 I.U./day from all sources can alleviate the problem. (2)
3,000 mg/day or more of niacin (vitamin B-3), along with the same quantity of vitamin C, taken in divided doses throughout the day can successfully treat both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. (3)
Vitamins B-6, folate, and B-12 taken together lower elevated homocysteine levels in the elderly while improving mental function. (5)

Other nutritional supplements that have been useful with depression are multivitamins, EFA’s (essential fatty acids like fish oil supplements), antioxidants, minerals, or an amino acid precursor (5 HTP). ** DO NOT TAKE amino acid supplements while you are on a prescription antidepressant!** Speak to your doctor first! Do not abruptly stop prescription meds. Other amino acid precursors include DL-phenylaline, L-tyrosine, and SAMEe.

holisticpsychiatrist.com...
Dr. Linus Pauling, a two-time winner of the Nobel Prize, coined the term “orthomolecular” to express the idea that the right amounts of specific molecules can correct disordered thoughts and emotions. Many psychiatrists and physicians have found to their surprise that when they focus on supporting the patient with nutritional supplements and detoxification, the signs and symptoms of mental illness melt away. Besides being far less likely to create negative side effects compared to prescription medications, nutritional supplements support the entire body’s health and stamina, and help toward preventing future health problems.

Thought Field Therapy or Emotional Freedom Technique is next to be discussed.

www.frot.co.nz...

The theory behind EFT is that all emotional upsets are caused by disturbances in the body's energy system. Correct the disturbance, and the emotional upset dissipates. This doesn't mean that we don't feel any emotion, rather that we have a tool that can neutralise excessive emotion.

You may be familiar with the Chinese concept of meridians, energy pathways in the body. EFT involves gently tapping on the end points of these meridians, while focusing on the problem, to settle energy disturbances in the meridians. As you tap, and the energy settles, the level of emotion will reduce.Depending on the severity of the problem, you may get quick relief after a few minutes of "tapping", or you may need to "tap" on many different aspects of the problem. This is when it's helpful to work with a trained practitioner.

EFT is very easy to learn and apply yourself, for the simpler applications, and can be implemented straight away for immediate change. But, in the hands of a good practitioner, it is also incredibly powerful for deep and complex situations.

www.psychotherapy-center.com...

REMAP is another form of energy medicine involving acupressure enhanced psychotherapy.

The REMAP process utilizes the pathways and treatment points of the entire acupressure/acupuncture system to relieve emotional distress.

It provides a complete map of this acupressure/acupuncture system, brain balancing eye movement techniques and other leading edge interventions. The synergetic effects of these treatments are used to alleviate mental and emotional patterns of distress within the mind-body system.

The goal of this approach is to eliminate trauma, stress and self-limiting patterns while promoting wholeness, inner harmony and higher levels of functioning. By revising our mental and emotional maps we seek to further emotional freedom and to better life's journey.

Why does it work?

www.psychotherapy-center.com...

　
Cognitive Therapy is a ‘talk therapy’.

www.depression-guide.com...

Cognitive therapy teaches you how certain thinking patterns are causing your symptoms - by giving you a distorted picture of what's going on in your life, and making you feel anxious, depressed or angry for no good reason, or provoking you into ill-chosen actions. Cognitive behavior therapy* combines two very effective kinds of psychotherapy - cognitive therapy and behavior therapy.

Meditation and Relaxation and Mindfulness.

Relaxation Therapy includes progressive muscle relaxation, guided imagery, mantra meditation and mindfulness.
What is meditation?

www.meditationsociety.com...

If you go to your Doctor for stress related problems, she or he will likely tell you that perhaps the best treatment for stress is Meditation. They will suggest that you start meditating and this leads you to two problems. The first is where to get appropriate direction in how to meditate. By finding Meditation Station, you've already solved that problem. The other is understanding exactly what Meditation is.

Meditation is a three step process that leads to a state of consciousness that brings serenity, clarity, and bliss. As depicted in the first illustration, our "normal" state of mind is actually quite abnormal. We receive sensory stimuli and react in a completely uncontrolled way (although we tell ourselves we have great control). We bounce from one thought to another and follow with our emotional and physical reactions. The same thought can bring about diametrically opposite reactions at different times. For instance, we may see a dog and then start a thought process that reminisces about a pet dog we once had and loved. Emotionally, we then start feeling all warm and cuddly; physically, we feel very relaxed. Another time, we may see the same dog and fear it may attack us and start thinking paranoid thoughts, get fearful and uptight physically.

www.wildmind.org...

What is mindfulness?

I like Jon Kabat-Zinn’s definition of mindfulness.
“Mindfulness means paying attention in a particular way;
On purpose,
in the present moment, and
nonjudgmentally.”

Recommended reading “The Mindful Way through Depression” by Mark Williams, John Teasdale,Zindel Segal, and Jon Kabat-Zinn.

Herbal therapies.

www.i-newswire.com...

Herbal medicines have been in use for centuries and people all over the world have benefitted from them. Despite the controversy surrounding the use of herbal medicines a large number of people still have faith in these medicines and use them for body complaints and sicknesses.

People who’ve used these herbs and medicines ( www.lyndajoneskent.co.uk... ) find them to be a better option than synthetic medicines that might cause side effects with long term use. These medicines are often recipes that are passed over through generations and are many times, a family secret. Conventional medical practitioners however warn against using these as they are likely to interfere with the patients other medicines. They advise that a certain amount of caution is to be followed. So, are herbal medicines really safe and effective?

Herbal therapies for the treatment of depression include the use of St. Johns wort ( do not use in Bipolar disorder, or mix with antidepressants or use with alcohol), Ginko Biloba, and Ashwagandha.



Infinite Intention.

holisticpsychiatrist.com...

Consciousness in Healing & Improvements in Care
Phenomenal, groundbreaking, magical, and amazing!
Infinite Intention is all of these things, and it’s . . . practical!

THE MIND CAN HEAL
It’s not just a theory. . . You can put it into practice and observe for yourself.
I have developed the Infinite Intention technique over the past four years in my clinical work to help my patients reduce their dependency on pills to heal. Intention as a healing tool has no boundaries with time or space, and has the potential to heal at all levels: physical, energetic, mental, emotional, and spiritual.

Other therapies include exercise, healthy diet, music therapy, art therapy, journelling, humor/laughter and bright light therapy.
　

Bright Light Therapy

www.columbia.edu...

therapy involves exposure to intense levels of light under controlled conditions. The recommended light therapy system consists of a set of fluorescent bulbs installed in a box with a diffusing screen, and set up on a table or desk top at which one can sit comfortably for the treatment session. Treatment consists simply of sitting close to the light box, with lights on and eyes open.

I hope that this thread gives some hope and optimism to someone else reading this who suffers from depression.


More recommended reading:

The Chemistry of Joy by Henry Emmons, MD (practices holistic and general psychiatry)

Natural Highs by Hyla Cass, MD ( assistant clinical professor of Psychiatry at the UCLA School of Medicine)and Patrick Holforf (UK's leading nutritionist and one of the worlds foremost authorities on health).

Dealing With Depression Naturally by Syd Baumel, author of Serotonin and Natural Antidepressants.

Prescription for Natural Healing by Phyllis A. Balch, nutritionist

Prescription for Natural Cures by James F. Balch, MD, one of the best selling health book authors of all time and Mark Stenger, ND, a licensed naturopathic doctor with expertise in nutrition, herbal therapy, vitamin therapy, homeopathy and integrative medicine.

Acupressure

Similar to acupuncture, acupressure utilizes your hands and fingertips rather than needles to hold certain points along the meridians.

Recommended reading: Acupressure for Emotional Healing by Michael Reed Gach, PHD and Beth Ann Henning, Dipl. A.B.T.



Qi-gong and Tai Chi

www.qigonghealing.com...
Qi-gong is a healing and energy medicine from China that involves.
slow gentle movements, breathing techniques and meditation. Tai chi is a type of Qi-gong.

Just to add depression in men can be caused by two things which are linked. The first one is excessive masterbating. If you masterbate more than 2 times per week you are seriously running your body to the ground and can lead to depression.

Frequent masturbation and ejaculation will stimulate the acetylcholine/parasympathetic nervous functions. Excessive masturbation and ejaculation can, and often times will, result in over-production of sex hormones and neurotransmitters such as acetylcholine, dopamine and serotonin. An unnatural abundance of these hormones and neurotransmitters can cause the brain and adrenal glands to perform excessive dopamine-norepinephrine-epinephrine conversion, in turn, making the brain and bodily functions perform at an extreme level. In other words, there is a huge change in body chemistry when one masturbates excessively. This leads into Premature Ejaculation and other frustrating sexual side effects

The other is low testosterone levels. Whether depression leads to low levels of testosterone or the other way around is still unanswered but low levels of testosterone does lead to men being depressed.

So if you are a man and suffer from depression then stop masterbating for 2 months eat fruit and veg lots of carbohydrates to restore your bodies chemistry. Also see your doctor about getting testosterone boost.

reply to post by LAinhabitant


I don't have much to add, other than to say that both St Johns Wort and Valerian Root have helped me in the past. I do not tolerate SSRI's well (side effects) so I do not take any maintenance medications. I've used both of these supplements for short periods and they did the job fairly well. Either can be purchased at Wal Mart for $4.00 a bottle, so they are very affordable. And the Valerian Root helps with insomnia as well.

Aside from that I just wanted to thank you LAinhabitant, for authoring a very informative thread which I am sure will benefit many members of the ATS community. Kudos to you!!!

~Heff

Originally posted by LAinhabitant
If you are currently on medications, please DO NOT stop taking your medicines abruptly or without your doctor’s knowledge.

Good advice.

They are specifically designed to make you lose it if you do.

Then they say "he stopped taking his medication". Which is actually true.

Originally posted by loner007
Just to add depression in men can be caused by two things which are linked. The first one is excessive masterbating. If you masterbate more than 2 times per week you are seriously running your body to the ground and can lead to depression.

Plus, you lose an enormous amount of spiritual energy.

I agree with you here.

reply to post by loner007


Thank you for that interesting info. Seems kind of a bummer-something that feels good can make you feel bad. Do you have a link for that excerpt to an article? Makes me wonder if there's any difference in outcomes between intercourse and masterbating.

reply to post by LAinhabitant

abchomeopathy.com...

there you go

Originally posted by Hefficide
reply to post by LAinhabitant

 

I don't have much to add, other than to say that both St Johns Wort and Valerian Root have helped me in the past. I do not tolerate SSRI's well (side effects) so I do not take any maintenance medications. I've used both of these supplements for short periods and they did the job fairly well. Either can be purchased at Wal Mart for $4.00 a bottle, so they are very affordable. And the Valerian Root helps with insomnia as well.

Aside from that I just wanted to thank you LAinhabitant, for authoring a very informative thread which I am sure will benefit many members of the ATS community. Kudos to you!!!

~Heff

You are most welcome, and thank-you for the compliment and adding informative nuggets to the thread! That's exactly what I was hoping people would do-add their own knowledge, or even research and expand on one idea I mentioned or perhaps add one I didn't. Your post reminded me of another book I wanted to recommend called "A-Z Guide to Drug-Herb-Vitamin Interactions " edited by Alan R. Gaby MD.

I don't understand the masturbation thing, interesting idea though, wouldn't having sex twice a week cause the same problem?

I think 90% of depression can be remedied by improved diet, sleep and exercise... another factor I've found helps is exposure to sunlight. If you work in an office try to get outside for at least an hour during the day, weather permitting take your shirt off. Full spectrum lighting also helps.

How very nice to have alternative treatments for depression in one thread.
Many people may find some of these useful for the upcoming holiday blues, even if they only provide a placebo effect temporarily.

But when people object to trying psychoactive medications, or can't take them for some reason, it's nice to have some other resources available for experimenting.

There are also behavioral changes one can make, such as not giving in to the urge to sleep all the time, forcing oneself to get up and dressed, arranging a social contact, and generally keeping very busy. Although these things sound simple, they can be very difficult for one who is depressed. It takes work and effort.

In other words, creating circumstances that a non-depressed person would be in (think -- light, music, flowers, laughter), then getting your mood to fit in with the surroundings.)

This thread is very timely, as many people suffer from holiday depression.

It's easier said than done, but it can be effective.

Very nice thread, also people needs to know that sometimes when the person never had depression before in their life and suddenly they become depressed, certain drugs used for other problems can induce depression, beta blockers for the treatment of high blood pressure are some of them.

Doctors will not tell you either.

In clinical trials, placebos are just as effective as many anti-depressents. I would not go so far as to say that depression is not a real disorder. I would say that most people do not recieve adequate treatment.
A friend of mine was so depressed because she was hooked on anti-depressents and they weren't working, I gave her a bottle of St. Johns Wart and she has been taking them for over 6 months. She is at her best at the moment. Perhaps it is the placebo effect without the side-effects from the drugs? I would be depressed if I had some of the side effects that come with these pharmaceuticals, wouldn't you?

reply to post by mutantgenius

St. Johns Wort is a natural anti depressant. So how can you say it might have been the placebo effect?

Nice post...I'll add a few other tips.

1) Avoid low-fat diets. These diets are generally low in calories.

2) Avoid calorically restrictive diets. Maintaining a negative caloric for extended time leads to hunger and, often times, lethargy and a lack of will to do anything (calorically demanding).

Among the many conclusions from the study was the confirmation that prolonged semi-starvation produces significant increases in depression (1)

3) Avoid sugar and HFCS. Sugar spikes insulin, which affects countless other hormones, including epinephrine and adrenaline, of which affect mood and cause swings.

4) Get adequate amounts of omega-3 fatty acids (from fish or supplements).

5) Exercise regularly. Exercising causes a rush of hormones that reduce stress and make you feel good.

6) Live as stress free as possible.

I have depression and the best cure for me is exercise. I work out 4-5 days a week and I feel great now. Works better than any meds I have tried that's for sure.

People if you diet and do exercise do not give up foods that make you feel happy, like chocolate.

What is the point?

Stay away from soft drinks like coke, and especially those cheap ones.

Also if you have mild depression do exercise. Exercise makes you feel better about yourself, and it produces natural hormones that lift your spirits.

Also if you do not take meds, and exercise your more normal, than if you do medication, which creates a false feeling of everything is ok. Your better of being normal and bored than taking meds, if you have mild depression.