Depression and natural therapies

Depression, for the purposes of this article, refers to the illness known as clinical depression, major depression or unipolar depression. This kind of depression is a recognised clinical condition and is becoming a common illness in developed countries, with up to 20% of the population affected by this illness at some stage of their lives. The medical profession and drug companies have responded with a vast arsenal of antidepressant medications, which have been used effectively since the 1960s. In addition to these medications, there is also an array of natural therapies that may help the sufferer of depression to some extent. While natural therapies have not been shown to be as effective as antidepressants, they nevertheless may have a contribution to make. The role of natural therapies is, first, to help a patient cope with depression while waiting for an antidepressant to start working. Antidepressants can take anything from one week to five weeks to take effect, and life can be very difficult for the patient in the meantime. Secondly, natural therapies may be useful as a supplement to orthodox treatments.

Symptoms
Clinical depression presents a range of symptoms that can be quite incapacitating. It is also life-threatening because of the possibility of suicide. The main symptoms are as follows:


 * a severe sense of gloom and despair


 * low energy -- patients feel as though they are "made of lead"


 * inability to concentrate


 * sleep disturbance


 * loss of appetite


 * loss of sex drive, which tends to go hand in hand with loss of energy.

These symptoms can all be relieved permanently by antidepressants, but natural therapies may help along the way.

Amino Acids
The natural therapies that most closely resemble antidepressants in their action are certain amino acids. Tryptophan (L-tryptophan) is the precursor of the neurotransmitter serotonin, and thus has an affect that is similar to those antidepressants that replenish the supply of serotonin in the brain cells. It has not been shown to be as effective as antidepressants, but may appeal to patients who are prejudiced against antidepressants or dislike the side-effects. Effective dosage range is 4-6 grams daily. It can take trytophan ten days to start working. It can also improve sleep because the brain creates melatonin from serotonin, and melatonin tells the brain to switch off and go to sleep. Too much tryptophan causes dizziness. Normally, it should not be combined with antidepressants; this can cause serotonin syndrome, which can cause death in extreme cases (although some doctors may combine tryptophan with antidepressants in rare cases where a patient does not respond to antidepressants alone).

Another amino acid that can help with depression is tyrosine (L-tyrosine), which is the precursor of adrenaline, noradrenaline and dopamine. By replenishing these important neurotransmitters, tyrosine can lift the mood of a depressed patient, especially patients who have had a "breakdown" through overwork or are burned out for the same reason (a condition which comes about because of a depletion of the adrenal system). Like tryptophan, tyrosine takes approximately ten days to start working. The effective dosage range is 1-2 grams daily. Excess use causes insomnia. Tyrosine can be combined with tryptophan but not antidepressants.

S-adenosyl methionine (SAMe) has also been shown in clinical studies to fight depression,  among other ailments. SAMe can be purchased over-the-counter, usually in 200mg enteric-coated tablets at a suggested dosage of 400mg per day.

B-Vitamins
It has been shown that some people with depression have an impaired folate metabolism and that taking a daily B-vitamin complex tablet can help with depression.

Bach Flower Remedies
These remedies are created from various flowers and plants. They are completely safe and it is impossible to take an overdose (although you might get tipsy from the brandy that is used as a preservative). There are four remedies that help specifically with depression. Normal dosage is four drops 4x daily.

Gentian is for very mild depression or pessimism, although it can help with more serious depression to some extent.

Gorse is for more severe depression.

Sweet Chestnut is for truly severe depression -- "the dark night of the soul".

Mustard is for depression that comes from within and is not related to external circumstances.

Australian Bush Flower Essences
These essences are similar to Bach Remedies and are mostly made from Australian plants and flowers. Normal dosage is seven drops 2x daily, preferably first thing in the morning and last thing at night.

Waratah is the essence that is specifically intended to help with depression.

Sunshine Wattle helps with pessimism and defeatism, especially after a long run of bad luck.

Tissue Salts
Developed by the biochemist Dr. William Schuessler, tissue salts are twelve alkaline salts used in homoeopathic strengths. Kali. Phos. (potassium phosphate) is the tissue salt that can bring some short-term relief to depressed patients. Normal dosage is four tablets daily, but it can be taken in much higher quantities (one tablet every half hour) in a crisis. It is not possible to take an overdose of Tissue Salts (you would probably choke on the tablets before reaching a toxic level).

Acupuncture
This treatment is now widely used in western countries. It is based on the Chinese system in which certain points on the body are considered to be connected to various organs. Needles are inserted into the points to bring about "balance" in the system. Acupuncture can bring some short-term relief to depression, but is expensive compared to some of the other therapies.

Coffee
Coffee has been shown that coffee drinkers have a lower incidence of suicide than the rest of the population. Caffeine is a stimulant which, in moderate amounts, helps with fatigue associated with depression. Coffee has been shown to contain small quantities of monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), which are antidepressants.

Hypericum (St John's Wort)
Hypericum is an herb that is offered as an alternative to antidepressants by some naturopaths. Some research and experience in Germany has shown that Hypericum can help with mild depression, but not necessarily clinical depression. Hypercicum treatment for depression is approved by and paid for by the German government. St. John's Wort can be combined with amino acids but not antidepressants. Recent research has shown that Hypericum can combine adversely with a range of medications.

Inositol
Inositol has been shown through various studies to be an effective treatment for depression, Bipolor Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and panic attacks. The therapeutic dosage of inositol seems to be between 6-20 g/day, with 12-18 g/day being more likely an effective dosage.

Kanna
Kanna (Sceletium tortuosum) is a succulent herb commonly found in South Africa. In doses as low as 50 mg, users have reported improvements in mood, decreased anxiety, relaxation and a sense of well-being. The alkaloids contained in S. tortuosum believed to possess psychoactivity include: mesembrine, mesembrenone, mesembrenol and tortuosamine.

Mesembrine is a major alkaloid present in Sceletium tortuosum, which has been shown to be a potent serotonin reuptake inhibitor (more so than imipramine), and a PDE4-inhibitor (less so than rolipram).

Sceletium tortuosum contains about 1-1.5% total alkaloids. There is about 0.3% mesembrine in the leaves and 0.86% in the stems of the plant.

Reiki
Reiki is a a form of spiritual practice that originated in Japan in the early twentieth century. It is a form of "energy healing" in which the practitioners claim to channel "healing energy" into patients through their hands. Reiki is used primarily for physical problems; Reiki practitioners claim that it can also treat deep emotional problems, but without providing any evidence. In the case of depression, proponents claim Reiki can provide some temporary relief, which may be due to the close contact with another person.

Meditation
Meditation has been proved to be of benefit in a number of ways, including lowering blood pressure and stress levels. Using meditation for clinical depression, however, is fraught with danger, because one of the main symptoms of depression is the inability to concentrate. If a severely depressed person tries to meditate, there is a real danger that they will make themselves worse because of their inability to concentrate. The most helpful and gentle form of meditation for a clinically depressed person may be the repetition -- silently or out aloud -- of a mantra, providing it is not overdone.

Omega-3 fatty acids
Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to help many people with depression, the theory being that Omega-3 helps nourish brain cells that release serotonin into the brain. Omega-3 fatty acids are present, for example, in cold-water fish such as salmon, in flax seed, in fish oil capsules and in flax seed capsules.

Visible light therapy
Individuals with Seasonal Affective Disorder (seasonal depression, seasonal bipolar) are often helped with light therapy. A special lamp or set of lamps is used, which do not emit ultraviolet light, so as not to damage the eyes. The treatment is usually done between the hours of 6-8 a.m. for at least an hour. Some psychiatrists prescribe "light boxes" for treatment of Seasonal Affective Disorder.