Natural Ways to Treat Depression

Depression has become one of the prevalent problems in the world today and is becoming a major killer as well. 15% of depressed people will commit suicide. Depressive disorders affect approximately 9.5% of the U.S. population age 18 and older

In the World Health Organization report on mental illness, it was stated that depression will be the second largest killer after heart disease by 2020.  Studies show depression is a contributory factor to fatal coronary disease.  Other studies are increasingly linking more illnesses to depression, including: osteoporosis, diabetes, heart disease, some forms of cancer, eye disease and back pain and the list of illnesses grows daily. 

In a recent study, antidepressants worked for only 30% of the depressed population.  Standard antidepressants such as Prozac, Paxil and Zoloft, have recently been revealed to have serious risks, and are linked to suicide, violence, psychosis, abnormal bleeding, and brain tumors. 

Holistic practitioners see depression as a result of underlying physical, emotional, and spiritual imbalance.  Following are safe and natural alternatives to medication and traditional psychological counseling.

Emotional Freedom Technique- An emotional meridian tapping technique which can be done with or without a practitioner.  The technique releases negative emotional energy and releasing obsessive thoughts and emotions.  Often a skilled practitioner can intuit underlying issues and draw out deeper issues to release.  Discussion of trauma is virtually painless as reliving the past in gruesome detail is not necessary.

Flower Essences- Helpful in calming the nervous system, there are many flower essences and blends which specifically help trauma support, forgiveness, or letting go of old trauma.

Vitamins- Vitamin B6 is necessary to produce serotonin.  B12 provides energy.  Vitamin C feeds the adrenal glands.  All of these are needed to help our bodies deal with stress.  Without adequate nutrition, depression is likely to set in.

Spiritual Counseling- Encouraging prayer and greater connection to God has been shown to help heal many illnesses, including depression.  Discussion of life’s issues with a spiritual perspective can be healing for many people.

Color Light Therapy-Color is actually visible energy on the electromagnetic spectrum.  Each color has its own specific wavelength of energy just as do X-rays, microwaves, radio waves, etc.  Useful in some cases, shades of yellow light can be helpful in energetically rebalancing the body to heal depression.

Acupuncture, Acupressure, Reflexology & Electro-Acupuncture- All based on stimulating meridian points by either pressure, needles, electrical stimulation or massage.  There are several meridian points for depression.  Using acupressure, two easy to access points are GB 20: Wind Pond.  These two points are found in the hollows between the two large neck muscles, just below the base of the skull. Pressing them will help relieve depression, neck tension, headache, and irritability.

Aromatherapy- Because the limbic system is directly connected to those parts of the brain that control heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, memory, stress levels, and hormone balance, essential oils can have some very profound physiological and psychological effects.  Also present in the limbic system of the brain is a gland called the amygdala.  In 1989 it was discovered that the amygdala plays a major role in the storing and releasing of emotional trauma.  The only way to stimulate this gland is with the sense of smell.  So now, with Aromatherapy and essential oils, we are able access the amygdala to release emotional trauma. 

While any of these methods is helpful, often the combination of them simultaneously can produce nearly miraculous results.  Depression is a serious illness.  If you or a loved one is suffering, please seek professional help.

 Lezlie Cebulski, ND, EFT-ADV

_{Lezlie is an Alternative Medicine & Holistic Health Board certified, Doctor of Naturopathy, Emotional Freedom Technique practitioner, & Christian spiritual counselor who uses color light therapy, flower essences, aromatherapy, vitamin therapy, lab tests, electro-acupuncture and applied kinesiology.  She has a Doctorate in Naturopathy and a B.A. in Psychology.  Call 734-787-0626 or visit www.holistic-healing-wellness.com}