Best & Effective Alternative Treatments For Depression

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There is ever growing evidence in the scientific community that alternative and complementary therapies can help people suffering from depression. Depression is a medical illness that causes constant feeling of sadness and anxiety that keeps you from functioning normally; you need to take it seriously and consult a certified doctor for treatment.

While complementary treatments mean those practices which can be done with conventional medication, alternative treatments mean those practices which can be done as a replacement of conventional medication and not along with the same. Here, we are listing some examples of both the treatments. Confirm with your doctor, before undertaking any new treatment.

5 Alternative Treatments For Depression

Homeopathic Treatment

In Homeopathy, mother tinctures are given to the patient after hearing her history and assessing her physical, mental and emotional state. There are several drugs for depression, given to the patient according to her personality type.Some frequently used drugs include Arsenicum Album, Aurum Metallicum, Calcium Carbonicum, Kali Phosphoricum, Natrium Carbonicum, etc. Since there are several drugs for addressing depression, as per the personality type, it is best to take these drugs under a qualified and registered practitioner’s supervision.

St. John’s Wort

St. John’s Wort is a very popular herbal medicine, available over-the–counter and is used widely throughout the world. Since long, the drug was considered harmless, but the side effects are emerging now and the latest studies suggest that though St. John Wort, is helpful in mild to moderate depression, but people need to be careful.People need to consult with their doctor, before taking this medicine along with other medication because it may interfere with medication for other problems like asthma, migraine, heart problems, epilepsy and even during pregnancy.

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Meditation

Another therapy, which is fast emerging as a very helpful alternative strategy to deal with depression is meditation. The meditation experts and scientists, agree that meditation helps in promoting cognitive, emotional and psychological states, which protect against depression. The researchers presented data, in one of the symposiums conducted in collaboration with Emory University, Atlanta, enunciating the relationship between depression and meditation, that mindful practices may help prevent recurrence of major depression.

However, Dr. Charles B. Nemeroff, MD, PhD, Professor and chairman of the Emory Department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences averred, though highly useful in combating depression, but when depression reaches a certain degree of severity, it may require biological/medical interventions to normalize the brain to a degree sufficient to engage in behavioral strategies such as meditation.

Acupuncture

Another alternative, acupuncture, has garnered significant positive response from the scientific community in treating depression.Researchers have found that acupuncture helps in increasing the levels of neurobiologically active substances such as endorphins and enkephalins and help people overcome depression. Some studies have also pointed out that acupuncture is as good as various antidepressants, given to people suffering from depression.

Diet And Supplements

Food may play a very significant role in controlling depression. Eating a well balanced and nutritious diet, with sufficient intake of antioxidant vitamins on daily basis can help control the damage caused by free radicals to the body.Certain studies have suggested that consuming adequate levels of vitamin D, folic acid and B12 and B6 vitamins can go a long way in dealing with depression. Try to include food sources of omega-3 fatty acids, chromium, amino acids, etc. in your daily diet. Go slow on junk food and unhealthy beverages.

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