Depression: Treatments that go beyond medication

Monday, October 17th, 2011

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A number of imbalances in the body or brain could be the cause of depression. Naturopathic medicine seeks to find and change those causes.

by Dr. Greg Nigh - Nature Cures Clinic physician

October is National Depression Awareness Month. This is a good opportunity to reflect on the treatment for depression that our “health care industry” almost universally utilizes.

Sales of anti-depressant medications brings in around $12 billion in profits annually for the pharmaceutical industry. Approximately 30 million people are currently taking anti-depressant medication in the US alone. And while there is evidence that anti-depressants can improve symptoms for individuals with severe depression, there is virtually no evidence that the drugs work better than placebo in those with moderate or mild depression.

Naturopathic treatment approaches to depression shed light on causes instead of masking symptoms with meds.

Depression can be used to illustrate the difference between the conventional and the naturopathic approach to symptoms. The conventional approach is to prescribe a medication that hides the symptom. The conventional medical assumption is that depression is caused by an imbalance in brain chemistry, and that imbalance is corrected with the medications. In reality, though, anyone can read the mechanism of action of those drugs and discover that no one knows exactly how they reduce symptoms in some people.

The second and most dramatic aspect of conventional treatment of depression is what it lacks: in a primary care setting there is no thorough inquiry into why a given individual is experiencing symptoms of depression. Once the list of qualifying symptoms are expressed, the prescription very commonly is quick to follow.

In naturopathic medicine, depression is understood in much the same way that any other symptom is: it signals an imbalance. If the overall goal of medicine is to promote health and enhance vitality, it is essential to understand all the elements that lead to the depression experienced by each individual.

For example, diet and nutrition play a profound role in health generally and in the regulation of mood in particular. Dietary excesses of some foods deplete serotonin and dopamine, the brain chemicals associated with feeling good. Likewise, lack of specific nutrients can have profound effects on the body’s ability to maintain optimal function of the nervous system. Simply correcting these issues can lead to dramatic improvements in symptoms.

A much larger issue is the way in which our society has turned circumstantial feelings of sadness, grief, isolation or hopelessness into a diagnosis that requires medication to manage. When individuals experience profound loss, or feel trapped in relationships or jobs, or are unable to resolve past traumas, medications to mask those valid emotions are not addressing the cause of the depression.

A naturopathic approach to depression utilizes a comprehensive understanding of the history and circumstances that contribute to the depression. It can involve lab testing to determine metabolic imbalances. It will virtually always involve a close look at nutrition and the ways in which eating habits might be contributing to the ongoing symptoms. It can include recommendations for regular exercise, because that is a therapy that has been consistently found to relieve depression as well as medications.

There are many reasons that any given person might experience depression. Treating depression can only be done if the underlying cause is understood as clearly as possible, and therapies are used to re-establish balance in an individual’s life.

During National Depression Awareness Month, those who feel they may have depression should seek out a naturopathic physician. The most important thing to know about depression is that it is not simply a chemical imbalance in the brain that requires medication to correct. Depression is a dynamic relationship between an individual, their lifestyle, their circumstances and their way of thinking about their life. In the context of a naturopathic treatment plan, all of these factors are addressed to optimize an individual’s full capacity for optimum wellness.

Dr. Greg Nigh is available for free 30-minute consultations to discuss your health care. To set up an appointment, call Nature Cures Clinic at (503) 287-4970, or email info2@naturecuresclinic.com

Image courtesy:  TheAlieness GiselaGiardino

Tags: anti-depressants, anxiety, depression, depression awareness month, Dr. Greg Nigh, imbalance, managing depression, mental health, Nature Cures Clinic, october, Portland, treating depression, treatments for depression
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