Depression Natural Therapy - Natural Treatment for Depression

Symptoms of depression include chronic fatigue syndrome, insomnia or sleeping frequently and for excessive periods of time, loss of appetite or a ravenous appetite, headaches, backaches, colon disorders, and feelings of worthlessness and inadequacy. Many think of death and consider suicide.

Depression may be caused by tension, upset stomach, stress, headache, nutritional deficiencies, poor diet, sugar mononucleosis, thyroid disorders, endometriosis (linked to depression in women), any serious physical disorder, or allergies. Some people become more depressed in the winter months when days are shorter and darker. The sun and bright light seem to trigger a response to a brain hormone known as melatonin (produced by the pineal gland), which is, in part, responsible for preventing the "blues." Stay in brightly lit rooms on dark days. Research reveals that two hours of morning sun is very effective in lifting depression. The evening light had comparatively little results.

It has been discovered that foods greatly influence the brain's behavior. Diet is most often the cause of depression, related to poor eating habits and constant snacking on junk foods. The brain's neurotransmitters, which regulate our behavior, are controlled by what we eat. The neurotransmitters are dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine. When the brain produces serotonin, tension is eased. When it produces dopamine or norepinephrine, we tend to think and act more quickly and are generally more alert. Eating carbohydrates alone seems to have a calming effect, while proteins increase alertness. Protein meals containing essential fatty acids and/or carbohydrates are recommended for increased alertness. protein meals containing essential fatty acids and/or carbohydrates are recommended for increased alertness. Salmon and white fish are good choices. Avoid foods high in saturated fats; consumption of port or fried foods, such as hamburgers and French fries, leads to sluggishness, slow thinking, and fatigue. Fats inhibit the synthesis of neurotransmitters by the brain in that they cause the blood cells to become sticky and to clump together, resulting in poor circulation, especially to the brain.

At the neurochemical and physiological level, neurotransmitters are extremely important. These substances carry impulses between nerve cells. The substance that processes the neurotransmitter called serotonin is the amino acid tryptophan. It increases the amount of serotonin made by the brain. Complex carbohydrates, which raise the level of tryptophan in the brain, have a calming effect; protein promotes the production of dopamine and norepinephrine, which promote alertness. A balance is achieved when the diet contains a combination of these two nutrients. A turkey sandwich on whole wheat bread is a good combination: the turkey is high in protein and tryptophan, and the whole wheat bread supplies complex carbohydrates. Consume more carbohydrates than protein if you are nervous and wish to become more relaxed or eat more protein than carbohydrates if you are tired and wish to become more alert. A depressed person who needs his spirits lifted would benefit from eating foods like turkey and salmon, which are high in tryptophan and protein.

Beware: The body will react more quickly to the presence of sugar than it does to the presence of complex carbohydrates. The increase in energy supplied by the simple carbohydrates is quickly accompanied by fatigue and depression. Tyrosine is also needed for brain function. This amino acid may be good for those who have prolonged and intense stress. Uncontrollable stress may thereby be prevented or reversed if this essential amino acid is obtained in the diet.

Heredity is a significant factor in depression. In up to 50 percent of people suffering from recurrent episodes of depression, one or both of the parents were depressive.

SUPPLEMENT	SUGGESTED DOSAGE	COMMENTS
	NUTRIENTS
Essential
Vitamin B Complex or B complex with vitamin B6 and vitamin B12 or liver injections plus vitamin B12	100 mg 3 times daily 2cc 1/2 cc 1cc 2cc 1cc	Necessary for normal brain function. Use injections only under a doctor's supervision if depression is severe.
Important
Choline and Inositol or lecithin	100 mg twice daily	Important in brain function and nerve transmission. Not for manic depressives.
Gerovital H-3 (GH-3) from Rumania	As directed on label for those 35 years or older	Inhibits production of monoamine oxidase (MA)) in the brain, which builds up in those over 45. Directly linked to depression.
L-Tyrosine (amino acid)	Up to 100 mg per kg of body weight daily taken on an empty stomach with 1,000 mg vitamin C and 50 mg vitamin B6.	Tyrosine alleviates stress by boosting production of adrenaline and raises dopamine levels, which influence moods. Lack of tyrosine results in a norepinephrine deficiency at a specific grain location, resulting in mood disorders such as depression.
Niacin (B3) plus niacinamide	100 mg 3 times daily 200 mg daily.	Improves cerebral circulation.
Helpful
Aslavitol or Megavital HP Forte with RNA from Futurebiotics	As directed on label.	Especially good for the elderly
Calcium and Magnesium	1,500 mg daily 1,000 mg daily.	Has a calming effect. Needed for the nervous system. Asporotate and chelate forms are the most effective.
Chromium (GTF)	300 mcg daily.	Aids in mobilizing fats for energy.
GABA (gamma amino butyric acid)	750 mg daily.	Has a tranquilizing effect.
Lithium Arginate or Lithium Orotate (Logic)	120-480 mg daily.	For manic depressives.
Multivitamin and mineral complex plus zinc chelate and GTF	As directed on label.	Vitamin and mineral deficiencies are associated with depression.
Primrose oil or black currant oil	2 capsules twice daily.	Essential fatty acids are needed by every cell.
Spirulina and raw crude bee pollen	5 tablets between meals	Improves energy. Spiru-Tein from Nature's Plus is good
Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) plus pantothenic acid(B6)	50 mg 3 times daily.	B6 is needed for normal brain function. B6 is an "antistress" vitamin that may help depression.
Vitamin C plus rutin, a by-product of buckwheat.	2,000-5,000 mg daily in divided doses.	Needed for immune function. Aids in preventing depression.

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