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Alternative Medicine for Depression
What works?
Depression is perhaps one of the most difficult medical problem to tackle since it involves a great deal with emotion. Not only that, depression normally will also be the catalyst to other medical problems like obesity, back pain and digestive trouble.
Although the medical world believes in antidepressant, it is normally a way to suppress the problem rather than tackling it. The root of the trouble must be tackled – largely by solving the emotional trouble that is felt by the patient. There are alternative medicines for depression but these are still external help and would only help to a certain extent. The first thing to do is to get good social support and confront the cause. That way, the healing would not be temporary.
In using alternative medicine for depression and to lift up your mood, these are a few that has been proven to help.
Benefits of Aromatherapy
What is it?
Aromatherapy is the use of oil from extracted from plants to ward off disease, fumigate the air as well as to induce relaxation.
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The oils are either heated, mixed into candles or used in other form of therapies like massage. It is an old therapy and writings from ancient civilization such as Egypt, China and Persia have shown that plant essences have been used and highly valued by priests, physicians and traditional healers.
Is it an effective alternative medicine for depression?
A study published in the International Journal of Neuroscience, 96 reported that aromatherapy reduces anxiety and enhances EEG patterns associated with positive mood and alertness.
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It says that adults exposed to lavender oil showed increased beta power, suggesting increased relaxation.
In another study conducted in Britain (1995), massage using Roman chamomile oil was found to be effective in reducing anxiety among cancer patients.
What is Massage Therapy?
Massage therapy is an alternative medicine technique that touches the skin and affects the muscles directly under it, sometimes with the use of massage oils. It helps in making sure that blood flows in the body more effectively. Although it is normally used to induce general relaxation, massage has also be found effective in treating illnesses like high blood pressure, sinusitis, headache and insomnia
Is it an effective alternative medicine for depression?
Published in the International Journal of Neuroscience 84, a study was conducted on HIV positive adults to examined massage therapy effects on anxiety/depression and also on body immunity. The subjects received a 45-minute massage five times weekly for a 1-month period.
They found that anxiety, stress and cortisol levels were significantly reduced while natural killer cells and natural killer cell activity increased.
In conclusion, massage not only is effective to reduce depression but also will strengthen the immune system.
Music Therapy
What is it?
Music therapy is the use of specific music to induce certain feelings in patients. Researches have shown that different music could give different results and influence emotions. Music has been used to help kids with learning difficulties, relieving stress as well as helping patients recover from illness faster.
Is it an effective alternative medicine for depression?
One controlled trial published in the Journal of Gerontology in 1994 demonstrated significant differences on anxiety, distress and depression level of a control group and group that receives music therapy.
Adaptations of these music therapy techniques have also been useful in distracting people from crisis and helping them focus on more positive states of mind.
At the same time, studies in US, UK and Germany in 1992 showed that patients who listened to music recovered more quickly than average patients. The groups that were exposed to music also felt less anxiety and discomfort.
Helpful herbs/supplements
St. John’s Wort – has fewer side effects than antidepressants and has been shown by clinical trials to be effective for mild to moderate depression
Folate – there’s promising evidence that it is effective for depression. Although there are claims that other vitamins may also help, the evidence is insufficient.
Avoiding caffeine, sugar, alcohol – helpful for some people.
Our Final Words
Go to a nice green park and jog or get into any physical exercise. Keeping yourself busy or exercise helps you reduce depression. Get more sunlight - it has been shown as an effective (and free!) antidepressant.
Despite these encouraging findings keep your doctor informed if you decided to try any one of them.
If you are thinking of using any of these alternative medicines and would like to get a cheaper treatment, you may want to check out the MedExpress Benefits discount card too.
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