Natural And Home Remedies For Depression 4

Natural Treatments For Depression There are many natural remedies that have been found to be very helpful in the treatment of depression.

They include: Blood/Liver Cleansing (detoxification) Therapies “Blood cleansing” or detoxification therapy is one of the main tools used in the treatment of depression and other psychiatric health problems.

Cleansing the blood and liver helps in neutralising and eliminating toxic metals (such as mercury, lead, dental amalgam) and other toxins in the body.

As we have noted in the previous articles, most of the symptoms of depression resemble the signs and symptoms of the body overloaded with toxins or symptoms of a sluggish liver, which may manifest as depression, irritability, insomnia, recurrent fatigue, low energy, general malaise, etc.

These symptoms are known to disappear as soon as the blood and the liver are properly detoxified. In natural medicine, blood and liver detoxification (i.e. using toxin-draining therapeutic methods in ridding body of toxic substances) involves an exclusive three to seven days fasting on any of the followings: Fruit juice (made from diluted lemon juice, grape fruits, pineapple, papaya, apples, grapes, etc). (ii) Vegetable juice (made from beetroot, carrot and the combination of the two) (iii) Plain water.

During the detoxification fast, herbal teas made from Stinging Nettle, Phyllanthus, Dandelion, etc may be taken from time to time. Also, a plain water enema could be taken during the fasting. The healing power of water has been known for centuries, as it refreshes, cleanses and restores vitality to the whole body.

Taking a long neutral immersion bath (that is immersing the whole body in a bath filled with water that is slightly below the body temperature) or taking a long hot bath with the water scented with soothing aromatic bath essential oils, such as rose, rosemary, ylang-ylang, lavender, chamomile, etc helps in soothing and calming down an irritable person.

It also helps in uplifting the mood of patients suffering depression. Some Useful Home Remedies And Food Supplements The intake of two tablespoonfuls of virgin coconut oil or cod liver oil orally three times daily is useful in those cases of depression that are associated with low thyroids functions

. Taking One (1) tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water and then sweetened with honey every morning and night alleviates the symptom of depression generally. Drinking orange juice or apple juice and pure honey helps in relieving the symptoms of depression.

Drinking two tablespoonfuls of bitter leaf juice or fresh Aloe Vera gel morning and night helps in alleviating the symptom of depression. Chewing kola nut or taking the infusion made from the powder will increase the physical energy and help to cheer-up a depressing mood.

Vitamin C or Rose hip 500mg taken three times daily, multivitamins that contains the B-vitamin (B-complex, B12, Biotin, folic acid, etc) and a combination of calcium and magnesium, as well as standardised St. John’s wort that contain 0.3 per cent of the mood lifting chemical, known as Hypericin, are very helpful in all cases of depression.

Herbal Therapies There are many antidepressant herbs (herbs used in the treatment of depression) available in nature. Such herbs are used mainly as teas or infusion to help to relax, relief stress, worries and anxiety and lift a depressed person.

Such herbs include St. John’s wort (contains a mood boosting chemical and is often called the Nature’s “Prozac”), rose petals, roselle leaves and flowers, turmeric, corn silk, sage, chamomile, Mother’s wort, passion flower, milk thistle, blue vervain, rosemary, valarian root, damiana, ginkgo biloba, lavender, skull cap, catnip, lime blossom, licorice, Indian basil, etc.

Aromatherapy Aromatherapy involves the use of essential oils from plants or scent from flowers (either by inhalation when diffused in the air or when they come in contact with skin through baths or massage) to influence the mood, the mind and the thoughts of a depressed patient.

Essential oils, such as rose, rosemary, ylang-ylang, lemon, lavender, chamomile, jasmine, etc are used in the treatment of depression.

Essential oils or flower essences are known to stimulate the production of neurotransmitters, like the mood altering serotonin. Bach Flower Remedies These are diluted flower essences developed in the 1930’s by Dr. Edward Bach, which are used in conjunction with other remedies to treat a variety of physical, mental, emotional and psychic health problem, including depression, anxieties, worries, etc. There are about 39 bach flower remedies, including the “Rescue Remedy.”

Among these, century, gorse, wild rose, walnut, rescue remedy, etc have been found to be very helpful in the treatment of emotional and psychic problems that often result in depression.

Massage Therapy General body massage helps in improving circulation, lowering stress hormones, reducing tension, anxiety and lifting up the gloomy thoughts in a depressed patient.

Gemstone Therapy Apart from this, the elixirs prepared from gemstones, like gold, jet, lapis Lazuli, moonstone, etc are usually carried in a crystal medicine pouch or worn as pendant, ring, bangles, etc to help transfer positive energy to the wearer, which interacts with the energy field of the body to create balance or clear negative energies that may be manifesting physically as disease, like depression.

Laughter And Humor Therapy A hearty laughter touches the soul and can change a negative outlook and gloomy thoughts to a positive and uplifting one. It helps in discharging inner tension, bitterness and anguish of the soul.

A hearty laughter and cheerful smile that touches deeper are the strongest antidote to darkness, mental and psychic stress that often manifest as depression.

It is said “laughter is the best medicine,” even for depression.” And Proverbs 17:22 says “A merry heart doeseth good like medicine.” Music And Harmonious Sound Therapies Music and harmonious sound bypasses the intellectual brain and moves directly to the soul and the inner core of man- spirit.

Soul-uplifting music has today become the most powerful and effective tool used in the treatment of those diseases that are believed to affect the soul and the so- called mental illnesses, such as depression, bipolar disorders, anxiety disorders, etc.

The healing effect of music was demonstrated thousands of years ago. For example, 1 Samuel 16:23 says: “When the evil spirit…was upon Saul, that David took an harp and played with his hands, so Saul was refreshed and was well and the evil spirit departed from him.”

Music of the right kind relaxes, soothes and eases physical, emotional and psychic tensions. It also brings inner tranquility, comfort and makes hope come alive again in depressed patients.

Healthy Exercises And Deep Breathing Healthy exercises includes regular brisk walking, aerobics, jogging, cycling, swimming, gardening with bare hands and feet in the soil are forms of exercise that play a very vital role in the treatment of depression.

Healthy exercises are known to increase the blood level of endorphins, serotonins and other mood affecting brain chemicals and keep the body, physically, emotionally and spiritually fit to cope with extreme difficult challenges in life. Healthy exercises keep the body and mind relaxed.

Exercise is believed to be nature’s best tranquilizer. Depression patients are advised to indulge in uplifting activities that help and bring joy to others. In this way, less attention is focused on self and gloomy and negative depressing thoughts are overcome. Joyful service to others is the best way to overcome low self-esteem.

Deep breathing is also a form of exercise that increases the supply of life-giving oxygen to blood and brain and this helps to relax the body and mind and enables the victim to replace gloomy and negative thoughts with positive ones.

Potted Plants Pots of flowers, like roses, lilies or marigold, etc can be placed in a prominent positions at homes.

Putting freshly cut ones in flower vases and keeping then either in sitting rooms centre tables, near the windows, etc at home will help gladden the heart, bring inner calmness, cheer up a depressed spirit and therefore lift it from tension and sad moods when their sweat scent or fragrance are inhaled or when their beautiful and bright colours are gazed at at intervals.