News and Articles on Health

S.A.D. Light Therapy did not exist until the 20th century. Up until then, most of the world’s population rose with the sun and went to bed when it set. Artificial light existed – but it was inconsistent, weak, expensive, often smelly – and its flickering was hard on the eyes. So, for the most part, except for a small segment of high society, humans followed the rhythms of light and seasons, just as animals and birds do in nature.

Nowadays, we manipulate our waking hours just as we do everything else in modern life, thanks to technology. Electric lighting makes short work of darkness, we set back our clocks to “save daylight”, and alarm clocks jolt us painfully awake, even though it’s still pitch dark outside.

However, you can’t fool your body. It’s governed not by our visual perception of light, but by melatonin, a hormone produced by the pineal gland within our brains, responsive only to natural daylight. As daylight diminishes, more melatonin is released. We become drowsy and desirous of more rest and less activity.

But melatonin does much more than that: It controls other glandular functions in the body, including the thyroid gland. This “butterfly-shaped” gland at the base of the throat controls metabolism and energy. Meanwhile, having done its work to slow down the thyroid gland, your winter flood of melatonin is racing off to tackle your adrenal glands.

We think we have “beaten” the seasons, and the problem of too little daylight – but some people are less fortunate than others. They are particularly affected by the lack of natural light, and by being forced to adapt to an artificial rhythm.

And it’s all caused by their tiny pineal glands.

Why do some people suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D.) during winter months – and others not?

We’ve come to realize that even with our abundance of electric lighting, artificial light is inadequate in convincing the body it’s enjoying summer light. Electric lights used in the average home do not exceed 500 lux. To put that in perspective, the stormiest summer day easily produces a steady bombardment 20 times that amount.

Once doctors and scientists realized the role that natural light plays on the pineal gland and the body’s production of melatonin, “Light Therapy” was the result. There was hope for S.A.D. sufferers at last.

This involves subjecting sufferers of S.A.D. to 5,000-10,000 lux light sources – a “lux” is a unit of measurement for light – thus suppressing the production of melatonin, which in turn does not trigger all the body’s other gland to slow down for the winter. The eyes of the patient must be exposed to this light source – in other word, he can’t have his back to it, or wear heavy, dark glasses.

This light triggers the pineal gland through the eyes. Full-spectrum, or “bright white” light is specifically indicated for periods of 3-4 hours per day, from October to April. (And it goes without saying, the person receiving light therapy should never stare directly at the lights!)

This brings us to one huge disadvantage: Anyone with photo-sensitivity, cataracts, glaucoma, retinal disorders or other eye problems should not (if you’ll pardon the pun) expose themselves to aggressive light therapy.

It’s not practical for most people to dedicate an entire morning or afternoon to light therapy; however, if one uses the correct light source, making it’s power at least 10,000 lux, recovery from S.A.D. increases dramatically. Often, this light therapy is all that is needed, to cure S.A.D. depression.

Light boxes usually cost anywhere from $200-300 – but many enterprising people have managed to make effective home units.

And besides, says Tim P.: “Making one gives me a winter hobby!”

Finding out where to get depression information can be very important when one considers that if depression is left untreated, it can often lead to suicide. The suicide figures show very clearly that over half these deaths are connected with a chronic illness such as diabetes, heart disease and of course mental illness.

There are situations when you know a loved one is depressed and yet you do not know where or who to turn to. Many people in a relationship feel like abandoning their loved one because they themselves cannot cope. They feel burdened with all the responsibilities and they sometimes feel that they themselves are an obstacle. There are many difficult decisions to make so where do you find the best depression information?

Thee are many depression forums on the Internet and just by joining one or two of these, you can get great information. If you are depressed yourself, it is wonderful sounding board and a useful source for help. There is also a good sense of community here and members are not afraid to show solidarity and affection. That is the wonderful thing about the Internet although the virtual nature of friendship is scorned but it really does have a great social function.

There are many medical and psychological websites where you can find all the actual depression information about what this mental condition is, its symptoms and of course the various treatment options. There is one word of warning though. Some of these websites are nothing more than blatant advertising for pharmacological treatment for depression such as antidepressants. At the other end of the spectrum, you will have herbalists and natural medicine experts telling you on their sites that there is nothing better than a herbal remedy!

So, there is a great wealth of depression information but it is very hard to find unbiased facts. Usually the major medical authorities will have websites and their views are usually fairly unbiased although they tend to diminish the natural and herbal remedies too much. This is because it is hard to get accurate clinical data. Sometimes, the drug companies will actually pay for research which will seek to discredit the herbal and homeopathic remedies. It is sensible to be aware of these facts when on the hunt for depression information.

Did you know that there are many more patients using a herbal depression remedy in Europe than in the USA? The reasons for this are not so clear although maybe herbal remedies in Europe have a longer tradition and therefore they tend to rely less on allopathic medicine than we do in the USA. I know for a fact that for treating depression in Germany, there are are thousands more prescriptions written for St. John’s Wort than for Prozac or other SSRIs and pharmacological anti depressants. This herb, also shortened to SJW, is known as ‘Nature’s Prozac’.
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Before we look at a herbal depression remedy in more detail, let us look at the self help options which can really be useful in getting out of the black hole of depression. These can be used with conventional anti depressants or with herbal remedies. But lifestyle changes will be more important in many ways because we can learn to cope with stress, anxiety and depression and in that way we are getting closer to the root cause. That makes the long term cure much more feasible.

If we opt for some sort of talk therapy such as cognitive behavior therapy, we have to be patient as the effects will not start to kick in for a few weeks. The same goes for the anti depressants and herbal treatment for depression in that we should not look for the magic pill which will lift our mood tomorrow morning!

Having green time is much more important than we think. Just by sitting in the park and taking short walk around the block can do wonders. All the studies show that green time and contact with nature can help with a multitude of mental disorders ranging from ADHD, depression and anxiety. If we can engage in any sporting activity, that is even better, because that will ensure that the endorphins (the good mood hormones) will start to kick in and their effects can actually last up to twelve hours.

As regards the herbal depression remedy, there are many options to choose from here. Kava Kava, Catnip, Bugleweed, Valerian and Chamomile have all been shown to be effective in enhancing mood and increasing feelings of well being.

Of all the herbs that are useful in treating depression, St. John’s Wort is probably the safest of all and certainly has performed the best in many clinical trials. I have built a website setting out all the natural alternatives including a lot of information on the best herbal depression remedy. Why not check it out?

If you’re suffering from a serious condition such as chronic anxiety or depression, you should see a doctor for professional help. However, if you’re just feeling a bit down and you’re looking for something to improve your mood, here are a few simple ways to do just that.

Visit a Religious Service: A study was conducted on the effect of religious services on attendees, and it found that those who went into the services feeling down actually came out in a better mood. Attending these services regularly has an even more pronounced effect. This study didn’t compare the nature of the religious services, instead looking at the results from all the different services together.

Looking at Family Photos: Take a look at some old photo albums and not only will you remember the good times of the past, but you’ll be in a better mood as well. Many of us also have hours of home video from the old days that can help put us in a better mood.

Saying “Thank You”: We’ve all heard countless times that we should count our blessings. It’s an old proverb for a reason: saying thanks helps us appreciate the good that other people do for us. And getting a smile in return is an even better mood-booster.

Clean Your Living Space: When our environments are cluttered and disorganized, we feel the same way about our lives. It can be hard to get a hold on things when you’re constantly dealing with the clutter, so do yourself a favor and straighten things out.

Get Out in the Sun: Most of us have heard of Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD. This condition affects us during the winter months when there’s little sunlight and our moods deteriorate as a result. Get as much sun as you can if you find that your moods are affected by the winter months. There are also some forms of light therapy that can be helpful if used correctly.

Exercising: It may not be what you want to hear, but exercising is always a great way to improve mood. Being active causes our bodies to produce the hormone called endorphin – the substance that’s responsible “runner’s high.” Exercising boosts our moods by causing our brains to release this pleasure hormone.

Herbal Tea: A cup of warm chamomile tea on a cold winter night can hit just the right spot, and the herbs will calm your nerves as well. Try adding some passionflower, jasmine, or lavender for a little extra boost.

Stress, anxiety and anger and such similar emotions are common to everyone in the world. But sometimes such emotions outlast their ephemeral stay, much to the agony of the individual. Such emotions if present in the extremes can easily disrupt normal life functions and give rise to despair and emptiness, which just won’t do away. Such circumstances if prevalent over a period of day or weeks, could directly lead to severe depression.

Depression, as we know, is already a leading cause of suicides among teens. These teens reach a stage when their sadness, anger or the so called “blues” exceed their temporary status and lead the individual towards a state of hopelessness. A negative attitude towards life takes over them and the will to do almost anything is lost somewhere in between, thus seriously denting the psyche of the individual. In teenagers, hormones and sleep cycles show dramatic changes during adolescence and such factors have an adverse effect especially on teenage girls, who are particularly prone to depression. As much as 20% of all teens experience mild to severe depression and sadly a few of them receive proper counseling to overcome this phase.

Before anything, the patient should be subjected to immediate counseling, so as to know the root cause of the problem. Anti-depressant medication too is an option which is chosen by almost everyone suffering from depression. Though the effects of these medications are immediate but if the patient is taken off anti-depressants at a premature stage, then it might lead to further complications. Also if the medications usage is stopped abruptly, it could lead to other side-effects life nausea, diarrhea, agitation, insomnia, and headache.

In such cases the patient could also apply self-help activities in his routine to overcome depression; some of which are:

• Eat healthy foods and giving your body appropriate rest.
• Being expressive about your feelings in general
• By setting realistic and achievable goals for yourself
• Making efforts to be in someone’s company and participate in activities that make you feel better

An alternate way that could provide an amazing remedy for depression can be Ayurveda. This method of treatment along with a healthy lifestyle could lead to better benefits as compared to any other form of treatment. Ayurvedic herbs like Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri), Cardamom (Elattaria cardamomum), Guggulu (Commiphora wightii) and Jatamansi (Nardostachys jatamansi) have proven to be highly effective at combating depression. But one of the most effective remedies for depression is provided by another superb ayurvedic supplement, DeprsnCare. It brings calmness to the mind and helps the body’s natural autonomic nervous system to be restored with alkaline and acidic balance. Recommended as a natural medium to long term treatment combined with exercise and a diet of fresh fruits, juices and vegetables, DepresnCare is an all-natural way to ease yourself out of all your depression troubles.

Trust Ayurveda to treat your depression and put your life back on track through its all-natural healing powers.

The best depression treatment has been the center of debate for some time now. While most of the medical community leans toward the use of traditional medications, patients and their families, unhappy with the serious side effects and addictive nature of these medications, have been looking for other answers. Now, there are other methods of treatment available that offer great promise.

The best treatment for depression relies on addressing the health of the brain and nervous system. Without focusing on this underlying cause, treatment will not be completely successful. The malfunction of neurotransmitters leads to emotional imbalance and feelings of dread and unhappiness can result. The key to restoring equilibrium, then, is re-establishing proper neurotransmitters.

Standard anti-depressants focus solely on the surface symptoms of the condition, providing a quick fix and enabling patients to function normally, but stopping short of a long term solution. These medications can also carry serious side effects and the possibility of becoming addictive, making them less than the best depression treatment.

A far more hopeful alternative is the use of natural remedies. Developed by clinical psychologists and drawing on centuries old homeopathic methods, these products represent the best treatment for depression as they offer a whole system approach, targeting both surface symptoms and their cause.

Combining a variety of herbs and other plant based ingredients, including St. John’s Wort and Passion flower, natural remedies provide the ability to balance moods, calm nerves and improve the emotional state. And because they are entirely organic, they carry no side effects at all, making them the best depression treatment for patients of any age.

What makes these products so effective is their ability to work with the body’s own defenses to provide thorough and long lasting results. It is a theory homeopaths have traded on for years, establishing wellness by treating the body as a whole rather than focusing on one particular area. This approach offers the best treatment for depression currently available.

Of course, even a natural remedy will only be truly successful if it is implemented as part of an overall approach to treatment. The best depression treatment can include a variety of methods, including behavior therapy, stress reduction and lifestyle changes. Everything from practicing yoga to ensuring that you eat a balanced diet can have a very real effect on mental well being. Together, all these methods represent the best possible course of treatment.

In order to treat depression thoroughly, it is necessary to consider the health of the whole body. If depression symptoms are a problem for you, consult your doctor and together you can decide on the best course of treatment. Remember to consider all of your options and don’t forget to include natural remedies. Nature’s healing can be the best treatment of all!
Lois Lane is a passionate advocate of natural remedies for health and well being, whether for humans or their pets alike. As an ardent researcher, she presents the best information she learns and introduces people to natural products that may assist them in living a fuller, more vibrant life.

Beating depression is possible naturally. There are a lot of proven methods to deal with this mental illness at home without the routine administration of prescription drugs. With 11 million Americans contracting the disease every year, the importance of finding out natural ways to treat it is fast becoming imperative. One of the best ways of fighting depression is to take natural supplements. But it is important to note here that most of these “proven” natural treatments are backed only by a coupled of insignificant studies. Following are the top 5 natural supplements which have an actual track record of curing depression.

Locking up or staying in your room alone for hours? Crying for no particular reason at all? You may not realize it but these are just some signs of depression. Yes dear, you or your friend may be depressed. So how does one deal with depression? First allow me to explain depression.

Depression is extremely common. It affects 1 out of 8 people and especially teenagers. Depression affects everyone but affects a large number of females. A simple explanation of it would be: If the body gets sick because it was overworked then depression is a sickness because of the brains’ over exertion.

Yet even knowing this, people tend to think that an individual with depression is merely malingering or acting immature and that they yell at them thinking this would encourage them and stop the sulking behavior. Basically, the idea of shaking things off may help but not when it comes to people dealing with depression. Depressed individuals should get all the support that they need from their family and friends. Offering an ear or having the time to sit and talk with a depressed individual greatly helps individuals dealing with depression. If however the depressed person does not take the time to talk to family members or friends then it would be best to refer that person to a therapist or counselor.

In some cases, even the person experiencing depression denies that they are depressed and refuses to seek help. Some even think that this is some form of weakness and that they do not need help or instead have to face this problem alone which is utterly wrong. Every one needs help and that includes individuals experiencing depression.

So exactly why do people get depressed? With all the studies and research being conducted, the exact cause of depression still has not been found. A lot of factors have been linked to depression, namely: environment, genetics, medical conditions, and life events.

Depression is classified into two: severe (short lasting major depression) and less severe (dysthymia) depression. There is also a third type called adjustment disorder with depressed mood which occurs when an individual takes longer than usual to adjust to a certain event in his or her life to the point that it interferes with his or her daily activities. Another depressive condition is known as Bipolar disorder. This condition is mixed with episodes of mania characterized by extreme bursts of energy or an abnormally high level of mood.

The symptoms of depressed individuals are as follows: sadness or a depressed mood all the time, inability to enjoy things that were used to be enjoyable, lassitude or lethargic, socially withdrawn, anxiety, inappropriate feelings of guilt, aches with no medical cause, a noticeable change in daily routine, pessimism and thoughts of suicide. Now if you notice five or more of these symptoms in yourself or someone you know then you are certainly depressed or suffering from depression.

Even if you do find out you’ve got depression do not lose hope for this condition is treatable. Therapists are there to guide and help you to recover from this condition. Treatment includes medication or talk therapy. A combination of both is done as well.

It is important that if you know someone who’s depressed or find out that you are depressed you do need to seek help immediately. Thinking that you are alone will not help you at all and would only make things worse. Everyone in times of need should ask for help and it isn’t a weakness to be feeling depressed in the first place.

There are many adults who are trapped under the state of depression due to increase in work load or due to other personal problems. Depression is something that can be treated naturally but it does not mean that people can use self treatment. It is very important for that person to consult the doctor in order to cure the same as it can turn serious if left untreated. Depression is the symptom of other diseases such as anemia or hypothyroidism. According to the doctors depression must always be treated naturally in order to get rid of it totally.

There are various natural treatments of depression.

• St. John’s Wort: It is a herb that comes under the category of folk medicine which is used in order to relieve poor sleep and nervousness. It is effective antidepressant. For patients with moderate depression, the effect can be noticed within 4 to 6 weeks. It is available in all the medical stores and can be consumed in the form of tablets, capsules, tea or liquid extracts.
• Omega-3 fatty acids: According to the doctors, it is suggested that people under depression needs more of fatty acid in order to trigger the proper functioning of the brain. Omega-3 fatty acid is found in fish. It is also noted that countries where fish is the main food such as Taiwan and Japan, depression rate is much lesser.
• SAM-e: SAM-e means S-adenosyl-L-methionine which is naturally found in the human body and is helpful i increasing the level of dopamine and serotonin.
• Folic Acid: Folic acid also known as folate is generally found in fruits, green vegetables, grains and beans.
• 5-HTP: 5-HTP means hydroxtryptophan and it gets generated in the body and helps in boosting up the level of serotonin in the body. It should not be used with the combination of any other antidepressants.
• Diet: The intake of sweets must be reduced in order to bring down the sugar level. The intake of alcohol and caffeine must also be avoided as it increases the anxiety and depression in the long run. Magnesium must be included in the diet as it is important for the production of serotonin. Vegetables, grains and nuts are very good sources of magnesium.

Can you believe that there is a fast and permanent method to help you break the cycle of depression, so you can live a normal life again? Can you imagine to be proud of yourself to have followed your gut feeling to the right cure for dealing with depression? Imagine, having done so, to live your life to the fullest again.

Are you having trouble facing daily challenges? Is it hindering you from work, studies or family responsibilities? You might know this already: Depression is not a passing feeling of sadness. It’s a condition requiring professional attention. Several approaches to treating clinical depression can improve your condition so you can move on with your life.

Treatments for depression may vary from person to person. Your case may not be the same as the others having the same condition.

It is always wise to see a doctor because he will tell you if you’ve got a physical illness that leads to depression. In this case, your doctor is the only one who can give you the appropriate treatment.

Approaches to heal depression that originates in the brain range from taking medication, the talking cure, holistic approaches to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for very severe cases.

• Dealing with depression by taking medication is very common but it is not my favorite method. 50% of depressed people are not responding to antidepressants.

However, I want to explain what kind of drugs are out there to treat this condition. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter needed for your brain to maintain your mood, temperature and sleep cycle stable. Depression will usually take place when you have a low serotonin reserve. SSRI or Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors regulate serotonin levels. Common SSRI medications are fluxetine, setraline, citlopram and paroxetine. Other neurotransmitters involved in depression are epinephrine and dopamine. Unlike SSRI, atypical antidepressants target these two neurotransmitters to reduce depression. Common drugs under this category are bupropion, nefazodone and mirtazapine. People who are resistant to SSRI and atypical antidepressants would need a different kind of antidepressant medication. MAOI or Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors are not usually prescribed because of the many side effects. People who are on MAOIs have to avoid certain foods and drinks because it may interfere with the medicine. Elderpryl, Nardil, Zelapar and Marplan are some medications prescribed under this category.

• A very effective approach in dealing with depression is known as ‘talking cure’.

Since depression is a subjective condition, your therapist will need to understand where your depression comes from. Psychotherapy enables you to voice your negative feelings and thoughts that lead to depression and make long lasting changes in your life. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) uses this particular method in treating depression. The aim of this therapy is to try to change negative thoughts and feelings to a more constructive ones.

• Reading self-help books (bibliotherapy) that are based on new CBT and brain research findings have been acknowledged to be as effective as psychotherapy.
• Several studies on holistic approaches have been found to bring better results than other therapies. Yoga, meditation, supplements, exercise, regular sleep, a specific diet, and acupuncture have been proven to play a solid part in depression recovery.
• For severely depressed people electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is often the last resort when nothing has helped. Then electric currents are used to alter certain brain compounds to relieve symptoms. Although ECT is still controversially discussed as an anti-depression treatment, it is used today with precise electrical current calculation to reduce adverse effects.

You’re not the only one suffering from depression so you should never be ashamed of it.Dealing with depression successfully requires your participation. Ask for help and get help before your depression gets worse.

If you suffer from a depressive illness you don’t need me to tell you that it is not easy to lift yourself out of that black pit of despair. I can, however, give you a few pointers – then the rest is up to you.

Firstly, you probably did not get to the position you are in now at an exact point in time. Your episode of depression was not suddenly switched on and so it cannot be suddenly switched off. It will take some time to get straight and will have its downs as well as ups.

OK then. To start with don’t expect too much of yourself too soon.

• Begin with small goals. Break big goals into various small steps. When you manage the first then work at holding it and moving to the next. If you set too big a task you are setting yourself up for failure. Each day do the things you can manage and take on a little step forward.

• Try not to spend too much time alone. Be with others but don’t just use them as objects to direct your feelings into. They don’t want to hear them and they will avoid you pretty soon. Just be with them and try to be involved – if only a little. Having company will be better for you even if you feel that you want to be alone.

• Don’t take on any additional responsibilities. This will just serve to overload you with stress. It will also, more than likely, lead to failure and push you back in your recovery.

• Do things that make you feel better especially if they involve other people. Perhaps taking part in some form of exercise such us running or playing tennis. This can be good especially if you have been interested in these things before your illness.

• Don’t take any major decisions until you feel on top of things again. For example, don’t decide to get married or divorced, don’t make big job changes.

You will be enveloped by negative feelings which are difficult to ignore. These are part and parcel of depression. Try to understand that they are not the true you and will disappear as you recover. I know, you can’t believe me fully while you are ill – but it is true.

Whatever anyone may say, you cannot “snap out of it”. If that was possible you would have done it, right? So don’t blame yourself for your condition.

Go get help from a professional. Depression can be much too difficult to beat on your own however supportive the people around you are.