Makeripples

Many of us experience more sadness and depres-sion during the winter months, when natural light is low and our physical activity level is reduced. Many nutritional deficiencies can cause depres-sion, including a lack of B12 and other B vitamins.

Many depressed people turn first to prescription antidepressants. In fact, Prozac is one of the most oft-prescribed drugs on the market. Like all pharmaceutical drugs, antidepressants create acidity in your body, which weakens it and makes it more susceptible to illness.

In addition, according to the July Townsend Letter for Doctors & Patients, side effects of these medications may include diabetes, heart disease, weight gain, and sexual problems, as well as diar-rhea, nausea, insomnia, and headache.

It is unfortunate that these mood-altering drugs are so often the first line of defense, especially if feelings of unhappiness actually have a basis in a nutritional deficiency. In such cases, falsely elevating your mood will make you feel bet-ter for awhile, but your deficiency will continue to worsen until your physical symptoms demand your attention by developing an illness.

Natural Alternatives to Drugs

Fortunately, good news is spreading about natural supplements for depression. You have probably heard about how St. John’s Wort has proven in clinical studies to be as effective as Prozac for mild to moderate depression. Other specific remedies for depression:

• 5-HTP , which contains a precursor to serotonin, an important neurotransmitter that helps regulate appetite, mood and sleep.
• SAM-e, which is involved with the metabolism of hormones and other important biological compounds, and helps with arthritis.
• GABA Plus, which helps tone down excessive brain activity and promotes a state of relaxation and peace. It also provides nutrients for mental energy and stress relief.
• Chinese Mood Elevator, a combination of 18 herbs to help calm you, keep you attentive, give you energy. It prevents that “sagging” feeling.

Other Approaches to Depression
Because depression can be a secondary re-sult of another disease or deficiency, many clients find that their mood improves when they address hypoglycemia, thyroid disorders, allergies, adrenal stress or hormonal problems. For them, the an-swer may lie not in mood-enhancing supplements but in these or other nutrients:

• B Vitamins Think “B vitamins = be happy.” This family of vitamins (which can be taken in a combination B complex, or as singles), helps enzymes in your body react chemically with other substances for energy production. Be sure to get enough B12 to prevent pernicious anemia, a potentially serious condition that mimics depression.
• Chromium GTF which helps regulate blood sugar levels to prevent afternoon slumps, par-ticularly from hypoglycemia.
• Black Cohosh, Super GLA, PMS, Monthly Maintenance and natural hormone creams.

These and other supplements can address the root causes that result in depression.
If you are depressed, you can benefit greatly from a wellness consultation from a natural health consultant. They will look at your lifestyle, nutritional habits, and overall strengths and weaknesses to put together a plan to get you back on your feet. Using full-spectrum lights to short-circuit seasonal affective disorder (SAD) can be easy and afford-able. Changing your diet can make a world of difference, too.

In addition, energy treatments such as reflexology, Reiki, and IET (Integrated Energy Therapy) will provide some of the nurturing you need during a difficult time.

Many people fail to get help for depression because they feel ashamed or because they lack the energy to begin treatment. If you are suffering from low energy and persistent feelings of sad-ness, don’t wait until you break down. Confide in someone, and enlist that person’s support to come see us. Life is too short to spend it under your own personal cloud.

Please note that certain pharmaceutical drugs may interfere with some of the supplements mentioned above. This information should not replace the advice of your medical doctor.