Depression can be a hard topic to talk about. It is a multifaceted issue that can be all encompassing for many individuals and can be treated in so many different ways. Before we delve into the “natural treatments” we can use for depression, it is important to understand a little more about it.
Depression is defined as a “mood disorder” characterised by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness and loss of interest or pleasure in activities. We all experience feelings of depression; however it is important to understand the difference between chronic / longstanding depression and bouts of depression.
The way depression is generally explained is a dysregulation of neurotransmitters, with alterations in brain structure and function, and disruptions in neuroendocrine pathways. You can actually use a PET scan or an FMRI to measure activity in the brain and see the difference between a depressed and non-depressed brain. So, if you’ve ever experienced chronic depression, and wondered if “it’s all in your head”, then well… yes actually it is all in your head, more specifically your brain… but no all puns aside it is real and you are not imagining it. There are real chemical and physical changes happening.
Now I am not going to talk to you about how Western medicine treats depression, as what we do as Naturopaths, is either do stuff to go alongside and just help support your current treatment through your GP and mental health care practitioner OR we are looking at doing a few things to see if we can make some significant change to prevent having to go on medication. Now, quickly, disclaimer, when it comes to mental health, we are in full support of medication when it is serious and needed. I always ensure my clients are in a place to try some natural things and most often, it is the client asking to try it as a last resort, knowing that they will hop onto medication if needed.
So, natural ways that we treat depression start with:
1. Assessing any nutrient deficiencies
First and foremost, by assessing your health through the lens of blood tests, urine samples and other forms of functional tests we can see if there are any deficiencies shown in your blood that needs to be addressed. For instance, vitamin D.
2. Omega-3 fatty acids
Low levels of Omega-3s are associated with depression and low mood. Omega-3s play an essential role in the brain, helping to regulate neurotransmitter pathways involved in mood regulation, such as serotonin and dopamine. In individuals with depression, omega-3 has been shown to reduce depressive symptoms and can also help to reduce inflammation in the brain (often worsening symptoms).
3. GABA
GABA is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, that helps to inhibit excessive neuronal firing. It is associated with calming effects, reducing stress and anxiety. GABAergic neurotransmission is also involved in mood regulation therefore supplementing GABA often has an incredible impact against depression.
4. SAMe
SAMe is involved in the creation of neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. These three neurotransmitters are all super important in mood regulation and low levels of these will cause depression.
5. Vitamin D
If you’ve ever heard of SAD (seasonal affective disorder) then you will understand that the need for vitamin D in regulating your mood and preventing depression is integral. Vitamin D plays a multifaceted role in depression as it also impacts our circadian rhythm and hormone production. Low vitamin D levels are associated with low serotonin levels (aka our “feel good hormone”) so ensuring you have enough Vitamin D is integral in depression treatment.
6. Vitamin Bs
Vitamin Bs are super important when it comes to depression, especially folate (B9), B6, and B12, as they are all essential cofactors in the synthesis of “happy” neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine. They are also required for homocysteine metabolism, and so when these vitamins are low, homocysteine can go unchecked, and high levels of homocysteine will increase your risk of depression. Therefore, simply supplementing these vitamins when there is a deficiency can help treat depression.
7. Herbal medicine: St John’s Wort
This herb has been used for centuries to treat depression. Studies suggest it may be effective in treating mild to moderate depression
8. Herbal medicine: Saffron
Some studies have shown that saffron may be as effective as some antidepressant medications in treating milk to moderate depression.
To explore these options further, book in with Abbey now.
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