Turmeric more Effective than Prozac at Treating Depression. It’s common knowledge in the natural health world that pharmaceuticals often (if not always) do more harm than good. It’s also clear that foods, herbs, and other natural sources can offer similar benefits without those nasty side effects. Once again, our beliefs have been affirmed by science: A recent study published in Phytotherapy Research says that not only is turmeric effective at treating depression, it may even be more effective than some of the most common anti-depressant drugs currently on the market. While previous studies have indicated the effectiveness of turmeric (curcumin) in treating serious depression, this study was the first randomized controlled clinical trial of its kind.
Researchers with the Department of Pharmacology of Government Medical College in Bhavnagar, Gujarat, India compared the effects of turmeric and Prozac (fluoxetine), both used together and individually, in 60 patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD). How Processed Foods and Sugars Cause Depression. Dr. MercolaWaking Times Research shows that the food you eat can have a profound effect on your mental health. So, regardless of your mental health problem, the importance of addressing your diet simply cannot be overstated.
In a very real sense, you have two brains — one in your head, and one in your gut. Both are created from the same tissue during fetal development, and they’re connected via your vagus nerve, the tenth cranial nerve that runs from your brain stem to your abdomen. It is now well established that the vagus nerve is the primary route your gut bacteria use to transmit information to your brain, which helps explain why mental health appears to so intricately connected to your gut microbiome1 — the bacteria and other microbes living in your gut. Gut bacteria also produce mood-boosting neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). The Strong Link Between Sugar and Depression Other Processed Food Ingredients That Promote Depression Dr. 10 Ways to Treat Depression Without Antidepressants.
Sarah Landrum, ContributorWaking Times You’ve probably been told that antidepressants correct the chemical imbalance in your brain. As it turns out, that’s not quite true. In fact, antidepressants might be doing you more harm than good. Even if antidepressants do work, the fact remains that they’re insanely expensive. Considering how depression treatments can last a lifetime, it’s impractical to spend something like $21 to $1,000 a month just to keep the blues under control.
Depression is already a burden enough by itself, without all the financial consequences that come with it. It’s better to view antidepressants as a last resort, and try some – or all – of these alternative treatments first. 1. When you’re depressed, negative thoughts pour into your mind like water from a broken dam. Nothing – except meditation. 2. Then again, maybe being an almost-Buddhist isn’t your thing. In that case, try exposing yourself to funny TV shows/movies/books/what-have-yous. 3. Don’t listen to it. 4. 5. 6. Depression: It’s Not Your Serotonin. Dr. Kelly Brogan, M.D., Green Med InfoWaking Times Millions believe depression is caused by ‘serotonin deficiency,’ but where is the science in support of this theory? “Depression is a serious medical condition that may be due to a chemical imbalance, and Zoloft works to correct this imbalance.” Herein lies the serotonin myth. As one of only two countries in the world that permits direct to consumer advertising, you have undoubtedly been subjected to promotion of the “cause of depression.”
What if I told you that, in 6 decades of research, the serotonin (or norepinephrine, or dopamine) theory of depression and anxiety has not achieved scientific credibility? You’d want some supporting arguments for this shocking claim. So, here you go: The Science of Psychiatry is Myth Rather than some embarrassingly reductionist, one-deficiency-one-illness-one-pill model of mental illness, contemporary exploration of human behavior has demonstrated that we may know less than we ever thought we did. Dr. Real talk: I've suffered from depression. Have you? This can help. Ready for some reality? In a place where the “pursuit of happiness” is one of our most inalienable rights, it often feels out of reach to me. This past winter, I had an entire month where I didn't want to do anything.
I blamed it on "needing a break," but now that the sun's been out more I've realized the truth. I was depressed. (You may have noticed the lack of emails from me.) More specifically, I was suffering from seasonal affective disorder. At the time, I didn't want to admit anything was wrong with me. In truth, it was my body craving some rather basic nutrients -- primarily vitamin D. I know I'm not alone. The statistics are both alarming and heartbreaking… Depression in its myriad forms has swiftly become the leading cause of disability worldwide. In the United States alone, 1 in 4 adults suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder. But not all is well with our pharmacological approach to mood disorders. Granted, when appropriate, prescription drugs have their place in medicine. New Study Finds Cannabis May be Effective in Treating Depression : Waking Times.
Jan Smithers, GuestWaking Times A new study from the Research Institute on Addictions links cannabis to lowering the symptoms of depression. The study proved positive when treating chronic stress in rats, although due to the complex nature of treating depression, further research is necessary. It’s becoming common knowledge that cannabis may help people find relief from the symptoms of depression, but until recently, there was no scientific evidence to back this claim. Other research has found that cannabis can be effective in treating a variety of mental and physical conditions, including PTSD and chronic pain. Now, we can add depression to this list. Scientists at the Research Institute on Addictions (part of the University of Buffalo in New York) found that the chemical compounds endocannabinoids may help treat depression caused by chronic stress.
Endocannabinoids are the same compounds in the brain that are activated by THC receptors. Sources: New Research Reveals the Real Causes of Depression. Dr. MercolaWaking Times Depression is thought to affect about one in 10 Americans.1 In 2010, antidepressants were the second most commonly prescribed type of medication in the US,2 hinting at the severity of the problem. Contrary to popular belief, depression is not likely caused by unbalanced brain chemicals; however there are a number of other biological factors that appear to be highly significant. Chronic inflammation is one. As noted in the featured article:3 “George Slavich, a clinical psychologist at the University of California in Los Angeles, has spent years studying depression, and has come to the conclusion that it has as much to do with the body as the mind.
‘I don’t even talk about it as a psychiatric condition anymore,’ he says. Inflammation and Depression As discussed in an article by Dr. Using Brain Scans to Help Choose Treatment Type Speaking of biomarkers, research11 by Dr. Dr. The Links Between Gut and Mental Health Low-Sugar Diet Is an Important Anti-Depressant Tool. Antidepressants May be Worsening Depression, Not Treating It. Julie Fidler, Natural SocietyWaking Times Could it all be based on a myth? For years we’ve been told that depression is caused by low serotonin levels in the brain. Now, a leading professor of psychiatry is warning that belief is little more than a dangerous miscommunication, saying the marketing of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) drugs is “based on a myth.” SSRI use began to skyrocket in the early 1990’s. The drugs were seen as a safer alternative to tranquilizers, which were the standard treatment for depression until that time.
Despite being weaker than old-style tricyclic antidepressants, they grew in popularity because it was believed they restored serotonin levels back to normal, “a notion that later transmuted into the idea that they remedied a chemical imbalance,” said David Healy, head of psychiatry at the Hergest psychiatric unit in Bangor, North Wales. “For doctors it provided an easy short hand for communication with patients,” Healy wrote. Research: Antidepressants Don't Work and May Make Depression Worse. Alex Pietrowski, Staff WriterWaking Times [Editor’s Note: This article is about recent research on the chemical causes of depression and the use of SSRI antidepressants to address these causes.
There are many other types of antidepressants available, and antidepressants, including SSRI’s, do help many people through depression. This research, and this article, simply highlight another perspective and another side of this important story, and should not be intended as medical advice for anyone.] At present, over 10% of people over the age of 12 in the United States take some type of antidepressant, and depression is the number one cause of medical disability in both the United States and Canada. Fighting depression is big business, and financial analysts are forecasting notable growth in the antidepressant market in coming years, while yearly sales in the US top $5 billion.
Conclusion ‘”It’s time we rethink what we are doing,” Andrews says. About the Author Sources: Conclusion About the Author. The Depression Sessions: A FREE Online Event from Underground Wellness. Overcoming depression caused by ghost possession. SSRF publishes these case studies with the intention of providing some direction to our readers with regard to problems that manifest at a physical or psychological level, but which can have their root cause in the spiritual dimension. When the root cause of a problem is spiritual in nature we have observed that the inclusion of spiritual healing remedies generally gives the best results.
SSRF advises continuation of conventional medical treatment along with spiritual healing remedies for the treatment of physical and psychiatric illnesses. Readers are advised to take up any spiritual healing remedy at their own discretion. 1. The case Elizabeth is a successful young woman of 27 years, with a good track of career in research and development. “I come from a very good family. “I started working during my studies and managed these two obligations simultaneously with ease. 2. This is a photograph of Elizabeth during this diagnosis and treatment session. ^Top 3. 4. How It Feels To Have An Anxiety Disorder Explained In 12 Self Portraits. Photographer Katie Joy Crawford has wrestled with anxiety disorder her entire life, which is why she was especially qualified to create this gripping photo series showing us what it’s like to live with this burden. “Anxiety bars the sufferer from the risk of discovery, the desire to explore new ideas, and the possibility of exiting a comfort zone,” she writes in the description of her project, ‘My Anxious Heart.’
“It makes sure that it will never be alone. It finds you when you’re in the midst of joy, or alone in your own mind. It is quiet and steady, reminding you of your past failures, and fabricating your future outcomes.” The project is a deeply personal one for Crawford; “Using my own stories and experiences, I am capturing the raw essence of anxiety. Through this personal journey, I have grown and found that depicting my fears has become therapeutic, as well as a gateway for others to express their oppression and begin their own healing process.” A captive of my own mind. Studies Link Social Anxiety To Empathetic Ability, High IQs, & Sentinel Intelligence.