There are many forms of major depressions falling under the following categories:
- Depression with Psychotic Features
- Depression with Melancholic Features
- Depression with Atypical Features
- Seasonal Depression
- Postpartum Depression
- Dysthymic Disorder
If you are suffering from a major form of depression, you should seek medical attention. Holistic approaches should be used only as an adjunctive therapy. However, for milder forms of intermittent or chronic depression, there are several natural approaches that are very effective.
Herbal medicine has been used to treat chronic depression for centuries. It is a proven therapy for many medical conditions.
- Licorice is a very powerful antidepressant as it contains at least eight MAO inhibitors. These are the same inhibitors used in prescriptive medications. It is safe to consume licorice in moderate amounts. The best avenue is to make it into a tea and drink no more than 2 – 3 cups per day. Caution -Do not use this herb if you are taking anti-depressant drugs or any medication that interacts with AMO inhibitors.
- St. John’s-wort acts the same way as MAO inhibitors but less harshly. Some studies have demonstrated that this herb can be more effective in the treatment of depression and melancholy than the prescription drugs Elavil and Tofranil, and has fewer side effects. Additionally, it is proven to improve sleep. Mix one or two teaspoons of the dried herb in a cup of boiling water and steep for ten minutes. St.-John’s-wort is most effective if the tea is consumed once or twice a day for 4 – 6 weeks.
Aromatherapy can be effective for mild forms of depression or in conjunction with other therapies. They have a soothing effect that supports relaxation and promotes sleep. Aromatic essences are extracted from plants and made into essential oils. These can be put in a bath, used in a massage (make sure you use a less concentrated form specifically for skin contact) and also burned in candle form or special aromatherapy devices. The most uplifting oils are:
- Jasmine
- Chamomile
- Lavender
- Marjoram
- Neroli
- Patchouli
- Rose
- Sandalwood
- Ylang Ylang
Aromatic Bath (mild bouts of depression)
¼ cup Honey
3 drops Lavender essential oil
3 drops Ylang Ylang essential oil
2 drops Basil essential oil
2 drops Geranium essential oil
1 drop Grapefruit essential oil
Mix the essential oils in the honey. Fill tub with warm water and add the mixture. Stir well and soak for 30 minutes.
Lavender is one of most relaxing of the essential oils. Place a few drops on your pillow and you will relax quicker and fall to sleep more peacefully.
Other holistic approaches used to treat depre4ssion are a proper diet - eliminating sugars which cause a teeter totter affect on your moods due to insulin ups and downs. Exercise is known to release endorphins and this is a most effective form of anti-depressant. If depression is seasonal, light therapy may be key.