Depression is more than feeling down. It’s like living under a cloud all the time. In Asian medicine, liver stagnation is at the core of depression. That’s because a healthy liver is needed to maintain even blood sugar levels, filter blood, and remove waste products as well as negative emotions. If the liver is impaired, the filtration process becomes weakened; toxins circulate throughout the body and affect the brain. Of course, life can present us with difficult circumstances that leave us depressed. Many people also find that during the grayer months (from October to April), they experience Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which includes depression, lack of energy, weight gain, and decreased libido. Here’s what you can do to clear those clouds away and feel better.
HERBS THAT BOOST YOUR MOOD
The following herbs have been traditionally used to lift people’s spirits. Use one to three times daily in tea, tincture, or capsule form:
• Saint-John’s-wort slightly inhibits both A and B monoamine oxidase, thus slowing down the breakdown of neurotransmitters norepinephrine and serotonin. It also appears to inhibit serotonin reuptake and is good for mild to moderate depression. Many studies, including one published in the German medical journal, Fortschritte der Medizin in 1993, show its benefits on mild to moderate depression.
• Lemon balm is useful for depression, homesickness, insomnia, nervousness, nightmares, and coping with difficult life situations. The famous Arabian physician Avicenna said of this herb, “It causeth the mind and heart to be merry.” It makes a lovely tasting tea.
• Motherwort is effective for depression, anxiety, exhaustion, gloom, and hysteria.
• Oat straw is high in the nerve nutrients calcium and silica, which means it helps soothe the nervous system.
A popular remedy that contains several of these herbs is Phyto-Proz by Gaia Herbs. It can be found at many health food stores.
BEST FOODS FOR DEPRESSION
Eating the right foods can help ease the blues. Consume raw, soaked chia seeds daily for their omega-3 brain-nourishing properties. Fish is especially beneficial for depression because it contains essential fatty acids that are excellent brain food. Eat several servings a week of cold-water fish such as salmon, tuna, or mackerel, or supplement with 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of a good-quality fish oil each day.
When blood sugar elevations shift from extreme highs to low, emotions might also seem like a rollercoaster ride. Avoid refined foods like white sugar, white bread, white flour, and white rice, which contribute to high blood sugar levels. The pancreas tries to compensate by secreting extra insulin, giving you a temporary lift with an undesirable let down feeling later. Instead, consume small frequent complex carbohydrate meals that keep blood sugar levels even. Eat whole grains such as brown rice, buckwheat, quinoa, millet, and oatmeal. Foods like beans, tempeh, root vegetables such as carrots and dandelion root, green leafy vegetables, miso soup, onions, and scallions are also stabilizing to the blood sugar. Use basil, ginger, and oregano as condiments, which are herbs with high essential oil content that can invigorate the brain.
Thrifty Cures
Two ripe bananas a day help production of serotonin and norepinephrine, brain chemicals that can make you feel happier.
Chew your food well, breathe deeply, and try to be in a relaxed state when dining. A blessing before a meal can help put you in the right frame of mind.
ESSENTIAL OILS FOR DEPRESSION
Using essential oils has been shown to enhance moods. This is due at least in part to the close proximity of the nerve endings in the nasal cavities and the brain. Essential oils used to lift one’s spirits include basil, bergamot, cedar wood, cinnamon, clay sage, clove, coriander, geranium, jasmine, lavender, neroli, palmers, patchouli, peppermint, rose, rosemary, rosewood, sandal-wood, thyme, vetiver, wintergreen, and ylang-ylang.
GOOD TO KNOW!
It has been estimated that between 15 and 20 percent of all depressed people have low thyroid function or hypothyroidism. If you do have hypothyroidism, eat mineral-rich sea vegetables such as dulse, kelp, or wakame to nourish the thyroid and boost a sluggish metabolism. For more information on thyroid disorders, visit www.thyroid-info.com.
You can use these oils in diffusers to scent an entire room, or add a few drops to bath water or massage oils. Massage is an excellent way to improve circulation and wake your mind and body. You can also simply open the bottle and take 10 deep inhalations. Repeat as necessary. Note that you should never ingest essential oils.
SOOTHING PRACTICES TO ALLEVIATE DEPRESSION
Exercise stimulates endorphin production. It also increases the brain’s intake of the essential nutrient oxygen. Spending time near a river, ocean, or even a fountain can also boost serotonin levels. The negative ions in running water will also improve your mood. A brisk walk in the radiance of nature or gardening and helping things grow will also lift your spirits. You’ll also be exposed to the sun, which will elevate your mood if you have SAD.
Delight your senses with color, beauty, and aromas. Wear uplifting colors to make your mood brighter. Pleasing pinks, scarlets, and oranges may well have a beneficial effect on your outlook. Brighten your living environment too. A clean, comfortable space with pleasant colors, art, and flowers will do a lot more for your head space than dirt, dreariness, and clutter. Yoga and t’ai chi stimulate one’s life force too. Listen to beautiful and rhythmic music and dance!
Skip This!
Alcohol is in itself a depressant and is the last thing a depressed person needs. Food allergies, sensitivities, and food additives such as chemical sweeteners and colors may be perceived by the body as foreign particles, thus causing a brain allergy and mood changes. Yeast in food, sugars, fruits, and juices can aggravate yeast overgrowth, which can lead to the blues. Keep a food journal to help correlate dietary patterns to moods.
Here are a few other ways to improve your mood:
• Choose ten activities to accomplish every day (even if it is as simple as getting dressed and making the bed).
• Write down goals that you can accomplish.
• Learn a new skill to build your self-esteem.
• Listen to uplifting and motivating tapes.
• Enjoy books and movies that are inspiring.
• Get counseling and share your feelings.
• Let go of old scripts from the past and other peoples’ opinions.
• Start loving and forgiving yourself.
• Spend time with happy uplifting people.
• Pray or meditate to reconnect with our Source.
• Find some creative outlet such as writing poetry, working with clay, or music. Creativity helps to counteract depression.
• Count your blessings!
WHEN TO SEE YOUR M.D.
If you are seriously depressed, see a mental health professional. Don’t try to go it alone. If you are suicidal, temporary hospitalization may be necessary.
This Best Foods That Fight Depression article is taken from :
The Country Almanac of Home Remedies - Brigitte Mars
