From the natural perspective, depression is an important part of life that everyone experiences at one point or another. The causes are many, but as I see it, depression is nature’s way of making us stop and look at problems in life, and take time to correct them. Depression can just disappear when the cause is found and the problem addressed.
Modern medicine has a mistaken belief that anti-depressants are the answer; but these medications may actually hinder the healing process. Anti-depressants can be useful for a short time. Typical results are an emotional numbness and a reduction in sex drive, with other side effects (see drug labesl), and create a dependence that is hard break.
The main cause of depression in WOMEN is hormonal imbalances caused by birth control devices, dairy, meat, or other nutritional deficiencies. Premenopausal women may use 3 Vitex capsules or 4 Blessed Thistle capsules a day. Post-menopausal women can use Eleutherococcus (Siberian Ginseng) at 6 capsules a day and may add 4 capsules of Suma. (This will help the adrenal glands to produce the proper hormones and promote healthy function.)
The thyroid can also be a physical cause; symptoms are weight gain, lethargy, depression, etc. Use kelp and other natural products to promote a healthy thyroid function. See your doctor to test the thyroid if it is suspected.
Other causes of depression include digestive problems, often caused by stress or other factors. The stomach contains MORE SERITONIN than the BRAIN! Hence, the term “gut reaction.” Use natural digestive enhancers and avoid all acid reducers and neutralizers. Parasites can also be a cause; symptoms include dark circles under the eyes and nervous irritability with digestive disturbances. This is mostly seen in children. There may also be heavy metal toxicity which natural detox supplements help.
What you can do naturally is to stay away from tobacco, alcohol, coffee, black tea, and sodas.
Emotional issues can be cause, from many different emotional traumas specific to the individual. Therefore, it is necessary to use the specific homeopathic remedy in combination with the Cell Salt Solution and supportive herbs.
***Do not go off your medications without consulting your doctor. Even then, get off one medication at a time over a 2-month period. Slow down or stop your drug withdrawal if you do not see adequate results from natural medications.
Important reading material includes: Your Drug May be Your Problem, Toxic Psychiatry, Prozac Panacea.
Herbs for Depression
Herbs are plants valued for their specific strengthening/ tonifying properties.
Herbal combinations:
Dave’s Mood Formula herbs traditionally used to help nourish and strengthen the nervous system. Formula: Melissa (Lemon balm), Hops, Mistletoe, Bitter Orange, Peppermint, and Valerian.
Dave’s Positive Mind Formula herbs traditionally used to calm the mind, help with pent up emotions, and lift the spirit. Formula: Radix Polygala Tennifoliae, Albizzia, Flos Lonicerae Japonicea, Red Sandalwood, Blue violet, Lavender, and Squawvine herb.
Herb singles:
Lavender – “Stagnant depression.” A traumatic event in a life is fixated to the present from an event, and the person is acclimated to the old event as if it is still happening. Sleep, gas, nausea, churning stomach. Post traumatic stress syndrome.
Damiana – depression where the sex drive is lowered; can be from sexual abuse.
Rosemary – depression from an emotional trauma that “strikes to the heart.” They often have liver headaches, red eyes, sharp pains, nausea, and are constipated. Good for a weak memory too.
St. John’s Wort – effective for mild and moderate depression. There may be a sour stomach and negative attitude, lacking the day-today join in life. Modern medicine feels this herb will interfere with anti-depressants. But in several years of experience I’ve never seen any problems.
Melissa (Lemon balm) – mild mood elevator. Depression with sleep problems. Cognitive depression. Useful for seasonal affective disorder and mild hypertension, also calms heart palpitations.
Black Cohosh – menopausal depression (combine with Vitex). Doom and gloom attitude. There feels like a black cloud overhead.
Gingko Biloba – depression associated with the elderly. Impaired vision, memory, and other cognitive problems.
Rhodiola – nervous depression. Immune weakness. Energy without stimulation. Improves circulation and increases oxygen to the head.
Schizandra – depressed without coffee to get going in the morning. Depression with liver problems. Strengthens the hypothalamus, pituitary and adrenals. Energizing and normalizes the nervous system.
Korean Panax Ginseng – depression from extreme fatigue where they are too tired to sleep. Improves energy. May be too stimulating at times.
American Ginseng – calming and rejuvenating. Depression from Fibromyalgia or Chronic Fatigue.
Ashwaganda – depressed and over stimulated muscles. Depression from Fibromyalgia.
Eleutherococcus (Siberian Ginseng) – long-term use for mild depression, exhaustion. Often for those who drink recreationally with loss of sleep. Also for menopausal women with motivation problems.
Cell Salts to Help With Depression
To make a cell salt solution, put up to 10 tablets of each cell salt in a 16- to 24-ounce bottle; fill with water and swirl to dissolve tablets. Sip throughout the day.
#6 Kali phos 6X – nervous conditions and depression
#9 Nat mur 6X – for grief, depression, and sadness
#11 Nat sulph 6X – for negativity, anger, suicidal feelings, and liver support
Depression Homeopathic Remedies
Homeopathic remedies are non-toxic natural medicines safe for everyone including infants and pregnant or nursing women. You may use 6X, 30X, 6C or 30C potencies.
Aurum metallicum (#1) – suicidal with despair, worse at night, extreme insomnia, nothing but a bright sunny day will lift their spirits or hope. Person forms strong attachments with people, they suffer in silence with no consolation. Heartache, reminiscing, sighing with grief. High blood pressure, life is a burden. Self esteem is tied to work.
Natrum muriaticum (#2) – won’t cry in public. Sentimental with flatness, can get their eyes watery in a vulnerable spot. Depression from grief or loss (sighing). Denies depression, “I’ve already worked it out.” Keeps to themselves, isolation, the quiet type. Shock, fear, anger, insults, offenses, frustration, and aggression.
Cimicifuga – feeling as if a dark cloud is overhead. Think that they might be crazy and are oversensitive to noises. Sleeplessness affects everything. Better for warmth and fresh air, worse in cold.
Ignatia – depression from over work and nerve exhaustion of caring for others. Hysterical at times. Sighs much. Homesickness. The wiped-out personality type is considerably vegetative, oversensitivity, unhappy love and chronic worry, easily offended. Better from warmth, worse from stress.
Lachesis – jealous, suspicious, talkative persons. Logic may be impaired. They cannot bear tight clothing.[or tight things about the neck]. These patients sleep into an aggravation (worse after sleeping). Worse from warmth, better from cold and fluid discharges. (sweating, urination, etc.)
Natrum sulph – liver problems, overwork, or head injury. Severely depressed, suicidal, must restrain themselves. Conflict and weariness. Worse in winter.
Phosphoric acid – depression from emotional worry, homesickness for family or friends that have already died. Bothered that they don’t recognize anyone, they seem confused and feel emotional pain, sleepy, whines often, is apathetic and doesn’t want to talk. Desires warmth.
Pulsatilla – hormonal triad of self pity, sadness, loneliness. Strong need to express one’s self, weeping, needs consolation, sitting at home, please hug me look, needs pity.
Sepia – hormonal depression, results of estrogen dominance (from the pill or childbirth). Angry and yelling; wants to be alone. Apathetic to family duties as well as job. Tendency to George Bernard Shaw said, “When you begin, that you sacrifice, then you end, then you hate that which you have sacrificed for.” Keynotes: wants to be physically active but has no sex drive.
Staphysagria – grief, putting self down, will never amount to anything, won’t talk, and feels worthless, guilt, depressed. Often from rape or from a no-win situation. Humiliation.
Source: Dave’s Healing Notes
