Holistic Treatment for Depression

Holistic treatment for symptoms of depression comprises of a vast number of treatment modalities. Alternative and Complimentary Medicine are now gaining more and more respect in the world of medicine although many mainstream mental health institutions are still slow to accept alternative or holistic treatment for depression, anxiety along with other physical disorders.

Medical establishments and other regulatory bodies tend to disregard alternative medicines as a viable, effective alternative. The argument most commonly used against holistic treatment for disorders such as depression is that there is not enough hard evidence or research to demonstrate their efficiency.

Many drug studies that have so far been published are done so by the very same drug companies that produces the drugs, creating a conflict of interest. There are often cases of manipulation of information by some of the drug companies for a monetary gain, bearing in mind there are millions of dollars at stake.

On the other hand, one must be cautious over the risks involved with alternative medicine. There are a vast amount of alternative remedies on the market, some offering miraculous promises although in reality, some are ineffective and some, even dangerous. However, overall, alternative medicines are generally safer than conventional drugs if taken properly with the help and advice from your general practitioner.

Depressions that are treated by holistic treatments should not exclude any other conventional treatment that works. This may mean that conventional drugs such as anti-depressants, mood stabilisers should be used. You and your doctor should carefully weigh the pros and cons of each form of treatment before making a decision as major depression and Bipolar Disorders are very serious, life threatening diseases.

Holistic treatments for depression and other health problems can treat the person as a whole. This is because holistic medicine is based upon Systems of theory, recognising that anything that is performed on ‘part’ of us affects every part of is. Treatments that are in harmony with life will benefit a person on many different levels, in many cases beyond what the treatment was initially for. By treating depression via holistic symptoms, you are likely to be healed in other areas too.

The Body
Remedies include physical modalities such as body orientated psychotherapies and hands-on healing methods such as massage therapy and Chiropractic therapy. There are many more approaches to the body such as diet and nutritional reviews (for example lack of vitamin B6/B12, D, iron and folic acid are associated with depression.

Other body therapies include:

- Herbal therapies such as St John’s Wort is very often used to treat depression.
- Acupuncture
- Acupressure
- Rolfing

Martial Arts such as Tai Chi, Kung Fu, Aikido
- Chi Gung
- Dance
- Yoga

The Mind
Therapies are mostly psychotherapies. In addition there are:

- Hypnotherapy
- Journaling
- Art therapy
- Music Therapy
- Dream therapy
- Yoga
- Mediation

The Spirit
Spiritual Modalies can involve the body and the mind. Examples include:

- Yoga
- Mediation (Buddhist)
- Shamanism
- Energy Healing
- Prayer
- Tai chi, Kung fu, Aikido