Depression

Depression is one of the leading causes of disability affecting more than 120 million people worldwide. Anti-depressant medications are now the most popular class of drugs in the U.S. as prescriptions for SSRIs increased by 1300% from 1990 to 2000.

Depression can be described by a state of low mood, persistent sadness, loss of pleasure and an aversion to activity that lasts for at least 2 weeks. A person can have physical symptoms such as weight loss, weight gain, loss of appetite, gain in appetite, fatigue, insomnia, hypersomnia, feelings of worthlessness, sadness, loss of concentration, guilt. Depressed mood can be a normal reaction to some life events, although when symptoms are continuous for weeks it may be considered a mood disorder.

Healing Depression with Naturopathic Medicine

A naturopathic approach to addressing depression can include any of the following: dietary changes, exercise recommendations, specific nutrient therapy, amino acid therapy to balance serotonin levels, herbal medicines, homeopathic medicines and counseling. Neurotransmitter testing may be indicated for some people to help evaluate levels of serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, epinephrine, melatonin, and others. We will explore the cause of your symptoms and may recommend natural medicines, lifestyle adjustments, counseling or bodywork such as craniosacral therapy, acupuncture or massage therapy to help re-establish balance in your physical and mental health.

Naturopathic medicine provides natural and holistic care solutions for most acute and chronic conditions. The goal of care is different from conventional medicine because the focus is addressing the underlying cause of illness not just the symptoms.

When you address the underlying dysfunction in the body and restore the biochemical balance to all organ systems, symptoms resolve on their own.