MARINA SOKOLOVA: Beat that depression.

Depression was probably first named as a condition by Hippocrates, who named it melancholia. Throughout history many famous people have suffered from it: Solomon, Abraham Lincoln, Diana, Winston Churchill, J.K. Rowling, Anne Rice, and many more. It is estimated that there might be about 300 million of people in the world today suffering from depression. If you are one of them, do not despair – many ways have been found to deal with this illness.

Conventional treatments.

One should not hesitate to see her or his doctor about depression. Patients usually get prescribed counselling and/or antidepressants. Antidepressants need to be taken for long time, usually until one has at least few months without symptoms, then the course can be considered complete. Many people shy away from antidepressants, but that is wrong. Modern drugs that treat depression are much less addictive and work better.

Complimentary therapies.

Acupressure.

Lightly press an acupoint that is called Governing Vessel 26 with the edge of a fingernail for no longer than one minute. This acupoint is located in the groove right between the nose and the upper lip. It is important to press it very lightly as doing it hard is believed to increase blood pressure.

Aromatherapy.

The essential oils that help to reduce depression are rose, rosemary, calendula, and sandal. Rose essential oil should not be used by pregnant women. Otherwise one can eat one drop of rose oil on tea spoon of honey twice a day or massage in 3 drops of rose oil mixed with 20grams of base oil. Base oil in aromatherapy can be any of the following oils: Apricot Kernel, Avocado, Coco Butter, Grape-seed, Hazelnut, Jojoba, Sweet Almond or Wheat Germ. Another way to use rose essential oil for depression is putting 2 drops in an oil burner.

Rosemary essential oil should not be used by those who are pregnant, have sensitive skin, or going through a chemo therapy course. It can be applied with a massage – 8 drops mixed with 20grams of base oil, added to bath - 10 drops, or put in the oil burner – 2 drops.

Camomile essential oil should not be used during the first 7 month of pregnancy. For easing depression one can ether eat 2 drops on 1 tea spoon of honey twice a day or put couple of drops in an oil burner.

Another essential oil that serves as antidepressant is sandalwood. It should not be used with serious illnesses of the kidneys. It is best to apply it with a massage - 9 drops mixed with 20g of base oil or burn it in an oil burner – 2 drops.

Bach Flower Remedies.

Mustard is good for depression that has no apparent reason, when unhappiness descends and then lifts like a cloud without an identifiable cause. Gentian is for depression from any known reason. It is particularly good during setbacks that cause discouragement or disappointment.

Colour Therapy.

Orange colour brings changes in the biochemical structure resulting in the dispersing of depression. Yellow is the colour of detachment and can help to detach from obsessional thoughts, feeling, and habits. Magenta enables us to let go of ideas and thought patterns which are no longer right for us. If you have clothes of those colours you might want to try wearing them a bit more. Otherwise you can simply meditate with a particular colour in mind. For example, you can imagine orange light of sunset, feel the orange sun rays on your skin, inhale it, imagine it filling you, glowing inside you or something similar that you personally are comfortable with.

Chakras.

It is helpful to cleanse and balance root cakra, also called base centre, when dealing with depression. It is located at the base of the spine. Its symbol is deep red lotus flower with four petals. It’s a centre of physical energy and vitality, sense of smell, will, and power. When this centre functions fully, it gives person a strong will to live on the physical plane and he or she is filled with vitality and energy and enjoys life.

If however, this centre is blocked, the person’s energy levels are low, there is

no enthusiasm for life and he or she feel unable to carry daily work. It is believed that activities like cooking and cleaning at home, sitting on the ground, walking barefoot and dancing can help to balance this chakra.

In addition, here is a small meditation that should clean your root chakra of any stale energy:

Take a deep breath through your nose and hold it for about four seconds then slowly exhale it through your mouth, do this again. Slowly release the tension in your body until you are completely relaxed. Visualize or feel a round and transparent ball, coloured in a beautiful shade of ruby red, floating inside your body near the base of your spine. Mentally look at this ball. Notice if it has any areas of darkness. Inhale deeply through your nose, and imagine that a white light feels the red sphere and cleanses it of impurities. As you exhale through your mouth imagine that any negative or stale energy lives that sphere and your body. Continue breathing in and out deeply in this manner, until you can gain a mental picture of perfectly clean and transparent chakra. Repeat this meditation few times on different days and you should notice significant difference in the way you feel.

Reflexology.

The following procedure that employs reflexology may also help you during time of depression. Let your middle fingers fall into each foot’s solar plexus point, press as you inhale and release pressure as you exhale. Walk with your thumb over the head of each toe, especially the big toe.

Vitamins and minerals.

Depression can occur from deficiency of vitamin B and/or magnesium. Buy your self a vitamin B complex and magnesium with calcium as calcium helps body to absorb magnesium.

Herbs.

The most popular herb against depression nowadays is St. John’s wort. It is not addictive and has an antidepressive effect in the treatment of mild and moderate depression, which makes it as effective as some traditional antidepressants. However, it makes the contraceptive pill very ineffective. A different popular herb is Kava kava. It can help to restore peace of mind by easing nervous anxiety, insomnia, and restlessness. Another well-researched herb is Gingo biloba. It helps by improving the circulation to the brain and can also serve as a mood elevator.

Homeopathy.

Natrum muriaticum 6x is for those who feel sad, depressed, weepy and tend to brood about unpleasant events. Lycopodium 6x is most suitable for person who is sensitive, fearful, afraid to be alone, usually anticipates an ordeal, nervous before a test or public appearance and does not like doing anything new. Sulphur 6x would help most people who are depressed and hopeless. However it is especially suited for someone whose state of mind is dominated by imagination, or person that dwells to much on religious or philosophical subjects, or one that is very indifferent to personal appearance. Calcarea carbonica helps those who are fearful and lack self-confidence. If you choose any of the above homeopathic remedies, take one tablet three times a day for six days.

Stones.

A ring with hyacinth gives hope and treats its owner from depression. However it is believed that it can cause a female to lose her lover. A stone called garnet gives optimism, heals the mind, extinguish depression and balances the root chakra. Although, it is not advisable to wear garnet to those whose star sign is Taurus or Cancer. Set in gold olivine-chrysolite also heals mind and relieves depression and it is suitable for anyone.

Feng Shui.

Depressed person has too much yin energy and lacks sufficient amount of yang energy. To increase yang energy in one it is advised to eat yang food, do yang activities and spend more time on the sunny side of the home, which has more yang. Yang food is beans, root vegetables, grains, fish, eggs, meat, salt. Where as yin food is leafy vegetables, tofu, salads, fruits, liquids, ice cream, and sugar. Yang physical activities are those that are very energetic such as fast walking, running, aerobics, tennis, dancing, gardening, football and the like. Yin activities are more relaxed and peaceful such as meditation, yoga, stretching, sunbathing, etc. Yang mental activities involve some mental exercise. It can be studying, doing accounts, playing games that requires thinking such as chess or cards. Yin mental activities involve more leisure. It is watching television, reading, listening to music, chatting, painting and the like.

Witchcraft.

Collect some rainwater during the full moon. Wash your face, head and hair with it. While you do it, ask the water to wash all the negativity of you and mother earth to accept it.

Dealing with depression may seem very overwhelming. You may think: “How can I do it, if waking up with the symptoms of depression is almost unbearable and it takes all my strength to get through the day?” You need to remember that depression is highly treatable. You can take an active role in managing your illness. Take it a day at a time, try different approaches, reach out for help and before your know it in few month or a year, depending how bad is your depression, you will forget you had it.