“I used to grab the bad feeling and stay there. I am much healthier than I was six months ago. I have a peace deep down and it is going deeper. It is like an elevated place or a platform where I feel safe and predictable. It is a stable place, one step up the ladder at a time.”
—The experience of a client under homeopathic care
Homeopathy is a system of natural medicine over 200 years old that uses substances from nature made into homeopathic remedies in Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-regulated pharmacies to address issues of concern. Depression, anxious feelings, low mood and energy, sleep difficulties and the winter blues are all within the scope and practice of homeopathy, and its application is shown to have incredibly positive results without harsh side effects.
There is no better time of year to be talking about depression and how it can be healed on a deep and natural level with homeopathy. We are plunged into the depths of winter, longing for the warmth of summer days and the feeling of sun on our skin and faces.
Some are more negatively affected by this time of year than others. It is estimated that 6 percent of the U.S. population in the Northern climate are affected by seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and another 14 percent have a lower form of SAD referred to as “the winter blues.” These conditions, similar to general depression, are characterized by a lack of energy, difficulty waking, weight gain and food cravings of starch and sugar. Accompanying feelings include melancholy, malaise and sadness. Concentration becomes difficult and many withdraw from friends and family. Treatment usually includes supplementation with vitamin D, light therapy, counselor care and medication.
One study of 91 patients conducted by the Department of Psychobiology at the University of Brazil in Sao Paulo showed that individualized homeopathic application performed as well as Fluoxetine (Prozac) in the treatment of moderate to severe depression.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that between the late 1990s and 2008, prescription antidepressant use rose 400 percent amongst all ages and that by 2008, 1 in 10 Americans was using an antidepressant. These are staggering figures. For those interested in a natural approach, Homeopathy holds an answer for children, teens, adults and seniors who are suffering from any form of depression, from the winter blues to major depression.
Homeopathic philosophy attests that symptoms being experienced by a person are an imbalance in the energetic system, and the application of a homeopathic remedy helps stimulate the body to heal itself and release from these stuck patterns. Thus, many find relief in using homeopathy to manage and lift the depression experience.
Some reasons that homeopathy is a wonderful choice for natural support of depression:
It is gentle and noninvasive.
Homeopathic remedies can be used in conjunction with existing medications. A person does not have to change any of his current care to begin homeopathy.
Homeopathy is incredibly inexpensive in comparison to the cost of prescription drugs. Costs involve a modest fee for consultation and remedies.
Homeopathic remedies do not have side effects.
Homeopathic remedies assist with all areas including sleep, overall energy, mood and any accompanying health concerns.
Yet can homeopathy really work as well as an antidepressant? Yes! One study of 91 patients conducted by the Department of Psychobiology at the University of Brazil in Sao Paulo showed that individualized homeopathic application performed as well as Fluoxetine (Prozac) in the treatment of moderate to severe depression. The outcomes were similar, showing that homeopathy is not inferior to this popular antidepressant. The one difference that was noted was more interruptions in care due to adverse side effects for the antidepressant group.
If you or a loved one are suffering from depression, this time of year or any other, consider homeopathy as a gentle, holistic approach to heal. For chronic or serious concerns, such as depression, homeopathy is most successful when a professional, qualified homeopath is consulted.