Dr. Chaitali Shah

Depression is a state of mind that adversely affects the way a person thinks, feels and behaves. In today’s times, we are more aware of the concepts of mental health and hence, come across more and more cases of depression and other mental or emotional illnesses like mood disorders, anxiety neurosis, behavioral problems, etc. A lot of factors predispose us to such conditions and determine the state of our mental health. To name a few:

1. A overtly competitive environment

2. Unfulfilled desires

3. Dissatisfying relationships

4. Performance pressures

5. Societal Pressures

In most cases, depression or other mental illnesses do not have a single cause. Rather, it results from a mix of factors i.e. your genes, events in your past, your current circumstances, and much more.

Mental illnesses, like many other behavioral health issues, has complex interacting Biological, Psychological, Social and Environmental contributing factors.

Depression in teenagers is very common owing to hormonal changes and increased stress of coping with studies and the social world. Similarly, depression is very commonly seen in women post giving birth to a child. Genetic factors also play an important role in triggering depression in a person.

Signs and Symptoms of depression:

1. Constant feeling of sadness irrespective of the company.

2. Thoughts or attempts of suicide: Thinking that suicide will solve all problems.

3. Fatigue: A state of decreased energy levels.

4. Helplessness and Hopelessness: Living with a thought that nothing will ever get better.

5. Loss of interest in daily activities: Lack of interest in your hobbies, your favorite pastimes or social activities, or sex etc.

6. Appetite or weight changes: Significant weight loss or weight gain.

7. Sleeping disorders: Either insomnia, especially waking in the early hours of the morning, or oversleeping.

8. Irritability: Low tolerance level.

9. Loss of energy: Feeling fatigued, sluggish, and physically drained.

10. Self-loathing: Feeling of worthlessness or guilt.

11. Concentration Issues: Trouble focusing or remembering things.

Homeopathy For Depression:

In the initial stages or in the milder forms or in people who are not aware of the disease, depression can go unidentified till its implications become too obvious. People often overlook it as a mere low mood assuming it as a part of their psychological makeup. Even families or spouses start accommodating accordingly, thereby making identification of depression all the more difficult. Homeopathic treatment for depression is a great form of alternative medicine and a natural therapy without any side effects of the medication.

Advantages of using Homeopathy for Depression:

The best part of homeopathic treatment is that the homeopathic medicines are totally side effect free and long term use leads to no damage to the body. They also do not cause any sedation, thereby not hampering the normal functioning in the person’s daily life.

The options in conventional treatments are either to take antidepressant medications which have side effects and implications on the person’s general well-being. However, homeopathic medicines not only help in treating the illness but also help to support the patient emotionally and physically, by not disrupting the normal functioning of day to day life.

There are a lot of medicines in homeopathy which may be used to treat these sort of emotional disturbances, after a detailed understanding of the behavior of a person; his/her complete biological and genetic status, his/her past and existing medical conditions, the life-space, etc. 

It is always recommended to consult a homeopath and not self-medicate, it requires a skilled and well-trained homeopath to identify the correct remedy and the corresponding potency (power and dosage) of the medicines for each patient.

It's a general saying that homeopathy is not suitable for all age groups, however, this is not the case. It actually works for all age groups. It can be used to cure diseases such as Malaria, Dengue and can be used during pregnancy easily as there are no side effects. Another important yet crucial disease where homeopathy helps is Cancer

The disruption of the normal menstrual cycle after the age of about 45 years and the consequent loss of the ability to conceive is known as menopause. The associated symptoms of menopause are heat flushes, insomnia, weight gain, depression, nausea and fatigue. While hormone replacement therapy is the most common treatment to provide relief from menopausal symptoms, homeopathic remedies can be used for the same to give the patient a natural process of treatment without any side effects as opposed to hormone replacement therapy.

The following complementary measures along with homeopathic medicines may be used to treat menopause:

1. A balanced diet which provides optimal nutrition can be helpful. When one gets enough vitamins and minerals, the physical discomfort caused by the symptoms can be reduced greatly.

2. Excessive deposition of fat can interfere with the hormonal cycles and cause imbalances in the level of estrogen and progesterone. So, regular yoga and exercise can be helpful.

3. Phytoestrogen or dietary estrogen is a compound found in foods such as soybeans, oats, barley, carrots, fenugreek, rice etc. Phytoestrogen can provide natural relief from menopausal symptoms.

4. Amylenum nitrosum – Provides relief from profuse sweating, shortness of breath and palpitations.

5, Phosphorus – It can help with migraines, extreme sweating, numb hands, fast pulse, memory problems and dry and itchy skin. Foods high in phosphorus content are meat, fish, cheese, nuts and seeds of pumpkins, sunflowers etc.

6. Aurum metallicum – Is used to get the tissues and organs to function normally again and control feelings of anxiety and claustrophobia.

7. Aconitum napellus – Is a flowering plant and its extracts can reduce panic attacks, heat flushes, over excitability and depressive symptoms.

8. Argentum nitricum – Is a nitrate compound of silver which is used to control excessive bleeding in the pre-menstrual stages.

9. Belladonna – Is beneficial for a large number of symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, insomnia, frequent urination, osteoporosis, abnormal weight gain and other nervous disorders.

10. Bryonia alba – A flowering plant, is used as a remedy for vaginal infections, rashes and vaginal dryness that are common during menopause.

11. Natrum muriaticum – In small amounts, helps to reduce stress. Stress can cause problems in thyroid function, cognitive functioning, digestive system functioning and it can elevate blood pressure levels rapidly.

12. Nux vomica – Is a common homeopathic medicine for nausea, vomiting and indigestion. These problems are seen frequently in menopausal women, especially after meals at night.

These remedies mentioned are just examples to explain how Homeopathic medicines can help with menopause. However, one should never self-medicate without consulting a qualified Homeopathic Physician.

The fundamental principle of Homeopathy is the Law of Similars or 'like cures like'. Homeopathy looks at the general health condition of the person and then remedies are prescribed that can stimulate the body to function to its optimum capacity by initiating it’s natural healing processes without introducing harmful chemicals. This can naturally eliminate diseased cells and tissues from the body.

Here are 5 reasons to switch to Homeopathy:

1. Individualized treatment

 A homeopathic practitioner evaluates the patient's overall health and discusses his problems and expectations before prescribing treatment. All the homeopathic remedies are made with the individual's specific climatic conditions, allergies, stress factors, food habits and lifestyle in mind. Homeopathy also optimizes the immune system (unlike allopathy, which weakens it) and it is equally effective for physical and psychological disorders.

2. No side effects

Homeopathic medicines are made from natural substances and so they are non-toxic and free from side effects. They are given to the patient in small doses and so, the healing approach is gentle and gradual. They can also be used by people of all ages and even those in delicate conditions like pregnancy, chronic diseases etc. Even if the wrong medicine is prescribed to the patient, it does not cause much harm to the body.

3. Easily accessible

Homeopathic remedies are available in most places as they are made directly from the abundant natural resources. There are also several alternatives to a medicine depending on the kinds of plants and minerals found in a particular region. Moreover, the medicines do not have an expiration date and can be stored for a long period of time if they are kept properly.

4. Non-invasive

No homeopathic remedy involves surgical procedures or invasive techniques. So, there is absolutely no chance of infection or further complication. The medicines and therapies are also aimed at eliminating the root cause of the disorder instead of just providing temporary relief from the symptoms.

5. Not addictive

Once the disease is healed, the person can easily stop using the medicines since they have no addictive property. This is because the active ingredient is used in minute quantities in homeopathic medication. Hence, these remedies are also safe for infants, children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, aged people and people with addiction problems.