Mental Health

A Natural Way to Help S.A.D
S.A.D Seasonal Affective Disorder I’m looking out of the window, and it’s a grey, cold, overcast day. Just the sort of day that encourages Seasonal Affective Disorder or S.A.D. SAD is associated with a lack of energy and depression. In some 8% of people, it’s serious enough to need treatment, but to some degree, it affects at least a quarter of us. And almost all of us feel less upbeat after a spell of gloomy weather. SAD – or the ‘winter blues’ – is caused by insufficient sunlight. The result is a general lethargy and,... Read more...
Nutrition Can Help Depression
University research shows that certain health supplements and combinations of foods and nutrients can not only improve overall mood but also reduce the incidence, length, and severity of depression. Omega 3 People who are deficient in omega-3 fatty acids are generally more susceptible to depression and low mood. The brain has a high component of fatty acids, and about 30% of these are Omega-3, according to the Mental Health Foundation. Intake of Omega 3 assists the production of dopamine –  the ‘reward’ neurotransmitter that responds to pleasurable experiences. Walnuts are a good... Read more...
Where Are You On the Happiness Scale?
Are you a clergyman or a florist?  According to research, you are very likely to be happy. Or a roofer or a banker? If so, you are probably at the opposite end of the occupational happiness scale. But assuming you are in none of these occupations, where are you on the happiness scale? The largest survey of opinions, behaviours, and demographics in the world is the General Social Survey by the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago. Time Magazine recently used the survey to map the most to least happiness... Read more...
6 Steps to Instant Relaxation
The following simple 6 steps help you get control over your body’s autonomous nervous system, reduce anxiety and deal with stress. 1. Stop what you are doing right now, sit up straight, look upwards, and take a long, deep breath. 2. I’m sure that you already feel more relaxed, and you probably wanted to smile. The word ‘inspire’ comes from the Latin inspirare – to breathe into. 3. Now hold that straight-back position and put one hand on your stomach and the other on your chest. 4. Start breathing in more deeply, so that you can... Read more...
Combat Depression with Botanicals
Chamomile, Green Tea, Valerian, and Lavender are mood enhancers There are at least four botanical extracts that have proper evidence as mood enhancers. ChamomileThere are compounds in chamomile (Matricaria recutita) that bind to the same brain receptors as drugs like Valium. So a cup of chamomile tea can have a direct calming influence. It can also be taken as a supplement, typically standardized to contain 1.2% apigenin (an active ingredient), along with dried chamomile flowers. In a study at the University of Pennsylvania’s Medical Center, patients with generalized anxiety disorder... Read more...
Anti-Depression Nutrients
Omega 3, Folic acid, B vitamins, Selenium, Zinc and Tryptophan are all anti-depressive nutrients They are also important brain foods. Sugar and fast food are strongly linked to depression. One out of every 7 individuals will suffer a depressive episode during his or her lifetime. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that by the year 2020, Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) will be the second leading cause of morbidity worldwide. Around 150 million people suffer from depression worldwide, and this number has increased in recent years. Women are twice as likely... Read more...
Mind-Body Connection in Depression
Deep breathing, heat, exercise, mindfulness meditation and even country walks are all proven aids Depression can be as incapacitating as physical illness. But there are physical actions you can take to help overcome it. Hold your breath!Sit up with your back straight, look upwards and smile. You should already feel a lighter mood. Yes?Now, with one hand on your stomach, take a deep breath in through your nose. Make sure that your diaphragm – not your chest – inflates with enough air to create a feeling of stretching in the... Read more...
Curcumin Treats Depression
Dr. Paul Clayton’s Health Newsletter, October 2014 Curcumin, the polyphenol derived from turmeric, is already known to have anti-inflammatory effects and to be cardio-, neuro-, and chemo-protective; in the last 8 years, over 7000 studies have been completed. Now turmeric appears to be an anti-depressant too. Various teams of scientists have shown that curcumin exerts anti-depressant activity in animal models of depression (i.e., Zhang et al ’14, Jiang et al ’14, Zhao et al. ’14). And within the last year, three reasonably powerful clinical trials found that curcumin was more... Read more...