DepressionDepression affects about 5% of people in the United States, about 14.4 million people. Women report depression more commonly than men. Conventional medicine treats this condition with toxic medications and/or talk therapy. Medications commonly prescribed for this disorder appear to increase the risk for suicide, at least in adolescents. Talk therapy may or may not help; unlike C.O.R.E. Counseling most talk therapies focus attention on the past, which we can't change, instead of the future, which we can change. Rather than aiming to get rid of depression, a truly holistic approach aims at awakening joy and creating a life of enchantment. Natural remedies and especially truly holistic healing can awaken true joy by addressing the physical, mental, and spiritual causes of this disorder, clearing away blocks while harnessing the greatest internal and extraordinary resources available to you. Holistic View A holistic approach to depression involves addressing the physical, mental, and spiritual causes. From an energetic standpoint, depression manifests as the opposite of enlightenment. Words describing depression include heavy, dark, and stuck. Treatment will aim literally at enlightenment...doing things that will make you feel light, bright, and in the flow of life. Research shows that regular vigorous physical activity relieves depression and anxiety , working better than medications in many cases. Walking gets things moving, makes you feel lighter and in the flow. It also alters body chemistry, producing endorphins that raise your mood. Food also affects mood. To lighten your mood, eat fresh rather than processed foods, and focus on whole grains, vegetables, fruits, legumes, and nuts. This will support a healthy function of the nervous system, liver, and endrocrine system, all involved in maintaining a light mood. It is especially important to get adequate starches because the nervous system runs primarily on glucose, the main component of starchy foods. Whole starches like potatoes, sweet potatoes, and whole grains supply the glucose and amino acids, and many of the vitamins and minerals required for a healthy nervous system and mood. According to Chinese medical theory, most depression results from unexpressed emotions, most commonly anger or frustration. The chronic suppression of emotions results in stagnation of energy, blood, fire, food, and/or phlegm. To clean up these physical stagnations that result from the emotional blocks, I use acupuncture and herbs. Your Awakening Heart At the same time, true healing will require awakening and enlightening your heart. This involves learning to identify and transform the unexpressed emotions in a constructive fashion and learning to use your mind and inner and extraordinary resources to awaken your heart and serve your higher needs. This requires techniques you can learn and access from spiritual coaching, transformational hypnotherapy, and C.O.R.E. counseling, all services offered by Tracy Minton at Barefoot Acupuncture. Barefoot Acupuncture Clinic Location Serving Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa, and Chandler since 2007. 3530 E. Indian School Rd., Suite 2
|
