Dear Subscriber,
Depression is like a plague affecting modern society. You know this simply because of all the psychoactive drugs medical doctors prescribe. That’s all most know how to do. But, there are many natural approaches to assist the body to normalize its neural biochemistry. Dr. Kenner provides some good insight here to accomplish this.
RJR
From Dr. Kenner:
Depression is the leading cause of ill health and disability worldwide. Between 2005 and 2015, global rates of depression increased by 18 percent. According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 3.8% of the population experience depression, including 5% of adults (4% among men and 6% among women), and 5.7% of adults older than 60 years. Approximately 280 million people in the world have depression. Depression is about 50% more common among women than among men. Treatments include various forms of cognitive treatment and drugs. The conventional model ignores some of the safest and most effective treatments.
Some studies have shown that the conventional antidepressant drugs are no more effective than placebos.
There are a number of factors to consider. Exercise is a necessary component of any healing process, especially for nervous system health. Good personal relationships are important. Certain medical conditions are often overlooked.
Thyroid problems and be a cause of depression and anxiety and is often overlooked because the useless thyroid blood tests are so misleading. The possibility of cardiovascular disease should be considered. Recent research underscores the importance of stress as a cause of advanced cardiovascular pathology and how it has been underestimated as a key factor. Sugar addiction is an overwhelmingly important and pervasive cause of depression as well as a cause of cardiovascular disease and nervous system damage.
Acupuncture, and especially ear acupuncture, is one of the most effective ways to relieve stress, anxiety, depression, and the effects of PTSD. See my newsletter on “Ear Acupuncture and the Brain.” There are also supplements that have been shown to help treat depression in human clinical studies. Low levels of vitamin D cause depression, hence the link to SAD (seasonal affective disorder), a type of down mood that occurs at the same time each year — during the winter, when vitamin D assimilation from sunshine is at its lowest. Lavender essential oil has been studied extensively for antidepressant and anxiolytic properties. It has even been compared in studies to both SSRIs and benzodiazepines. Photobiomodulation, the therapeutic use of LED light, also appears to be a useful intervention for brain health, including depression and anxiety.
Raising androgen hormone levels is helpful for many people, especially when there is discouragement and fatigue. Ginseng is an important herb for raising androgens, like testosterone and androstenedione. I recommend a product called “Magnafort,” that also contains two other Chinese herbs with similar effects as ginseng.
A fermented soy preparation was used successfully to raise androgen levels in treatment-resistant military personnel traumatized by combat-related chronic posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Serum lipid concentrations, and steroidal hormones, particularly cortisol, testosterone, estradiol, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and pregnenolone increased. Japanese miso and natto are natural fermented soy products, and Haelan 951, a Chinese soy-fermented drink widely used for treating cancer, is also commercially available.
Magnesium is another natural antidepressant. Powerful clinical studies show that pennies worth of magnesium a day provide an effective, safe, affordable alternative to the dangerous and relatively ineffective pharmaceutical antidepressants. There was a clinically significant improvement in both depression and anxiety scores in one study where the effects were observed within two weeks. 61% of patients reported after the study that they would continue to use magnesium in the future. Similar effects occurred across age, gender, severity of depression, baseline magnesium levels, compared to use of conventional antidepressant treatments. I recommend magnesium orotate because it is better absorbed into the blood serum with much less of it eliminated through the bowel than other forms. It’s estimated that over 50% of Americans are deficient in magnesium. This is probably because magnesium is leached out by sugar and alcohol and to some extent by stress. Magnesium threonate has also been well-researched for nervous system disorders.
Most people associate acetyl l-carnitine with preventing age-related memory decline and slowing Alzheimer's; however, it is also very effective for increasing mental focus, energy, and optimizing brain health. Acetyl l-carnitine increases dopamine, which enhances focus and motivation. Dosage recommendations of acetyl l-carnitine range between 500-3000 mg per day, depending on the application. With acetyl l-carnitine supplementation, individuals may feel an increase in focus and energy within about 15 to 20 minutes. There are no side effects and only long-term benefits on brain health and function.
Folic acid, a nutrient associated with vitamin B complex, has been found safe and effective for suicide prevention. You definitely can’t say that about the SSRI antidepressants! A large study showed that taking folic acid could result in a 44% reduction in suicides. Data on 866,586 patients were collected in a large-scale epidemiological study surveying diagnoses related to suicidal behavior, diagnoses related to folic acid deficiency, to folate-reducing medications, history of folate-reducing medications, and history of suicidal events. During the 24-month study period, the overall suicidal event rate was 133 per 100,000 population, one-fourth the national rate reported by the National Institutes of Health of 600 per 100,000.
Magnafort, magnesium orotate, plus more detailed information about them can be found in articles at www.ormedinstitute.com.
Dan Kenner, LAc, PhD
I have found that TMG(tri-methyl-glycine) works for depression. Kava kava and GABA are both useful for anxiety.
I have tried acetyl l-carnitine several times in the past decades and it doesn't agree with me, but I am not neuro-typical in that I have neurological damage what's likely initially from an enterovirus unleashed by the Sabin live attenuated polio vaccine when I was 14, and even worse damage caused by misdiagnosis and intermittent treatment with various neurotoxic medications when I was young. The result is that I have various forms of dystonia throughout my body as well as some symptoms of Tourette syndrome, as well as a couple of other neurological impairments that were building over a period of weeks and then occurred suddenly in one day when I was experiencing withdrawal trying to go off the latest round of toxic medications, when I was about 25. So things that increase acetylcholine aggravate my dystonia. And I'm also sensitive to most of the so-called nootropic supplements and brain formulas. However there is one supplement recently put out by Life Extension called Brain Fog Relief that I tried about a half years ago, and the first couple days I felt much clearer and focused with more energy without being stimulated, but after continuing for a week or two, I started having the acetylcholine type overstimulating effect, and upon researching the supplement ingredients more, I found that one or both of the components does increase acetylcholine, and other neurotransmitters. Its active components are mangiferin, amango leaf extract (which has a lot of positive research lately), and peppermint oil. I believe for most people this might be a good supplement.