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How to Conquer Depression using an Integrative Healthcare Approach

7/2/2014

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Many studies have shown that nearly half the population finds the onset of winter  (SAD) gets them down.  With the long dark nights and short days many people  feel more depressed and anxious. Credit card debt, weight gain, alcohol
consumption, relationship counselling and even suicide all reach a peak during  the winter months.
Depression and anxiety is a sad and all too common state in today’s society. A large  percentage of the population today, including children, are on antidepressants.  Today we are led to believe that we should be happy all the time and everything  should be perfect.  These expectations lead to emotional crashes when they  don’t live up to reality and have us reaching for the quick fix of a pill. So  how do we combat this dilemma? The answer may lie with Integrated  healthcare.
 Integrated  healthcare is a response to the changing patterns of disease in the early  21st century. It is much  more than a blend of mainstream medicine with complementary treatments. It is a  structured approach to healing. For example, in the treatment of depression  various therapeutic interventions such as Massage, Ayurveda and Kinesiology can  be used in a strategic manner for long-term health  solutions.


Kinesiology
Kinesiology  helps people in many ways using a uniquely holistic approach to healing the  person.  Symptoms are only a part of the puzzle.  A Kinesiologist  will look at:

Genetic  Factors: – For example, some people are more susceptible to anxiety and  depression due to inherited characteristics.  If someone’s emotional  constitution is more sensitive they become more affected by life’s ups and  downs.

Childhood  – i.e. traumatic events at key developmental  stages.

The  Physical – i.e.  Body systems and  organs.

Lifestyle  – it is well documented that a healthy diet and regular exercise help people  cope with stress.  .

The Energetic System:  i.e.  The meridian system and distribution of  energy. Imbalances in this system will eventually lead to dysfunction which can  manifest in disease, hormonal problems, muscular tension  etc.

From  the biofeedback of the muscle monitoring a Kinesiologist can accumulate  valuable information and then focus on to break down patterns of defence or  samskaras.  For example, someone who is a negative person often gets  depressed and disillusioned because every time something bad happens it  confirms their view and core belief that “nothing ever goes right for  me”.  Once that core belief is changed the person has more options to think  differently i.e. they might think “oh well it didn’t happen the way I wanted it  to happen this time but next time it could be  different.
Kinesiology  works on long term healing; it isn’t a quick fix, although occasionally great  leaps forward can happen.  It is about healing the body from inside out  and top down in reverse order to how the issues built up.  This enables  the body to get back on its line of cure.
 
Ayurveda  and Yoga
For  healing the mind Ayurveda employs a series of therapies such as meditation,  spiritual counselling pranayama, mantra, prayer, visualization, diet,  detoxification, herbal therapies and massage. Shirodhara is a powerful  Ayurvedic treatment that is used to combat depression and emotional insecurity  whilst decreasing stress related hormones in the body. The continuous flow of  warm oil bathes the Third Eye Chakra and works primarily on the mental layer of  the brain known as ‘manomaya kosha’ which disarms past negative impressions  (samskaras) thus bringing awareness releasing sorrow and  suffering.
 
Massage  Therapy
 Research  evidence has shown that massage has decreased levels of cortisol and increased  levels of dopamine and serotonin which are important factors in the aetiology  of depression. However the direction of movement, excursion, rate of movement,  the zones, rhythm and pressure are important factors in achieving treatment  goals.

 Removing  the Boundaries
The  landscape of medicine is changing through Integrative healthcare which is  transforming healthcare delivery by removing the boundaries between therapeutic  modalities. Treatment efficacy for chronic illness like depression can been  enhanced by the use of a combination of therapies such as Massage, Kinesiology,  Ayurveda and conventional medicine in a methodological step-wise manner.  Depending on the risk –factors that the patient presents one would also  include conventional  medicine care.  Harnessing the best elements from evidence-based healing systems and integrating  them into a strategic healthcare plan can ultimately result in an effective  long-term remedial measure rather than the standard quick-fix short-term  approach.

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