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Depression is a state of psychological pain, of extreme interior suffering with unhappiness and despair that may be accompanied by anxiety and anguish. This affliction may also lead to the slowing down of all psychomotor activities up to a point at which complete apathy is be reached.
Depression may be a reaction to a sad or anguishing event, but more often than not, it occurs suddenly without any particular reason. It can also come about at some time from a traumatic event, when it seems that the pain has gone away.
The main symptoms of depression are manifested by a deep sense of anguish, the desire to cry even without a reason, often alternated with moments of anxiety and agitation. Fatigue, pessimism and disinterest towards everything and everyone are common traits in this situation.
Physical symptoms such as insomnia, perspiration, palpitations, tremors or other somatizations can be associated with depression.
Therefore there are two forms of depression: one comes without a specific cause, and the other comes as a reaction to a grave state of anxiety or stress.
Fortunately the most frequent form is the latter, and it is much easier to cure; but even the first form can be treated with natural therapies which must of course be accompanied by appropriate psychotherapy and, if necessary, the temporary use of medication.
More useful reading can be found under the headings: Nervous system, Anguish and anxiety and Insomnia.
Suggested links
The Merk Manual has compiled an interesting summary table that outlines the characteristics that correspond with anxiety and depression (Caratteristiche dell'ansia e della depressione). In another table, the Merk Manual summarizes all of the most common causes of depression (Cause comuni di depressione).
Another work, assembled by the Karolinska Institutet of Stockholm contains a list of illnesses in which a description of the relationship between hypericum and depression (Hypericum & Depression) can be found.
Homeopathy
The choice of remedy depends on the causes of the depression and the “tone” of the depressed state even though the treatment for these forms often requires the use of constitutional, miasmatic, o di terreno* remedies that are only to be used under strict medical advice. The remedies are to be taken at dilutions such as 30 CH, in dosages of 4-5 granules per day, or of one dose per week.
Ignatia: after disappointment or delusions; the condition improves if the patient removes himself from his usual surroundings and distracts himself.
Platina: melancholy, denial of life but fear of death; the subject is a bit scornful, he feels superior to others and shows it.
Phosforicum acidum: grievous mourning and sorrow lead to an intense state of fatigue and exhaustion; underneath it all there is a desire to act, but fatigue is the critical factor.
Conium maculatum: Often linked to sexual frustration, this form of depression manifests itself in aversion to others and to conversation; work is the only form of pleasure.
Graphites: sadness with a tendency to cry and complain. The patient’s condition worsens with music or when bells are heard.
Pulsatilla: patient cries easily over small troubles; enjoys being consoled and cries while speaking of his difficulties; extreme mood swings during the day.
Aurum metallicum: after devastating delusions, the patient no longer cares for life; desperation and rejection of other people, with the desire for death.
Silicea, Calcarea carbonica Lycopodium are described under Anguish and anxiety.
During the use of these remedies, one month therapeutic cycles of the following litho therapy remedies may be practiced. Glauconie D8, Lepidolite D8, Tourmaline litique D8 (alternatively) in the dosage of one sublingual vial to be taken in the evening.
Trace elements
The base combination should be between the oxyprolinates of Zinc 40 ml and Copper 20 ml, Manganese-Cobalt, and Copper-Gold-Silver, in the form of one dose per day, alternating substances.
In addition, daily doses of Lithium should also be taken. The lithium treatment will begin with two or three doses per day that will be reduced as the patient’s conditions improve.
The daily use of at least two measures of the oxyprolinate mixture of Manganese 10 ml, Lithium 20 ml, Magnesium 10 ml, Cobalt 10 ml and Pidobase 10 ml is extremely effective.
Phytotherapy and drainage
Since depression is often also linked with the poor functioning of certain apparatuses or organs (the liver in particular) it’s a good idea to make sure that they are fully efficient (see the links to the individual subject areas).
With regard to therapy, you can intervene with all of those therapies that treat Fatigue, in so far as the stimulating action of those products is valid on a physical as well as on a psychological level.
Vitamin therapy and food supplements
A systematic use of a Vitamin B1 supplement (50-100 mg a day), B3 (100 mg a day) and B6 (100-300 mg) is necessary along with a supplement of 250-500 mg of L. Glutamine and 500 mg of Fenilalanine (see Nervous system). This treatment should be extended for as long as 2 to 3 months, especially if the disturbance is chronic.
Nutritional considerations
In addition to what is discussed in the Nervous system section of this website with regard to foods containing a high content of the necessary vitamins, the diet can be supplemented with bananas and meat extract (Liebig) may be spread on bread with a little butter. The action of these foods is linked to their content of amino acids that have a stimulating action on the nervous system.
Traditional medicine
First of all, a few suggestions: when a perfectly healthy person has a crisis, his personality becomes modified, and he doesn’t seem like the same person; before you take him to the psychologist, take him to a doctor who can evaluate the condition of his liver, but who most of all knows how to recognize the initial phases of complex organic illnesses such as degenerative diseases. The experience of many doctors has revealed that a personality change is not only a sign of a mental disturbance, but can also be an organic disturbance, and it is best to treat it in the early stages so as to avoid troublesome situations later (for example in the case of Diabetes).
A second suggestion regards persons who have already gone through phases of depression; sleep is extremely important and changes in sleep pattern may be a first sign of a possible relapse. If one night of disturbed sleep is then followed by a second, act immediately with the treatment described in the section Insomnia and Anguish and anxiety.
A third suggestion involves some practical advice for depression. It is important to force yourself to smile anyway until your brain believes that it was wrong to be depressed. Sign up for a foreign language course, learn how to sew, study Pakistani art, take up gardening or any other hobby that obligates you to follow it and be with the other people who take part in it. But, most of all, remember that you need to try to look for the positive aspects, not matter how few, in every situation, even the most dramatic ones.
Since a depressed person may simply have circulation problems, and this is especially frequent in the elderly, it’s a good idea to take a look at the sections on Circulation, Ageing and Senile dementia.
Doctor Attilio Speciani
Clinical Allergist and Immunologist
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