Dr. Angela Agrios, ND
My very talented Naturopathic Doctor
She treats a wide variety of conditions
Office & phone appointments available
Los Angeles, CA (Pacific Palisades)
Depression
Naturopathic Medicine Treatment Interview with Dr. Lena Kian, ND
Clinical Depression Treatment Overview Clinical depression can be effectively treated with a natural medicine modality such as Naturopathic Medicine. Vitamins and herbal remedies are often used, as well as lifestyle adjustments such as exercise and a dietary change to whole, organic foods. Additional supplements, such as amino acids and minerals, can also be very helpful. Visiting a Naturopathic Doctor is an excellent way to understand the causes and therefore help reverse clinical depression using natural medicine remedies and lifestyle changes. Depression is a type of mood disorder characterized by feelings of sadness, irritability, helplessness and hopelessness. Other symptoms include weight loss or weight gain, too much or too little sleep, lack of interest in day to day activities as well as loss of libido or thoughts of death or suicide.
Clinical Depression Medications The conventional treatment for depression is the use of antidepressant medication such as Zoloft, Prozac and Effexor. The side effects for these medications include headache, agitation, insomnia and sexual dysfunction. With prolonged use, these medications become less and less effective and they require for their dose to be increased or for additional antidepressant medications. Also, the FDA has issued warning that these medications may increase the risk of suicidal behavior in children and teenagers. (Zoloft Lawsuit Information: Zoloft side effects include insomnia and sexual side effects. Zoloft can also cause birth defects in newborn children if the mother takes this medication during her pregnancy.)
Clinical Depression Causes Depression can be caused by psychological issues such as a negative life situation or feelings of being overwhelmed or having a negative self esteem. It can also be caused by physiological issues such as neurotransmitter imbalances, hormone imbalance or nutritional deficiencies.
Naturopathic Medicine Clinical Depression Diagnosis When someone with depression comes to see me, I want to find out when their depression first started, what their stressors are, what their diet is, and to have them fully explain their depression to me. I will order a blood test to check for blood sugar, iron levels and B-12 levels and to check for thyroid function, because an under active or an over active thyroid can mimic the symptoms of depression. I will also do a blood or salivary test for hormones and cortisol levels. Sometimes I will also test for urinary neurotransmitters and heavy metal toxicities.
Naturopathic Medicine Clinical Depression Treatment Treating someone with depression requires a multifaceted approach. The first thing I’m going to do is have them eliminate processed foods and to eat a whole foods organic based diet so they can get the nutrition they need. I will prescribe and exercise program because exercise increases the body’s levels of endorphins which are the feel good chemicals that elevate mood. I will also prescribe appropriate nutritional supplements such as calcium, magnesium and B vitamins because these increase the body’s neurotransmitter levels.
Computer Screen Version
Designed specifically to be read easily on your computer screen.
Over 200 hyperlinks to the web.
Home Printer Version
Designed and formatted to be printed on your home printer for easy reading.
Naturopathic Medicine Clinical Depression Supplements I will have them take fish oil and flax oil for the omega-3 fatty acid content and will prescribe amino acids such as 5-HTP, l-tyrosine and GABA to build neurotransmitter levels. This is in contrast to antidepressant drugs that deplete the body of neurotransmitters. And finally, I will use a homeopathic remedy based on the sensation of the depression expressed by the patient.
Naturopathic Medicine Clinical Depression Treatment Success Depression is a complex condition to treat and it is important to address both the psychological and physiological components. When patients follow my protocol, they notice a significant reduction in their depression within three to six months.
