Feb 25

Pregnancy, depression and acupuncture

Acupuncture, DAAN No Comments »


Acupuncture can greatly reduce depression during and after pregnancy, recent studies have shown.

Two studies released in the past few days address the the prevalence and treatment of depression during and after pregnancy.

The first, published online by the journal Pediatrics, finds that a startling percentage of low-income, urban mothers show symptoms of postpartum depression. Researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center screened 198 mothers of children between the ages of 2 weeks and 14 months who brought their children for checkups at the center’s outpatient pediatric clinic. More than half of those mothers — 56 percent — met the clinical criteria for a diagnosis of some degree of depression.

Postpartum depression is thought to affect 14 percent of new mothers in the United States, and while it is known to be higher in low-income populations, these numbers surprised researchers.

“This is an unexpected, very high proportion,” said Dr. Linda H. Chaudron, one of the authors of the journal article and an associate professor of psychology, pediatrics and obstetrics and gynecology.

A second study, published yesterday in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology, looks at depression during pregnancy. It is thought to occur at similar rates as postpartum depression and has also been linked to low-birth weight and delayed cognitive and emotional development in children.

Researchers at Stanford University tested alternative treatments and antidepressants for pregnant women and found that acupuncture specifically designed to treat depression is a potential substitute. Sixty-three percent of women who received that treatment responded well, compared with only 44 percent who received massage therapy or acupuncture that was not specifically designed for depression. The study did not compare any of these treatments with antidepressants or psychotherapy.

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Dec 18

Green tea can cheer you up

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Japanese researchers have found regular drinkers of green tea are more likely to be cheerful and less depressed.

Elderly men and women who sip on several cups of green tea a day may be less likely to have the blues, hint findings of a study from Japan.

Dr. Kaijun Niu, at Tohoku University Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering in Sendai, and colleagues found men and women aged 70 and older who drank four or more, versus one or fewer, cups of green tea daily were 44 percent less likely to have symptoms of depression.

Several prior studies have linked green tea consumption to reduced levels of psychological distress. This led Niu and colleagues to look at associations between drinking green tea and symptoms of depression in 1,058 relatively healthy elderly individuals.

About 34 percent of the men and 39 percent of the women had symptoms of depression, according to a report in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. These symptoms were severe in about 20 percent of the men and in about 24 percent of the women.

Overall, 488 participants said they drank four or more cups of green tea a day, 284 said they downed two to three cups daily and the remaining 286 reported having one or fewer cups daily.

According to the investigators, the apparent protective effect of greater green tea consumption on symptoms of depression did not fade after they factored in social and economic status, gender, diet, history of medical problems, use of antidepressant medications, smoking, and physical activity.

By contrast, there was no association between consumption of black or oolong tea, or coffee, and lower symptoms of depression.

A green tea component, the amino acid theanine, which is thought to have a tranquilizing effect on the brain, may explain the “potentially beneficial effect” shown in the current study, Niu noted in an email to Reuters Health.

However, further studies are necessary to confirm whether greater green tea intake actually has antidepressant effects. Therefore, Niu shied away from recommending greater green tea intake to minimize depression among the elderly.

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Dec 11

Herbal cures for depression

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Here are some effective herbal remedies for treating depression

Depression is a common affliction in the modern society. Especially now that we are facing the toughest economic downturn since the Great Depression, more and more people are finding it hard to cope with everyday struggles and challenges. To make matters worse, even health care is tremendously expensive. Fortunately, alternative medicine has been around for centuries and herbal remedies that fight depression are affordable and effective, even.

Siberian Ginseng

Siberian ginseng is one of the most popular herbal remedies that affect the central nervous system. Siberian ginseng helps promote a balance in several integral neurotransmitters found in the brain, including dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin, and epinephrine. Standard, exact dosages of 400 mg of Siberian ginseng three times each day can help people with depression achieve an improved sense of well-being.

Purslane

Depression is often accompanied by eating binges. This is the most common effect of the psychological condition, which, if taken lightly, can cause other adverse health risks. Taking herbal remedies that have antidepressant effects is greatly advised. One of these is Purslane, which is rich in potassium and magnesium, two minerals that are effective in battling depression.

Borage

Like purslane, borage is also an effective antidepressant due to its naturally high potassium content. The leaves and blossoms of the borage plant are generally used. The extracted juice from borage has great stimulating effects on the glandular system, which is essentially the area that can promote efficient recovery from the condition. The seeds, when used alongside the leaves, are also effective in treating melancholy and sadness.

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