Encyclopedia of Homeopathy

212 • SERIOUS AILMENTSDEPRESSIONMedically speaking, depression is more than the sadness many people feelperiodically. It combines despondency, hopelessness, apathy, and a lack ofwell-being, and can persist for some time. There may be physical symptoms.In parts of the developed world, one person in 25 feels depressed enoughat some point in their life to seek professional help.Symptoms• Slow thinking, inability to concentrate,indecision, general lack of interest, andrecurrent thoughts about death.• Increase or decrease in appetite or weight,slowing down of movement, and loss of energy.CausesDepression may have an obvious external cause,such as the death of a loved one. It may followa viral infection, childbirth, or be causedby chemical imbalances in the body. Thesemay occur naturally—for example, due to anunderactive thyroid gland—or result fromtaking prescribed drugs, such as thecontraceptive pill or sleeping pills, or from drugor alcohol addiction. Periods of depression mayalternate with impulsive, energetic behavior—acondition known as manic depression. There isan affliction called seasonal affective disorder(SAD), in which people become depressed inwinter, possibly due to insufficient sunlight.More often, however, depression is a spiritualproblem, involving a negative attitude to lifethat leads to feelings of fear, anger, guilt, andfrustration, possibly accompanied by a senseof persecution, loneliness, and hopelessness.Severely depressed people may become suicidal,or experience delusions. Long-term depressionmay result from childhood trauma such as thedeath of a parent.Conventional careMild depression may be treated withantidepressant drugs, sometimes togetherwith psychotherapy or psychoanalysis.Severe depression is still treated withelectroconvulsive therapy (ECT), but onlyafter all other methods have failed.Homeopathic medicineMost homeopathic practitioners treatdepression constitutionally. Remediesare determined largely by an individual’ssymptoms (see page 18). It may be the casethat if emotional problems are alleviated,physical problems come to the fore (see page19). Aurum met. is associated with the kindof despair that might lead to suicide; whileCausticum is indicated for a feeling of loss ofcontrol. China is prescribed for low spiritsfollowing menstruation or associated withneuralgic pain; and Lachesis is given forpremenstrual or menopausal depression.Nat. mur. is used for depression associatedwith the suppression of grief. Other remediesprescribed constitutionally include Arsen. alb.,Calc. carb., Graphites, Lycopodium, Nat. carb.,Platina, Pulsatilla, Sepia, Sulphur, and Thuja.Specific remedies include Ignatia, whendepression results from bereavement or thebreakup of a relationship; or Cadmium sulph.,following a viral illness such as mononucleosisthat produces a lack of energy. Nux vomica isused when there is great irritability, extremechilliness, and overcriticism of others; whileAconite is often given for the sudden onset ofdepression following a fright or shock, andwhich is linked with a fear of death.LifestyleIf minor depression is brought on by overworkor stress, time-management techniques willprovide for the prioritization of tasks and timeout for relaxation and the pursuit of interests.A sense of isolation can be reduced by takingup an interest that involves meeting new people.Those often confined to the home shouldarrange to go out frequently. Mild depressioncan be helped by dietary changes, especiallythe elimination of caffeine and the inclusionof vitamin and mineral supplements. Someprescribed drugs may have depressive sideeffects.It might be worth consulting a doctorwith a view to changing the prescription.CAUTION• If symptoms of depression last formore than a month, consult a doctor.• If a depressed person is talkingabout suicide, alert their doctor ora counseling service.CASE HISTORYRosa, a 30-year-old Argentinian, had beendepressed for about a year. The depressionhad started postpartum, but she attributedit initially to an exhausting house move sixmonths before. She was tearful, anxious,and fearful that she might kill her children.She felt physically and mentally exhausted,was too depressed to answer the telephone,and felt she would never recover. She wastaking antidepressant drugs.PERSONAL DETAILSAt the age of 19, Rosa had married anEnglishman and moved to England. Shedescribed herself as a very organizedperfectionist. She was sensitive to thoseclose to her to the extent of havingprophetic dreams about them, particularlyher children.FOOD PREFERENCESRosa was often very thirsty and loved coldfruit juices and milk, ice cream, and saltyand spicy foods. She disliked fruits,warm foods and drinks, coffee, onions,and tomatoes.GENERAL DETAILSRosa could only sleep lying on the rightside. She felt faint if she put her hands incold water, and suffered indigestion andconstipation. She had headaches beforethunderstorms. She was better for catnapsand massage.PRESCRIPTION & FOLLOW-UPOn the basis of her digestive problems andirrational fears, Rosa was given Argentumnit. Her digestion and energy levels improved,but she developed headaches, for whichshe was given Bryonia. She was put on alacto-vegetarian diet and advised to havephysiotherapy for muscle spasms in her neck.She stopped taking the antidepressants, butfelt weepy and irritable. Over a few monthsshe took doses of Pulsatilla, Ammonium carb.,Coffea, and Phosphorus, the last of whichmade her feel much better. On visitingArgentina she felt extremely well, buta significant decline on her return revealedgreat homesickness. Phosphorus revived herand she took a part-time job. A car accidentand two stress-related illnesses set her back,but again she responded to Phosphorus,and is on the whole no longer depressed.