Welcome to the June 2011 issue of the LaVida Health Newsletter.

LaVida Health Services

- Naturopathy
- Herbal Medicine
- Nutrition
- Myotherapy
- Massage Therapy
- Homoeopathy

In this Issue

	Thanks for reading our newsletter...
	Natural remedies for Depression
	Would you benefit from a "quickie"?
	What's new on our website...
	Staying in touch...
	We love hearing from you....
	Pass it on....
	Disclaimer...

Website Articles

Click here to visit the News and Views articles section of the LaVida Health website, where you will find comments on items appearing in the media, information about specific health issues, and other titbits.

Pass it on

Know anyone who might be interested in our newsletter? Click here to forward this email to up to 5 friends at once.

Thanks for reading our newsletter...

Welcome to those of you who are receiving this newsletter for the first time. I hope you find the information contained within interesting. I publish this newsletter every two months and include information on different topics related to health and wellbeing.

This month I delve into the topic of depression.  With a huge proportion of the population taking anti-depressants or just struggling through each day I thought it might be useful to look at what you can do to help improve your health.  If you or someone you know suffers from this debilitating problem this information may be useful.

Also, a reminder about our "quick consultations".  They can be very useful if you just need some symptomatic relief from a cold, for example, and might save you a trip to the doctor.

Until next time, you can now keep up to date with us on Twitter and Facebook.  I hope to see you there.

Yours in good health,

Kaye Wright
Naturopath and owner

Natural remedies for Depression

There are a number of theories which have credence in an attempt to explain why we suffer from depression.  In simple terms, they include:

• a lack of, or imbalance in, the neurotransmitters which are responsible for regulating mood (especially serotonin)
• inflammation (possibly from multiple causes) which affects the fluidity of our cells and therefore disturbs how they function
• problems with our metabolism, perhaps from a deficiency of the necessary nutrients, resulting in hormone imbalances or the accumulation of metabolic by-products which can be detrimental to our health.

In addition, depression can be caused or exacerbated by the use of some pharmaceutical medicines, chronic stress or a major stressful life event and other health problems (especially if they are ongoing and debilitating).  When depression co-exists with other health problems (eg pain, IBS, fibromyalgia, insomnia to name a few) it can sometimes be difficult to know what came first!  There is also evidence emerging of a possible genetic predisposition which may be triggered in certain circumstances.

In all likelihood, if you or someone you know is depressed it is probably a combination of a number of factors which has triggered the symptoms.

Anti-depressants are some of the most commonly prescribed drugs.  They can be very effective and, when combined with good counselling if required, may only be needed for a relatively short period of time.  However, some people do not respond well to these treatments or may suffer unwanted side-effects or simply may prefer an alternative to these treatments.  In these cases, it is good to know there are dietary, herbal and lifestyle options available to them.

These include:

• Hypericum perforatum - this herb has been extensively studied in the treatment of depression and has been shown to be as effective as some anti-depressant medication.  It can interact with certain medicines and therefore should only be used under the supervision of a naturopath, herbalist or doctor trained in herbal medicine.  There are also numerous other herbs which are beneficial to the nervous system and can be used in the treatment of depression.  Again, they are best prescribed for you by someone trained in herbal medicine.
• Fish oil - excellent for it's anti-inflammatory effects and improvement in cell fluidity.  Your fish oil needs to be of excellent quality (purity), from sustainable supply and high in DHA.  Doses can range from 9 - 30 grams depending on a variety of factors and therefore you would be best to have it prescribed by your naturopath.
• Exercise - fantastic for it's positive effects on mood in a variety of ways.  It improves circulation (and therefore delivery of nutrients to the brain) and results in a release of "feel-good" endorphins....and if you exercise in sunshine it's like a double-whammy of "feel-good".  Some studies have shown exercise to be as effective as psychotherapy.
• A healthy diet - rich in fatty fish, lean protein, fruit and vegetables (especially leafy greens) to give you the necessary "ingredients" to make your neurotransmitters.  For example, to make serotonin you need adequate quantities of protein (specifically the amino acid tryptophan), zinc, B vitamins, magnesium and more.  And of course you need to have optimal digestion in order to break down and absorb the nutrients from your food.
• Relaxation and meditation techniques - to lessen the negative effects of stress by decreasing stress hormones.
• Counselling - an important component of your treatment.  It can useful for learning coping techniques or for dealing with some of the underlying issues contributing to your depression.

If you are depressed and either not responding to pharmaceutical medicines or looking for other options consider the above.  There can be a number of factors exacerbating your condition.  Working with a naturopath can be of enormous benefit in identifying deficiencies in digestion and diet as well as hormone imbalances or other contributing factors.  Often supplements will be required, at least in the first instance, and when these are combined with individualised herbal treatments, they can result in very positive outcomes.

Would you benefit from a "quickie"?

Sometimes you just have a cold, or sore throat or some other relatively simple health problem.  If you can't get an immediate appointment with your doctor consider a naturopathic appointment. For coughs and colds and the like I can often do a Quick Consultation and have you on your way with medicines in hand in 15-20 minutes (costs $25 plus medicines). I can also provide a medical certificate (if your employer is sufficiently progressive to accept it). Call me on 9620 9503.  It could be just the thing you need!

What's new on our website...

Since the last newsletter, I have posted the following articles in the News and Views section of our website:

• What is your health worth?
• What to do about mobile phones
• Bowel cancer...are you at risk?
• Medical imaging...making an informed decision

You can catch up with these articles by clicking on the link under Website Articles in the lefthand column of this newsletter.

Staying in touch...

Are you on Twitter or Facebook? I have recently become a convert to Twitter as well as setting up a Facebook page.  I am enjoying the challenge of finding relevant and interesting health and wellbeing tips to share with you. Sometimes I link back to the News and Views articles on our website and sometimes I simply post a link to other sites or online articles if I feel they have something credible, practical and useful to say.

If you want to learn more about how to improve and maintain your health and vitality, keep up to date with relevant health news or hear about special offers, why not follow me on Twitter or become a Facebook fan. Just click on the buttons in the lefthand column of this newsletter and I'll see you there!

We love hearing from you....

If you have any questions relating to any of the above or suggestions for topics you would like covered in subsequent newsletters, please feel free to make contact.  You can send me a message via Twitter or Facebook or email me at info@lavidahealth.com.au.  You can also just call me at LaVida Health on 9620 9503.

Pass it on....

If you've found this information interesting I would love it if you passed this newsletter on.  There's a link in the lefthand column.

(If you didn't find it interesting...let me know how I can improve it)

Thanks,
Kaye

Disclaimer...

Naturally, the advice in this newsletter is of a general nature for educational purposes and should not be taken as a substitute for personalised advice from your healthcare professional. It is provided in good faith without any express or implied warranty. If you have, or suspect you have, a medical condition you should seek expert advice prior to taking any supplements or treatments.

Self-diagnosis and treatment may be ineffective, costly and possibly even harmful in some circumstances.