Depression, anxiety and stress are such common complaints heard today. Fifty percent of doctor visits are due to depression and stress; it also has become a big topic being discussed and written about by media throughout the world.
Diseases of the Nervous system, like depression, that affect our brain, our mind, are now being understood better now than ever before. Unfortunately, the answers given by our medical society are to prescribe drugs. These drugs have many side effects and can be worse than our original symptoms. There may be some patients, with extreme depression, that drugs may be the only recourse for help, albeit temporary.
Many patients may want to try the alternative, good for you brain foods and natural herbs, to help relieve depression and anxiety. The B vitamins from B1 to B6 and B12, taken as a complex, can boost your mood by enhancing nerves and mental attitudes. They facilitate brain neurotransmitters to function better, giving you more energy, better metabolism, better digestion and immune system responses.
In particular, increase B6, a natural tranquilizer, contained in avocados, bananas, lentils, salmon and sunflower seeds. B7 or Folic acid promotes normal growth of the nervous system and builds DNA; it can be found in fruits, leafy veggies, rice and peas. Natural sources of Vitamin B12 are beef, oysters, sardines, dairy products and eggs which help with nerve damage and possibly diseases like dementia and Alzheimer’s. If you are vegetarian or vegan you may need a B12 supplement.
EFA’s or Essential Fatty Acids, made up of EPA and DHA the most healing of the Omega 3’s, is needed by cells to help them function. They work best if taken with Vitamin E to help them absorb into the body. Many of these are from fish like salmon, maceral, or tuna for the Omega 3 oils, or blends of flax, chia or hemp seed oils which are also high in Omega 3.
Amino Acids are building blocks of your neurotransmitter cells; one you have heard more about is 5HTP, which increases serotonin, your happy hormone! When your body has enough amino acids it can help you control the anxiety, depression, panic attacks and insomnia. These can be taken in place of anti-depressants. You can get these also as an amino acid complex, in supplement form.
Adaptogenic Herbs are used to help the body de-stress and adapt to your situation by bringing about more calm, and by influencing your brain chemicals. The herb Rhodiala, from Russia, enhances the body’s tolerance to stress by influencing serotonin, norepinephrine and beta endorphins. These are the brain chemicals, which give you a “feel good effect”. Dr. Richard Brown of Columbia University says, “This remarkable nervous system herb, has the ability to bring “cognitive stimulation” and “emotional calming” to the brain at the same time”. Rhodiala can also reduce mental and physical fatigue by increasing your energy level. Studies show it protects brain nerve cells and helps with better sleep, lifting depression and relieving anxiety.
Ashawaganda is an herb, from India, that helps with depression and stress. It is calming, reducing anxiety, alleviating fatigue and brings a rejuvenating sense of well-being to the brain. Ashawaganda also helps improve learning by helping with difficulty in concentrating and reducing brain cell degeneration, which causes aging diseases.
References:
Book by Quantum Education Series by Nirvana Zarabi-Smith, printed by The Quantum Center, 2004 http://www.chopra.com/about-us/mind-body-spirit
http://www.naturalnews.com/035463_depression_herbs_remedies.html written by Jonathan Benson April 4, 2012
Book by Linda Page, Healthy Living 12th edition, copyright in 2004
Cindy Burrows, B.S., M.T., Herbalist, is a Natural Health Consultant helping individuals start health programs to improve their life, wellness and happiness. Cindy is a speaker, writer and entrepreneur of several businesses. Contact her at [email protected]
Cynthia Burrows, from Austin, Texas, owns Cindy Burrows, Natural Health Consultant; assisting individuals with health issues they would like to change. She will set up a program giving choices of foods, herbs, teas and homeopathic suggestions. Cindy is past owner of Nature’s Healing Herbs, an Herbal, Green Tea, and Tincture product line, and a rare product line of Green Tea Foods. She has certificates for Herbalist at East West School of Herbology, and as Wellness Consultant with the Wellness Forum in Ohio.
Cindy is also a Medical Technologist, with a B.S. degree from Mansfield University in Mansfield Pa., she has been in healthcare for over 30 years. In 2005, she started using a new device founded in Europe, Quantum Biofeedback, “an energy rebalancing of the body”, by using our bodies electricity or frequency waves it can detect stress points in the body, she has added this to her consulting practice. She now has her Certification as a Biofeedback Specialist. She helps her clients by working with the synergy of herbs, food, homeopathy, and aromatherapy within her practice. She is a speaker, writer, and teacher. Cindy has been interviewed on TV; about the benefits of Green Tea and has been on radio about her small business tour to Ecuador.
Cindy has been an herbalist for over 20 years and has spent 6 years learning through the East West School of Herbology with Michael Tierra. She has studied Western, Chinese and Ayurvedic Herbs with a strong emphasis on nutrition. Along with many other continued studies of alternative and complementary medicine. She is a Certified Wellness Consultant, through a special program, The Wellness Forum, which has its nutrition program, now part of the curriculum at Ohio State University, providing educational seminars and workshops designed to impart relevant nutrition information to individuals to take control of their own health. These programs give healthier options and choices that can impact your longevity and quality of life. Cindy has been a speaker to many groups and has conducted many of her own classes on food and healthy life style programs.
Cindy has been involved with a hands-on healing program for the past 4 years and offers energy healing, through donation only, to anyone who needs her services.
She is Co-president of the Austin Herb Society and a member of the American Herbalist Guild. Cynthia has been a board member on many programs in the past including; La Sertoma, Arthritis Foundation, Toastmasters International, National Association of Female Executives, Handicapped Equestrian Learning Program, Entrepreneurs Association, and Austin Integrated Health Care Program.
Cindy also loves nature, animals, reading, blending teas, juices, etc.; likes to hike, and work with plants and, of course, cooking., mostly vegetarian.
Cindy has an adventurous streak.
She has organized and taken tours with business and artists groups to Big Bend, Texas, New Mexico, USA, and Ecuador, South America.
