Seasonal Affective Disorder

Emergence and treatment in natural medicine

Winter depression, formerly known simply as "winter depression," is now recognized as a form of depression and is also referred to in professional circles as Seasonal Dependent Depression (SAD). The winter depression is particularly evident in the period from November to February. The main cause seems to be the lack of light that these months bring with them. In the natural healing one sees also in a disturbed metabolism an important origin factor for the seasonal depression. But even the negative attitude towards winter can play a role.

Contents:
Seasonal Affective Disorder
Synonyms
Symptoms of winter depression
Causes of winter depression
Winter depression due to accumulated body slag
Treatment options from naturopathy
St. John's wort against winter depression
Light, air, colors and movement
Read on

Synonyms

Autumn depression; Winter blues; November blues; Winter low; Lack of light depression; seasonal depression; seasonal dependent depression (SAD); Seasonally affective disorder, depression in winter.

Symptoms of winter depression

More and more people are afraid of the dark season, which is associated with about one in four Germans with significantly clouded mood and up to five percent of Germans with pronounced depressive symptoms. Especially women seem to be affected.

On the one hand, the symptoms are typical depressive symptoms, which are less pronounced at winter. These include despondency, lack of interest, feelings of emptiness, hopelessness and joylessness, which can not necessarily be derived from external circumstances and can not be corrected cognitively. Fears, worries, pondering, irritability and aggressiveness can manifest as well as limited attention, memory and concentration disorders. On a physical level, headaches, lumps in the throat, respiratory disorders, heart pains and heartaches, muscle tension and indigestion are common.

Deviating from the picture of the depressive syndrome, however, winter depression is not accompanied by the usual difficulty in getting asleep and staying asleep, but rather by a noticeably increased need for sleep, whereby even longer sleep phases are not restorative and those affected feel tired and exhausted. Loss of appetite and weight loss are less, but an increased need for food with cravings for carbohydrates (cravings for sweets) and weight gain.

Causes of winter depression

In general, the emergence of winter depression is primarily attributed to the lack of light in the period from November to February, which is said to affect brain metabolism. The pineal gland, which is located above the midbrain, is sensitive to light-dark stimuli and reacts with the release of the hormone melatonin. An increased melatonin level affects u.a. restricting attention and affecting the release of other hormones. There is also an imbalance in the household of neurotransmitters. A lack of "feel-good hormone" serotonin should play a special role. However, the exact correlations have so far been scientifically insufficient researched.

A little noticed aspect is the negative attitude and associated expectation of the cold winter time. In many cases, the passing lightness of the summer is mourned with increased sociability, events and recreational opportunities as a painful loss and the opportunities of this introverted time not used. Thus, for example, experiences and (perhaps) newness can "settle", be sorted and integrated in the time of the temporary retreat.

Winter depression due to accumulated body slag

In traditional Indian medicine, the Aryurveda, the onset of depression, anxiety, lack of drive and fatigue but also sleep disorders, attention deficit disorders and digestive problems are attributed to an accumulation of toxins in the body. These slags, called "Ama", can be both physical and psychological. On a physical level, they then arise from undigested dietary constituents and non-excreted waste products of the metabolism. Mentally, "Ama" comes from negative feelings that are being held.

Also in the western naturopathy one supposes beside the lack of light an excess of metabolic waste as a trigger of depression. This arises u.a. by hyperacidity, which leads to a disturbed fine blood circulation of the tissue with oxygen deficiency. As a result, waste products can not be sufficiently removed and eliminated from the body. In addition, vitamin and enzyme deficiencies are suspected that arise from the disturbed metabolism or mitbedingen. Just as in the case of chronic fatigue and exhaustion, one assumes not least of all an overload of the liver as a "detoxification center".

Treatment options from naturopathy

If a tendency to winter depression is already known, an initially professionally accompanied fasting cure in autumn with subsequent conversion to low-acid and vital-rich diet can effectively prevent the discomfort. In naturopathic practice, measures for deacidification and detoxification are taken as supportive of individual diagnostics and the change in diet is accompanied. Sometimes oxygen treatment can be helpful.

To optimize serotonin production, drugs with the amino acid L-tryptophan, which is necessary for the formation of the neurotransmitter, are available. A similar mechanism of action should be set in motion by the regular intake of dried and ground raw vegetables in the morning. Balancing and relaxing on the entire organism, yoga, respiratory therapy and meditation, which are offered individually and in groups.

St. John's wort against winter depression

St. John's wort is considered a "sun catcher" against winter depression. An herb has grown against depressive mood: First-line drugs should always be St. John's wort. Its active ingredient complex has long been known for its antidepressant properties and has even been scientifically recognized. Already Paracelsus knew the healing effect on psyche and nervous system, when he described St. John's wort as a universal plant in the 16th century, which was also against "imaginary voices, madness and madness" to use.

The St. John's Day (summer solstice) is the day with the highest sun position and at the same time, the time at which the medicinal plant was traditionally collected. As a sun catcher and supplier, St. John's wort is said to have absorbed the highest amount of light. The scientific equivalent of these observations and experiences focused on the ingredient hypericin. Hypericin makes us more sensitive to light, which has a balancing effect on melatonin formation in the pineal gland as well as on the serotonin balance in the brain. Nevertheless, it is to be assumed that only the interaction of the various active ingredients in the medicinal plant unfold the full spectrum of action of St. John's wort.

Light, air, colors and movement

Again and again, light therapies are recommended to eliminate the winter depression. It is probably more effective to take an extended walk of about an hour a day to get enough daylight to produce important hormones. For example, e.g. According to the recommendation of the World Health Organization (WHO), ten minutes of daylight in cloudy skies is enough daily to produce the hormone calciferol (vitamin D) in the required amount.

Exercise and fresh air continue to stimulate physical functions and clarify the mind. Especially walks in nature have a relaxing and mood-enhancing effect.

Colors, like natural light, also have a positive effect on the mood. Therefore, it is recommended to surround yourself in the winter with bright warm colors, be it in the apartment, when cooking or in the choice of clothes.
These and other measures from the natural healing can help as well as numerous home remedies against winter depressions through the dark season or even prevent the winter low. (Jvs)

Picture credits: sokaeiko / pixelio.de

Read on

Lad / Frawley: The Aryurweda herbal medicine, Winpferd 200016351a2cc0b08c03g / Hoffmann: Food for your soul, Ariane Verlag 1994
St. John's Wort - Eurobooks Guide, Geneva 1998