Depression is a severely disabling physical condition that renders in its victims a loss of interest and passion for life. Depression is categorized as a disabling disorder and has prescribed medication and treatment practices approved by leading medical professionals. Despite all the medical remedies the cases of depression have been on the rise since World War II, escalating to new heights in the last 8 years. Depression is now ranked the second most disabling illness, after heart disease, in the US.
The most common cure for depression has been antidepressant drugs. However due to a large percentage of depression patients benefiting little to nothing from such treatments, the scope of therapy has been broadened in recent years to give unconventional and alternative treatment methods a thought at curing depression.
One of such methods is a holistic cure for depression. It is largely based on the belief that a problem in one part of the body has an effect on the whole body. Thus patients are advised to go through a wide variety of therapies and programs that help ease the causes of depression and other mental disorders. The types of treatment in a standard holistic program are more about incorporating various changes in the patient's life than actually prescribing a hard and fast table of things to do.
Generally all holistic programs follow three basic principles: the exercise of body, the exercise of mind and the exercise of spirit.
The exercise of body is perhaps the simplest to understand and involves changing one's physical lifestyle; reducing the intake of junk food, getting adequate healthy food and water, sleeping properly and avoiding insomnia. Alternative therapies include massage, dietary planning and consultation, herbal therapies, acupuncture, acupressure, martial arts and yoga among some of the common practices.
The exercise of mind is a bit more complex. It usually involves keeping a positive approach towards life and eliminating negative thinking as it directly affects the nervous system. Sometimes productive activities are also suggested like psychotherapy, indulging in art and music, meditation and yoga.
The exercise of spirit involves treating the spiritual dimension or accessing the wisdom of the essential soul or self. It is a concept harder to grasp for some. Suggestions include appreciating nature, praying, meditating, yoga and martial arts among others.
Holistic treatments are not a strict pattern of rules and regulations to follow, it is essential to be mindful and aware of the patient before suggesting a treatment plan.