The Supplementary Treatment Of Depression Using Homeopathic and Bach Flower remedies

The Supplementary Treatment Of Depression Is Useful For Patients who will not take anti-depressants Patients who develop side effects on anti-depressants Treatment resistant depression

Samuel Hahnemann 1755-1843

The “Like Cures Like”Principle (similia similibus curentur) The drug which cures is capable of producing symptoms similar to those which it cures (eg.onions for colds)

Materia Medica Symptoms produced by poisonings Symptoms produced by provings Symptoms relieved when remedy given for other symptoms

Taking A Homeopathic History Presenting complaint-aetiology,modalities PMH DH FH SH Generals-environment,food Mentals-personality,anxieties,mood

Patient Remedy Symptom Picture Physical characteristics Local & general symptoms Temperament Drug Picture Toxicology Provings Experience

Repertorisation Repertories-books or computer programmes List symptoms under body systems and the remedies which produce them Ideally choose prominent symptoms in each area-mind,general and local Aetiology Peculiar symptoms

How Are Remedies Prepared ? From- plants,minerals,animals,disease -macerated in alcohol = mother tincture Serial dilution - 1 part added to 9 or 99 parts of solution = 1X or 1C potency Succussion in between dilutions Common potencies :- 6C, 30C, 200C, 1M, 10M, 50M

Precipitating Factors Acute grief reaction - Ignatia Suppressed grief - Natrum Mur. Emotional shock - Opium Worry,grief,homesickness,disappointed love - Phosphoric Acid Resentment - Staphysagria Loss of property - Aurum

Aurum (Gold) Often suicidal thoughts - talks of suicide and desires death,but also fears it.Dreams of death. Ideas of worthlessness,critical of self and others Broods,wants to be alone.Sensitive to noise Craves alcohol-can feel better for it Often unable to cry

Natrum Sulph.(Glauber’s Salt) Often suicidal thoughts,but fights against them Often early morning wakening, 4-5 am Hates coversing Poor memory Periodicity,down every spring

Arsenicum Album(White Arsenic) Depression and anxiety or agitated depression.Very restless,never placid Despairing,hopeless,irritated Fears + + death,being alone Lack courage,aggressive to others Very tidy Hallucinations of smell and sight Exhausted after slight exertion

Cimicifuga(Actea Racemosa) Depression & anxiety- “like a black cloud” Often pre-menstrual or puerperal Feeling of impending evil Fears- going mad,being killed Hallucinations-rats and mice

Calc .Carb.(Chalk) Depression with psychomotor retardation Sit staring in front,heavy,dull, not restless Broods over little things Fears- insanity,illness,dark, “something terrible” will happen Sensitive to injustice to others Silent tears Poor memory

Phosphoric Acid Extreme indifference Settled despair - often after grief, worry, homesickness, disappointed love TATT Impaired memory Often young people Useful in PVFS with depression

Phosphorus Disinclined to work,study or converse. Weary of life.Indifference even towards own children.Weeps before menses. Anxious and restless esp.in dark or twilight. Memory poor.Dread of death when alone

Ignatia (St.Ignatius`Bean) Acute grief reaction -usually expressed, often remorseful and self-critical May be silent and brooding

Natrum Muriaticum (Salt) Depression following grief, rejection - prolonged grief reaction Indifferent (usually sympathetic) Anxiety,hypochondriacal Poor appetite,bad dreams Afraid will go to hell,but may feel suicidal Worse pre-menstrually

Staphysagria (Delphinium) Suppressed resentment or guilt (esp. sexual) Difficulty expressing anger Anxious, irritable, hypochondriacal Very sensitive to remarks of others Prefers to be alone

Edward Bach 1886-1936

Cherry Plum Uncontrollable fears - going mad , suicide “Out of control”

Sweet Chestnut Intense severe suffering.Feel trapped. Isolated. Silent tears. Not usually suicidal , but feel ttere is no way out.

Gentian Depression when the cause is known eg. disappointment in job or love. Disillusion , doubt .

Gorse Hopelessness , despair More profound than Gentian , but not so acute as Sweet Chestnut. Useful in terminal illness , patients in long term care .

Mustard Depression when cause unknown .Out of the blue “like a black cloud” (cf.Cimic.) Lifts of its own accord Not as hopeless as Gorse. Can be useful for SAD

Star Of Bethlehem After effects of loss , grief . Depression that feels like a loss . Can seem to cope superficially , but no joy ,anhedonia .

Honeysuckle Useful for regrets after a bereavement . Keynote - “ Living in the past”

Clematis Can be useful in grief . Lack of concentration , thinking of lost person May escape into alcohol or drugs . Keynote - lack of interest in the present .

Hornbeam Mental fatigue and lassitude . Don’t want to get up , can’t be bothered .

Olive Exhaustion, longstanding overwork, burn-out . Overtired , can’t sleep . More physical than Hornbeam .

Pine Guilt .Punish themselves Often insidious depression . Unhappy relationships because they feel unworthy . Feel guilty if they relax or go on holiday - workaholics .

Willow “ Victim mentality “ Not true depression , but may present as such . Resentment ( cf. Staph ) Not happy with improvement Put responsibility for their feelings onto others (opp. Pine )

Elm Overwhelmed by responsibility . Usually temporary . Normally capable ,take on too much and feel inadequate and depressed . Less physical than Olive

Wild Rose Apathy and resignation . Chronic illness or situation . Reluctant to change . Flat affect .Sit down heavily

Scleranthus Uncertainty, changeable . Useful for mood swings , cyclothymic or bipolar illness . “ Bach remedy lithium”

Outcomes for Patients with Depression 1996 - 2000 n=24 GHHOS 0=No improvement 1=Minor `` 2=Moderate `` 3=Major `` 4=Cured