Natural remedy for depression: Mindfulness-based cognative therapy

Here is hope for those suffering depression but do not wants to take anti-depression medicine on a long term basis or who wants to take reduced dosage. It is called Mindfulness-based cognative therapy or MBCT in short.

Scientists in the United Kingdom got a group of patients suffering from clinical depression to participate in a course of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT where patients are trained to focus their mind on the present, spot early signs of depression, then respond in such a way so as to not trigger further re-occurrences.

Compared with another group of patients who continue to take medication, they were found to have similar proportion of patients suffering relapse. Encouraged by this study, doctors in England and Wales are already being encouraged to use MBCT on their patients but were cautioned not to use it on patients with suicidal tendencies.

Natural remedy depression - Mediterranean style diet?

Researchers from the University of Las Palmas and University of Navarra reported in the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) that those who eat the Mediterranean diet (plenty of vegetables, fruits and cereals, little red meat) may have less likelihood of developing depression.

The study involved 10,094 healthy adults over a period of 4 years who completed questionnaires which showed that participants who strongly adhere to MDP (Mediterranean Dietary Pattern) were 30% less likely to develop depression. While admitting that further studies are needed, Dr. Cecila D'Felice, a clinical psychologist claimed that there is increasing evidences of the importance of diet in treating depression, with a diet high in olive oil enhancing the amount of serotonin, which is how most anti-depression works (increase serotonin).

Serotonin

Serotonin is a monoamine neurotransmitter found extensively in the gastrointestinal tract of animals, some synthesized in serotonegic neurons, found also in fungi and plants including fruits and vegetables.

Source: Wikipedia: Serotonin