Licensed Acupuncturist, herb nerd, judoka, capoeirista, kung fu-er, eater of delicious things. I want to make your life better and more happy.
Catching Elephant is a theme by Andy Taylor
Pranic Forum: Chinese herbs and depression
Knowledge about the usage of complementary therapies such as Chinese Herbal Medication is growing among people suffering from depression and other forms of mental disorder.
Alternative approaches and herbal mixtures are used widely in China. A recent review conducted by Lee Butler and…
Treatment for depression has to be multi-modal: Acupuncture and Chinese herbs can be a great help. Exercise, nutrition, talk therapy, and building quality relationships with family and friends are all essential.
Exercise is Good for Your Brain
Everybody knows exercise is good for you. Generally speaking, almost everyone could be doing more exercise and reap positive benefits. There is a tiny slice of people who are already exercising at a top level and might even be better off reducing their exercise load. There is a simple test to determine if you are one of these people. Look down: are you exercising right now? If not, you could probably do with a little more.
In addition to the obvious physical benefits, exercise can reduce mental stress, increase your brain power, slow the effects of aging (what was I doing again? Oh right, writing a blog post), and is better for depression than medication.
If you need convincing, here are some articles you should read:
- How Exercise Could Lead to a Better Brain
- Exercise Leads to Increase in muscle-derived mesenchymal stem cells
- Exercise Eases Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety
I am a big fan of doing exercise that is fun. If it’s not fun, your motivation for doing it will eventually run dry. A lot of people I talk to tell me they work out for their health or to maintain their appearance but hate going to the gym because it’s boring. Don’t do boring stuff! Most gyms have group exercise classes - yoga, aerobics, martial arts, pilates, etc. Give them a try. No gym? Join a basketball game at your local park. Basketball is excellent - it requires very little equipment and will have you running up and down the court, jumping, twisting and sweating. My personal favorite for fun exercise is capoeira, the Afro-Brazilian martial art that combines kicking and acrobatic moves with singing and dancing. How can you lose??
Human interaction is extremely important. Bring a friend to class with you or even better, make some friends in your class. You won’t necessarily become best buddies with your gym friends and go to their weddings, but they’ll come to expect seeing you in class, and that tiny bit of positive pressure can help bring you back on a regular schedule.
