Homeopathy for Depression and Anxiety

​BENEFITS OF HOMEOPATHY IN MENTAL HEALTH
Homeopathy is a popular treatment for mental health issues in the UK and can be used as a natural alternative to anti-depressants or anti-anxiety medication. A quarter of the UK population will experience some kind of mental health problem in any year, yet conventional medicine has so far failed to find any lasting solution to this growing problem. Homeopathy, in some instances, has been shown to work as well as anti-depressants and better than placebos.  

Homeopathy is one of the most popular complementary therapies. It has been used across the world for over two centuries. Mental and emotional problems, such as anxiety, depression and insomnia, are among the most common reasons individuals seek complementary and alternative treatments. Studies show that when used appropriately homeopathy is a safe therapy and that its uses cover a wide range of physical, mental and emotional conditions. 

Homeopaths take a different, complementary, approach to mental health, tailoring an individual’s consultation and the prescription to suit the person’s unique set of symptoms. Qualified homeopaths are experienced professionals, so can play a role in identifying mental and emotional health needs at an early stage. Homeopaths work with their patients to get to know their personal history and individual symptoms well. Homeopaths aim to treat the causes of ill health as well as the effects. We build a professional relationship with each patient to achieve a deep understanding of their underlying issues. 

REASONS TO CHOOSE HOMEOPATHY FOR MENTAL HEALTH 
Homeopaths don’t believe that there is just one reason for the increase in mental illness, but one possible cause could be drug-induced illness, and is probably more common than is generally recognised. Free from side-effects homeopathic remedies are made from high dilutions of natural or manmade substances, so they don’t have the unpleasant side effects or withdrawal symptoms of conventional antidepressants, tranquillisers and anti-psychotics.  

IS HOMEOPATHY GOOD FOR DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY?
Homeopathy is an effective way of treating disorders like anxiety, stress, and depression with negligible side effects. Anxiety can be defined as the general feeling of fear or apprehension. Anxiety disorders may be seen in the form of general anxiety, phobias, and obsessive-compulsive disorders. Depression seems to be an ever-increasing problem in modern society, and patients should realise that they have a choice of treatment, from counselling services, to homeopathy, and other alternative therapies, to conventional medicine’s, such as antidepressants and antipsychotic drugs. 

According to the NHS Direct website, your doctor might refer you for counselling (talking therapy), and if he does this there are no drugs involved, and therefore no adverse consequences. Or the doctor may prescribe antidepressant drugs, of which there are over 30 different kinds. 

Homeopathy has been treating depression now for over 200 years. In the Homeopathy Materia Medica, the term ‘depression’ is not used. It is a highly medicalised word. Instead, it is the word ‘sadness’ that is used. Large numbers of homeopathic remedies have extensive, and quite intricate symptom pictures dealing with all kinds of emotions - including sadness or depression. 

In his book, Homeopathic Psychology, Philip Bailey, MD lists 35 remedies as being the most useful, and provides detailed psychological descriptions of each remedy. Here are some of them, with brief descriptions:

AURUM METALLICUM 
Endogenous / organic depression; in the pit of despair, with self-loathing; self-recrimination, isolation. Silent, flat emotional expression. Does not weep. Suicide seems an attractive option; thinks fondly of death 

IGNATIA
The chief remedy for grief (with Nat Mur). Both feel unloved during childhood, trauma of losing love. Nat Mur is more controlled, silent grief. Ignatia will sob hysterically at first, shock reaction, followed by weeks of emotional volatility. Loss of control; hysterical. Also tends to isolate herself (epilepsy, cramps, numbness, etc.); can be deep /prolonged; uncontrolled weeping, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite; hysteria 

LYCOPODIUM
Not really a depressive type; but withdraws; sits/broods; has little self-respect; entertains suicidal thoughts; worse when waking, improves as day goes on. 

NAT MUR
More prone to depression than any other group; arises from suppressed sadness, inability to cry; many abused women; sudden onset; triggered by loss of love (bereavement, separation); series of traumas, starting with difficult birth; lack confidence and self-esteem; a silent depression; apathy; sleeps/eats a lot; better for company; but withdrawn, and consolation makes her worse; related to hormones in female cycle;  suicidal; manic depressives (depression alternating with euphoria). 

NAT SULPH
Depression and mania. Pressure of thoughts dwells on the past. Thoughts crowd in, obsessive. Many regrets. Unrealistic romantic desire. A gentle melancholy but resists suicide because of strong family ties. Very sensitive, emotional person, strong sense of values. Claustrophobia, stoicism, self-reproach in more depressive cases. 

PHOS AC
Profound grief, ailments from grief; separation from partner, emotions shut down. They can remember a time when they were happy, and that their feelings are not normal. Being in a state of limbo. Long term grief. Very passive. 

PULSATILLA
Sensitive to withdrawal of affection; insecure, weeps, runs to bedroom when unhappy, or shouts and cries; irritable. When happy, excitable or mild and co-operative; fun loving, sociable; flirtatious; interested in personal side of relationships. 

SEPIA
When true nature is suppressed, loses spirit, deadens appetite for life; sluggish mentally and physically, loses enthusiasm; emotions blunted, she becomes indifferent (to family), just feels irritable, impatient; unsociable. Loses enjoyment of being sociable, indifferent to pleasure. Drained of energy and motivation. Feels panicky, weepy, anxious; restless; fears develop; fear of insanity; depression, suicidal; agoraphobia, withdrawal. 

VERATRUM ALB
Manic-depressive psychosis, with manic side more to the fore. Restless, aimlessly busy, cannot sit still. Depression - brooding despair; sits silently for hours thinking about how wretched he feels. Despair of recovery; suicidal. 

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