Is There a Natural Alternative To Your Depression or Anxiety Medication?

By Tara Peyman, ND

Approximately 50 million Americans will struggle with depression or anxiety throughout their life. Depression is now the leading cause of disability in the United States among children and adults age 15-44. If you or someone you know is affected by depression or anxiety, you know how much stress it can cause. These mood disorders can significantly interfere with a person's daily activities, work, and relationships.

A variety of problems can cause symptoms of depression or anxiety, including hormonal irregularities, neurotransmitter imbalances, vitamin deficiencies, and many other causes. As a naturopathic doctor, I am committed to finding the underlying cause of your symptoms, and correcting any imbalances. With specialty testing or even simple labs, we can uncover the causes of your mood disorder. Based on this testing, we can create a plan that is individualized to each patient.

There are many options for treating depression or anxiety. Treatment options range from conventional medications, such as Prozac, to natural treatments such as homeopathic medicine, acupuncture, targeted nutritional therapies, and herbal supplements. Some of these natural treatments may be used together, or one at a time, to assist in reducing symptoms.

With so many safe and effective treatments available, it is essential to understand all of your options, and choose the best treatment for you. As a naturopathic physician with an expertise in natural treatments for depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder, I can discuss all of your treatment options with you. For some people with severe depression or anxiety, medications may be necessary for a period of time. However in most cases, natural treatments are equally if not more effective than prescription drugs.

Naturopathic doctors in Arizona have prescription rights, meaning that your naturopathic doctor can write you a prescription for an antidepressant if he or she feels it is necessary. This also means that if you are currently on a prescription medication for depression or anxiety, and you want to taper down to a lower dose before going off the medication, we can write you a prescription for the lower dose, while transitioning you to natural therapies.

Conventional medications may help reduce the symptoms of anxiety or depression, but these medications can cause unwanted side effects such as fatigue, restlessness, insomnia - symptoms that people with anxiety or depression usually already have! If you are interested in alternatives to medications, there are a variety of natural treatment options that are highly effective for improving your mood and helping you to feel like yourself again.

When a patient comes to me with depression, anxiety, or another mood disorder, I usually begin my natural treatment program with a homeopathic prescription that is designed to treat their specific symptoms, and will not interact with any current medications. I also will offer an acupuncture session to my new patients, which can help to reduce muscle tension and stress, and improve energy and relaxation. After a few weeks, we will assess their response to the initial prescription, and then possibly begin a gradual taper of medications, if desired. At any point during the treatment, we can make changes as necessary, and add supportive nutritional or botanical therapies to improve mood, reduce withdrawal reactions, and assist in a healthy recovery.
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Tara Peyman is a licensed Naturopathic Doctor in the state of Arizona, with an expertise in natural treatments for depression and anxiety. She has also developed comprehensive, naturopathic programs for weight loss, diabetes, and smoking cessation. She practices in Mesa (480.985.0000) and also in Tempe (480.456.0402). For more information, visit www.DrTaraPeyman.com.