How Come They're Happy and I'm Not? (29 page)
Read How Come They're Happy and I'm Not? Online
Authors: Peter Bongiorno
- Eat a nutritious breakfast and small, frequent meals
- Gentle exercise every day
- Chromium: 400 meg a day
- L-tryptophan: 1,000 mg three times a day
- Vitamin B
6
: 45 mg every day - Zinc: 30 mg twice a day
- Folate: 1,000 meg once a day
- Exercise
- Remove earbs and add flax meal and a liver food (like beets or kale)
- Cheek thyroid and iron levels
- Add the following supplements:
- Magnesium glyeinate: 250 mg a day
- Vitamin B
6
: 50 mg a day - Evening primrose oil: 3 g a day
- Crocus: 15 mg twice a day
- Tryptophan: 2 g three times a day from ovulation to the third day of menstruation
- Progesterone: dosed on the label from ovulation until menstruation; discontinue if mood worsens
- Magnesium glyeinate: 250 mg a day
- Consider increasing soy intake and flax meal
- Melatonin: 1 to 3 mg before bed
- Saint-John's-wort and black cohosh combined: 0.25 mg of hypericin content of Saint-John's-wort and 1 mg of triterpene glycosides from black cohosh twice a day
- Consider bioidentical hormonal replacement
- Drink adequate water
- Consider a support group or religious work if it speaks to you
- Acetyl-L-carnitine: 1 to 3 g a day
- Massage
- Qi gong and tai qi
- Ginkgo biloba: 40 to 80 mg of extract three times a day
- Green tea: three cups a day
- Heavy metal urine test
- Blood heavy metal test
- Saliva cortisol test
- Urine hormonal test
This book is highly supported with the author's collection of more than sixteen years of data and peer-reviewed journal articles on the subject of depression. Please visit:
www.drpeterbongiorno.com/HappyReferences
for a complete listing of each chapter's references.
When I first see new patients with depression, or any other kind of chronic issue, I spend at least an hour and a half at the first visit asking lots of questions about their life. In fact, many of my patients have left this initial visit saying, “Wow, you know more about me than anyone else does.” Well, it's an honor and a privilege to be so trusted. I spend time asking a lot of questions up front because patients' answers offer strong clues to what remedies may be most effective. This habit of asking all these questions in a thoughtful, complete, and relaxed manner is not my invention—I learned it when I was training as a naturopathic doctor.
Naturopathic doctors (NDs) are trained in post-college, four-year medical programs. NDs learn all the basics of primary care medicine at the same level that conventional doctors (MDs or DOs) do. NDs learn about anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, physical exams, minor surgery, blood draws, pharmacology (the study of medications), and so on. For students, the number of learning hours for NDs is equivalent to that of MDs. NDs are
trained with a greater emphasis on primary care experience with patients one on one and less emphasis on hospitals and urgent care.
Another difference between the two stems from philosophy: conventional medicine focuses on a body that runs in systems, while naturopathic physicians look at the body as a whole system as much as possible. For example, when you have a skin problem, in the conventional world you would work with a dermatologist (a skin doctor). When you have an issue with your digestive tract you would see a gastroenterologist (a stomach/intestine doctor). In the naturopathic world, many skin problems can result from digestive issues, so we would work with the digestive system to help clear the skin.
To that end, the naturopathic curriculum also adds many types of classes a conventional doctor does not receive. We learn extensively about diet, lifestyle, exercise, nutrients, herbal medicines, hydrotherapy, and homeopathic medicines, and we receive plenty of classes in counseling. In fact, in my naturopathic school, students had to go to counseling too. It was explained, “In order to be present with someone else, and their challenges, you must understand your own so they do not get in the way.” Have you ever met a doctor and felt like you couldn't connect? That may be because she was having a bad day or because there were issues she needed to work on herself. We all have them.
In that spirit, from day one, naturopathic students are taught to help each patient look for the underlying cause of illness. We are taught that the body has an innate ability to heal itself and that if we give the body what it needs, it can heal.
Naturopathic physicians are licensed to practice medicine in sixteen states and the District of Columbia. In those states, we practice as primary care physicians, with the responsibilities, rights, and privileges of any physicians. A few states limit the rights of drug prescribing.
I am vice president of the New York Association of Naturopathic Physicians. In our particular state, NDs are not licensed as
physicians (even though our neighbor to the north, Connecticut, has been licensed since 1922), but we are actively pursuing our medical license. It seems in our state, and in many others, the societies of medical doctors would prefer we do not have a license. I think the concern is we may take away their business. Given the shortage of primary care doctors and the sense of abundance about the world, we know that there are plenty of patients—so my hope is in time, the public in all states, including the state of New York, will have the choice of seeing a naturopathic physician as their primary care doctor.
American Association of Naturopathic Physicians
The American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP) is the official association of credited naturopathic physicians. If you are looking to find a natural medicine expert in your area, please visit this website.
Peter Bongiorno ND, LAc
Dr. Bongiorno's website contains a full listing of all his publications as well as a blog where he shares his newest insights regarding the best in natural medicine health care and research. You'll also find links to his Facebook and Twitter pages. He invites you to join in the discussions.
Inner Source Natural Health and Acupuncture
This is the website for Dr. Bongiorno's clinical practice in New York, which he co-directs with his wife, Dr. Pina LoGiudice. Please sign up for their newsletter, which gives regular information about the best natural medicine and acupuncture has to offer.
These are some resources I have found helpful in my journey to bring good quality information to my patients.
Please note the author receives no financial compensation from these companies.
World's Healthiest Foods
Possibly the single best resource to learn about the health benefits of foods. This site is noncommercial and contains medical research, recipes, and more.
Shambhala Publications
This publishing company is a wonderful resource for books and materials to help create keep positive messages flowing.
Good Days Ahead DVD
www.helpfordepression.com/good-days-ahead
Good Days Ahead is a cognitive behavioral therapy-based DVD that uses researched methods to teach individuals coping skills for managing stress, anxiety, and depression.
Emotional Freedom Technique
Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) is a simple healing system that reduces the stress underlying much disease. It works on a variety of health issues, psychological problems, and performance
issues, even those that have been resistant to other methods. It can be learned and applied rapidly, which has contributed to its popularity among millions of people.
Environmental Working Group
The mission of the Environmental Working Group (EWG) is to use the power of public information to protect public health and the environment. In building what is probably one of the best noncommerical, nonbiased, factual sites regarding environment, writers have wonderfully researched lists regarding safe-to-use skin products, sunscreens, and common household items. I use this website over and over for good information about toxins and health.
The American Holistic Medical Association
This is the website for holistic medical doctors and other like-minded practitioners who are also focused on integrating holistic medicine into their practice.
National Certification Commission of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
Only master's-level trained diplomates in acupuncture are found on this site. For someone using acupuncture to treat depression, it is recommended that the acupuncturist is certified by the NCCAOM as a diplomate in acupuncture.
American Board of Clinical Metal Toxicology
This is a great resource to find physicians trained to understand how heavy metals can cause disease and how to remove these toxins.
On Depression
Healing Depression: Integrated Naturopathic and Conventional Treatments
Dr. Peter Bongiorno
CCNM Press, 2010
This book is written to teach physicians how to work with patients suffering from depression by using natural and integrative treatments. It's a very detailed, great source for people in the medical profession and anyone who would like to read about this information at a higher level of scientific discussion. This would also be a book to bring to your physician. This can be purchased by visiting
www.drpeterbongiorno.com
.
The Estrogen-Depression Connection: The Hidden Link Between Hormones & Women's Depression
Karen J. Miller, PhD, and Steven A. Rogers, PhD
New Harbinger Publications, 2007
This book is a great source for understanding in more depth how a woman's hormonal system plays a strong role in mood as well as menstrual issues, menopause, and general health.
Lifting Depression: A Neuroscientist's Hands-On Approach to Activating Your Brain's Healing Power
Kelly Lambert, PhD
Basic Books, 2008
Lambert's book is an interesting study about the importance of hands-on physical work to build a more competent mood and brain.
Manufacturing Depression: The Secret History of a Modern Disease
Gary Greenberg
Simon &Schuster, 2010
This book is a fascinating and perceptive tour of the history of depressive illness and antidepressant dominance.
What the Drug Companies Won't Tell You and Your Doctor Doesn't Want You to Know: The Alternative Treatments That May Change Your Life—and the Prescriptions That Could Harm You
Michael T. Murray, ND
Atria Books, 2009
Dr. Murray has a wonderful ability to connect dots regarding health, disease, and all the environmental, social, and economic factors that are at play when it comes to our health.
Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine
Michael Murray, ND, and Joseph Pizzorno, ND
Three Rivers Press, 1997
This is an excellent basic guide about natural medicine as well as specific treatments for a host of common conditions.
Eat Right 4 Your Type: The Individualized Diet Solution to Staying Healthy, Living Longer &Achieving Your Ideal Weight
Peter J. D'Adamo with Catherine Whitney
Putnam, 1997
This book is a landmark work in using the right foods to heal your body and to figure out which foods may be inflaming your body.
A (vitamin),
57
ABO and Rh blood type tests,
74
acetyl-L-carnitine,
209
adrenal glands,
61
,
71
,
98
–
99
,
112
,
154
–
155
advanced glycation end products (AGES),
57
age
atypical depression symptoms and,
105
medication side effects and suicidal thoughts,
6
melatonin phases,
118
algae,
93
alpha-linolenic acid (ALA),
101
American Dietetic Association,
19
amino acids
for antidepressant discontinuation support,
184
,
185
for depression, overview,
69
,
109
–
120