Seasonal Affective Disorder (referred to as SAD) is a type of depression that occurs at the same time every year. For most people, it begins in the fall and last into the winter months. It seems to affect people who live in areas where winter days are very short or there are big changes in the amount of daylight in different seasons. Although, it can cause depression for some people during the spring and summer months. Experts are not sure what causes SAD, but they think it may be caused by a lack of sunlight. Reduced exposure to sunlight may disrupt our sleep-wake cycle and other circadian rhythms. It may also cause problems with a brain chemical called serotonin that plays a role in and affects our mood. This could be due to reduced sunlight which can cause a drop in serotonin, possibly leading to depression. SAD symptoms usually start out mild and may become more severe throughout the season. Fall/winter SAD symptoms may include depression, anxiety, loss of energy, social withdrawal, oversleeping, weight gain, and reduced concentration. Spring/summer SAD symptoms may include anxiety, insomnia, irritability, agitation, weight loss, and poor appetite.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a great way to treat the symptoms associated with SAD. Acupuncture and Chinese herbs are effective in reducing depressed feelings and anxiety which can lead to reduced energy, changes in weight, sleep patterns, and focus and concentration. TCM is a holistic medicine that treats your mind, body, and spirit all at the same time. For example, when we see emotional symptoms (ie-depression) causing a physical symptom (ie-oversleeping), we will plan a treatment to eliminate the depression which will lead to a balance in your sleeping patterns. The acupuncture treatment helps to regulate our hormones which are associated with our moods. From an energetic viewpoint, acupuncture balances our energies. All of the energy in our bodies can easily become blocked due to a fluctuation in our emotions. Chinese herbs are a gentle and effective medicine to treat SAD symptoms. Specific herbs can help improve some of the classic SAD symptoms such as insomnia, anxiety, and reduced concentration. Another effective TCM therapy is qigong. Qigong is a system of breathing and physical exercises practiced to cultivate our energy. It is used by many as part of a meditation practice.
Along with using TCM therapies to treat seasonal affective disorder, we should make sure we are taking in the correct amounts of our required nutrients for our optimal health. Key nutrients can help in reducing depressed emotions as well. Omega-3 oils (flax oil and fish oils), B-vitamins, and magnesium. It is best for us to take in our vitamins and minerals through foods-this is because the nutrients are more easily absorbed into our digestive system this way. A few sources of omega-3's are flax seeds, salmon, sardines, dark green vegetables, and walnuts. Some B-vitamin sources include seaweeds (nori, hijiki, and wakame), asparagus, broccoli, bananas, brown rice, and figs. Sources of magnesium include quinoa, Brazil nuts, peas, lentils, haibut, and spinach. Treating SAD with Traditional Chinese Medicine
Caroline Jung, L.Ac., MSOM, Dipl. Ac.
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