Sunday 17 February 2013

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Depression and Anxiety are common mood problems that affect tens of millions each year. While medications and talk therapy can be very helpful, many find these traditional methods do not yield long-term results.

Mood is like a weather pattern that reflects a combination of air currents in the atmosphere, temperature, humidity and, finally, seasonal changes. It is what we see and feel on the surface, but a LOT is going on behind the scenes and in the environment both in and around us.

The internal climate that produces mood is a result not only of thoughts and feelings, although these are obviously a big part. Our internal atmosphere -- reflected as metabolism, digestion, circulation, immune function, and hormonal rhythms -- is intimately connected to our emotions as well.

For centuries, Chinese Medicine has recognized the connections between mind and body. The sages long ago developed a rich, highly effective language for describing how the organs of the physical body both lead and follow emotion and thought. They understood that, on a fundamental level, mind and body are truly ONE.

The common belief today is that Depression and Anxiety are disorders of the brain. This is because conventional science sees the brain as the source of thought and emotion.

But, cutting-edge science, fueled by recent developments in neuroendocrinology and psychology, is beginning to reveal that, indeed the sages were right. The entire body thinks, feels, and remembers.

In other words, your body is an integrated, intelligent brain.

For instance, we now know that the electromagnetic sphere of the heart is many times larger than the brain and that, in fact, the impulses emitted by the heart have a huge influence on brain function. Additionally, the heart makes hormones that control various brain functions.

It was also discovered that 90% of the body’s serotonin lies in the enteric nervous system (ENS), which is a fancy name for the nerves of the intestinal tract. Yes, that’s right -- the magic neurotransmitter that has so much to do with mood is more highly concentrated in your belly than in your head. Could it be there's literal truth to the concept of "gut instinct"?

It is these, and many other discoveries I have learned about, that have helped me to realized that any approach to treating depression MUST be holistic to truly succeed. There is simply no way around this.

To heal Depression and Anxiety, we must not only learn to redirect and reshape our mental and emotional patterns, it is essential to strengthen and balance our entire bodies. By opening what is blocked, strengthening what has weakened, and clearing what has accumulated, we unlock our innate healing intelligence and create the proper ground for long-term emotional healing.

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