Discover Inner Peace - Eastern and Western Philosophy
Many people with depression find they constantly search for inner peace and joy. While traditional or Western philosophy and treatment may relieve some of their symptoms, often people find they still lack the luster for life they once had.
This is why many patients with depression are turning to eastern traditions for support and guidance when treating their disease. Often a combination of traditional and holistic approaches results in the best possible outcome for patients looking to restore the quality of their life and inner joy.
Eastern and Western Medicine
Many people feel conflicted when trying to decide what approach is best when treating depression. Too often, people feel they must choose one approach or another, when the reality is they can use both approaches. In fact, patients that use complementary medicine along with traditional treatment approaches to alleviate depression usually experience longer-lasting relief, and are less likely to report relapses.
All doctors, whether of the Western or Eastern tradition, have one goal in mind when treating a patient with depression - to get the patient feeling better. Everyone wants to feel good. No one wants to suffer unnecessarily.
A typical Western doctor's first line of treatment involves the use of antidepressants and therapy to combat depression. There is nothing wrong with this for many people. However, antidepressants may not serve all people the same way. While a medication and talk therapy may relieve the early and severe symptoms of depression, holistic therapy or eastern medicine goes one step further.
The goal of Eastern medicine or holistic practitioners is to get people to realize a connection exists between the mind, body and spirit. Most Eastern philosophers feel that if any part of the body is out-of-sync, the rest of the body will suffer.
Comparison of Beliefs and Techniques
| Western Medicine | Eastern Medicine |
| Causes of Depression: Genetics Brain chemical imbalance Hormonal changes Environmental and lifestyle issues |
Causes of Depression: Imbalance or blockage in one or more of the internal organs and their energy pathways, especially the liver |
| Treatments for Depression: Medication Psychotherapy Diet and Lifestyle changes |
Treatments for Depression: Acupuncture Diet changes Herbal medicine Reiki and other body work Meditation |
The Body-Mind Connection
Eastern philosophy suggests the body can heal itself if the body, the mind and the spirit are working in sync or synergy with each other. If one part of the body is not working right, then a person will experience symptoms. These symptoms may manifest physically or emotionally, as in the case of depression.
For example, someone experiencing chronic pain may actually suffer from depression, according to the Eastern model of medicine and healing. While treating the symptoms of pain may help alleviate the person's condition initially, an Eastern doctor will dig deeper to find out what the emotional or underlying causes are for depression.
Once the depression is treated fully, the body has the ability, according to Eastern beliefs, to heal itself.
Fortunately many Western doctors are realizing the benefits of adopting a well-rounded approach to healing. Because of this many recommend non-traditional approaches to healing depression along with conventional therapy or medication treatments.
For example, a Western doctor may recommend a patient have acupuncture to help relieve pain. Acupuncture may open the body's energy channels, encouraging greater circulation and improving a person's energy. This can help a person combat depression alone or when combined with traditional treatment approaches.
Often patients seek holistic treatment centers once their initial symptoms are well-controlled. By combining the two approaches, most people learn if nothing else, to live a healthier lifestyle. This lifestyle may involve changing one's diet and encouraging the practice of meditation or other relaxation techniques to relieve stress.
If you do decide to try Eastern healing, make sure you visit a qualified practitioner. Many doctors practice both Western and Eastern medicine, so you might start by looking for an open-minded doctor in your area. You may also ask your doctor if they know of someone they can refer you to for complementary treatments.