ACUPUNCTURE - WHAT IT IS AND WHAT TO EXPECT

Acupuncture has been successfully used for 2500 years to treat both medical and psychiatric illnesses.

The initial evaluation differs somewhat from traditional Western medicine by including examination of the tongue, pulses, ears, and a history of diet, lifestyles and personal factors such as taste and color preferences. Acupuncturists also evaluate a person's emotional makeup from the point of view of mind, body, and spirit. Body means looking at recent, acute physical symptoms. Mind indicates a change in symptoms with a change in emotional state. And Spirit refers to the human will to flourish joyously.

Many people believe falsely that acupuncture will be painful, based on familiarity with larger needles used for injection of medications, but acupuncture needles are only about 3 times the size of a human hair. The most common experience related by patients is a general feeling of relaxation and well-being.

Treatments typically last between 20 and 40 minutes, but of course this depends on individual patients and physicians.

Acupuncture can be used to treat depression, allergies, digestive problems, insomnia, arthritis, headaches, PMS, back pain, drug and alcohol addiction/withdrawal, and many other psychiatric and medical problems.

Dr. Indjarit Singh, M.D. is available for consultation and treatment.

FOOD FUN FOOD FUN FOOD

At the Apple-A-Day Cafe Lunchtime Program sponsored by The Camarillo Healthcare District, located at 340 Mobil Avenue, Camarillo. Days and hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 11:30 to 1:00. Lunch is served at no cost to Seniors.

For reservations (recommended) call 805-388-1952.

FOOD HOME FOOD HOME FOOD

Nutritious, ready-to-eat meals delivered to your home Monday through Friday (no holidays). For anyone over 60 who is unable to shop or cook for themselves

For delivery call 805-388-1952

DEPRESSION- YOU DON'T HAVE TO LIVE WITH IT !!!

Depression is not a normal part of living or aging. Although it isn't unusual to feel sad from time to time, when the depression lasts more than 2 weeks without letup, or when the symptoms are so intense that they interfere with the ability to concentrate, work, enjoy life, or take care of yourself (eat, bathe, sleep), it's time to call a psychiatrist.

There are specific signs and symptoms of depression but everyone experiences them differently in terms of severity and length. Some of the more commonly observed symptoms are:

Overwhelming sadness

Feelings of hopelessness, emptiness and helplessness

Decreased energy

General loss of interest in life

Impaired sleep and memory

Increased irritability

Depression has been categorized into several types:

Dysthymia a general just not feeling good; the medical term is malaise

Postpartum Depression a major condition which many researchers believe to be triggered by hormonal changes during and after pregnancy

Bipolar Disorder characterized by mood swings which vary from extreme mania and a feeling that EVERYTHING IS WONDERFUL to a depression so deep that the biggest decision of the day is whether or not to commit suicide. Just as the intensity of emotion varies from person to person, so does the frequency (called cycles).Cycles can run over days, weeks, or months. We'll present a separate article on Bipolar Disorder in a future issue.

Seasonal Affective Disorder called the midwinter blues, researchers now believe this usually brief period of depression is caused by reduced light due to the shorter days, and by lack of exercise during the winter months.

Psychotic Depression fortunately this is relatively rare, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. It is characterized by a depression so intense that when some individuals can't stand being themselves they begin to believe they're someone else. One theory states they dis-associate themselves from a life they perceive as so negative that they can't live in it anymore; some professionals refer to this as psychic suicide.

A partial list of causes of depression includes environment, genetics, body chemistry imbalance, the nature of a persons early childhood and general life experiences. More specific causes include chronic illness/pain, alcohol and/or drug addiction/withdrawal (including prescription drugs), poverty, child abuse, a history of family violence, and lifestyle (isolation, overwork, lack of exercise and poor diet, to name a few). From the diversity of these few causes it can be seen that only a professional has the education and ability to sort out the causes and treatment of the several different types of depression.

We'll talk about types of treatments in the next issue.