Herbal Docs - The truth about anti-depressants 💊, foods to avoid ❌ in Costco and why lemsip is rubbish 👎🏼...

It's an action-packed newsletter this week, so grab a drink and settle in ☕️

Thanks once again for subscribing to our newsletter. There’s a lot to cover this week so let’s get cracking!

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ANTI-DEPRESSANTS: THE RHETORIC 📖

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Few messages stay consistent for 30 years, but one in particular has prevailed: Depression is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain 🧠

We were taught in medical school that depression was simply caused by an imbalance of the neurotransmitter serotonin AKA the happy chemical 😁. This idea has been pushed since the 1990s and led to the creation of a class of drugs known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

The way they work is actually really simple: SSRIs block the the reuptake of serotonin meaning there’s more available to bind to receptors.

To summarise:

1. Depression is caused by serotonin imbalance ⚖️

2. SSRIs increase the serotonin available ⬆️

3. More serotonin leads to feelings of happiness 😁

This rhetoric was pushed aggressively by the pharmaceutical industry and indoctrinated healthcare professions, the result of which is that over 8 million adults in the UK now take anti-depressants 😱

We’re not only worried but the increasing usage but the drug itself:

• emotional numbing

• initial worsening of symptoms

• long-term dependence

• serotonin syndrome

ANTI-DEPRESSANTS: THE TRUTH 😮

A team from University College London led by Professor Joanna Moncrieff and Dr Mark Horowitz conducted the most in-depth study to date on the serotonin theory of depression. They analysed:

• 12 systematic reviews and meta-analyses

• 1 collaborative meta-analyses

• 1 meta-analysis of large cohort studies

• 1 systematic review and narrative synthesis

• 1 genetic association study

• 1 umbrella review

In simple terms, this is a shit ton of data 🔥

I advise your read the full paper here but here is a damning quote from the authors:

“Our comprehensive review of the major strands of research on serotonin shows there is no convincing evidence that depression is associated with, or caused by, lower serotonin concentrations or activity. Most studies found no evidence of reduced serotonin activity in people with depression compared to people without, and methods to reduce serotonin availability using tryptophan depletion do not consistently lower mood in volunteers”

SO WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

That in essence is the million dollar question 💵

The authors suggest that the widespread use of SSRIs may not be providing the benefit everyone presumes and in fact could be causing more harm.

Of course there is lots of anecdotal evidence from people who have found benefit from their use of SSRIs. We would never tell you to ditch the drugs without a thorough consultation with a medical professional. However this comprehensive study further highlights the weak evidence used to support SSRI use.

So what alternatives are there to these drugs? 🧐

Well, NICE, the UK body that creates guidelines for treatments actually state to ‘not routinely offer antidepressant medication as first-line treatment for less severe depression, unless that is the person's preference.’

They also recommend:

• guided self-help

• cognitive behavioural therapy

• cognitive behavioural activation

• lifestyle changes e.g. exercise, diet

• group mindfulness and meditation

• interpersonal psychotherapy

• counselling

• short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy

The measures above don’t just attempt to mask the symptoms of depression like SSRIs, but work to treat the underlying cause of ones depression. Which we now know isn’t a chemical imbalance, but a complex combination of trauma, stress, physical health, age, family history, personality, medications etc.

A FULL HOLISTIC GUIDE TO TREATING DEPRESSION & LOW MOOD WILL BE RELEASED IN NEXT WEEKS EDITION

SHOP AT COSTCO? AVOID THESE FOODS

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I bloody love a Costco shop but it can be a minefield knowing what is and isn’t good for me. We always advise taking a minute to read the ingredients of anything you’re thinking of putting into your body. So this week, Haris made a visit to Costco and these are 3 food items that are on his avoid list.

WHY LEMSIP IS RUBBISH ❌

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Synonymous with coughs and cold 😷, lempsip has become a go to for many people when they feel under the weather.

Yet have you ever stopped to think whether there’s anything in lemsip that is actually healing you? 🤔

The short answer: No.

The research to support the decongestant in lemsip is flimsy at best and you can buy paracetamol for 40p.

Instead go for a tablespoon of honey 🍯 and citrus fruits 🍊 which provide vitamin C. Honey contains propolis which is a natural anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory whilst the Vitamin C will support your bodies immune system.

Thats a wrap.

Thanks for Reading

Stay Tuned for Our FREE Holistic Guide for Depression released Sunday 7th August.

Small Changes, Healthy Habits, Happy Lives 🌿 👨🏻‍⚕️

Dr Haris Mumtaz