Depression is a complex condition that affects millions of people in the UK each year. While conventional medicine relies heavily on medication to treat depression, functional medicine UK takes a more holistic approach that addresses the root causes of mental health issues. In this article, we’ll explore how functional medicine practitioners can help clients suffering from depression.
Understanding the Causes of Depression
Functional medicine views the body as an interconnected system. Imbalances in one area, such as your gut health or hormones, can have cascading effects on your mental health. Function medicine practitioners like those at Urban Wellness conduct extensive testing to get to the root of what’s causing your depression on a biochemical level. This could include nutrient deficiencies, inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, digestive issues, and more. By identifying and addressing the underlying factors contributing to depression, the functional medicine approach provides longer lasting relief.
Nutritional Interventions
Diet and nutrition are cornerstones of functional medicine. Your functional nutritionist may recommend specific dietary changes and nutritional supplements that can improve depression symptoms by:
- Reducing inflammation
- Optimising brain function and neurotransmitter production
- Improving gut health and microbiome diversity
- Correcting nutritional deficiencies tied to mental health like B vitamins, omega-3s, zinc, and magnesium
- Enhancing detoxification
Making targeted nutritional interventions tailored to your biochemistry realigns biological systems, creates a stronger mental health foundation, and reduces depression.
Lifestyle Changes
A functional medicine practitioner can also help clients modify lifestyle factors that exacerbate depression. Common recommendations include:
- Adopting an anti-inflammatory diet such as Mediterranean, Paleo, or elimination diets.
- Increasing physical activity with both cardio and strength training to boost feel-good endorphins, reduce cortisol, and optimise energy levels.
- Working on sleep habits like maintaining a consistent bedtime routine, limiting blue light exposure at night, and creating an optimal sleep environment to support the circadian rhythm.
- Reducing stress through practices like meditation, yoga, breathing exercises, and adopting mindfulness techniques to activate the parasympathetic nervous system.
- Optimising social connections and community by planning regular social activities, joining a support group, and making time for loved ones to combat isolation and loneliness.
Making sustainable lifestyle changes empowers you to take an active role in overcoming depression.
Testing and Rebalancing Body Systems
In-depth testing helps functional medicine practitioners get to the root causes of your depression on a physiological level. Testing may include:
- Blood tests to evaluate hormone, nutrient, and amino acid deficiencies, blood sugar imbalances, food sensitivities, and indicators of inflammation.
- Urine or stool testing to assess gut health and microbiome diversity.
- Diagnostics to identify heavy metal toxicity or mould exposure.
- Assessments for sleep disorders, chronic infections, and neurotransmitter imbalance.
With this data, your practitioner creates a personalised treatment plan to rebalance your body systems, regulate pathological pathways, and address the underlying drivers of your depression symptoms.
The Functional Medicine Difference
Functional medicine provides a comprehensive approach to depression that addresses the physiological factors at the root of mental health issues. By using advanced testing, nutritional and lifestyle interventions, and a focus on balancing biological systems, functional medicine practitioners help clients alleviate depression, enhance mental wellbeing, and support long-term health.
