training questions re long term Postpartum mood disorders

[Guest guest]

Hi Carla;

I " m happy to hear back from you ... was wondering if you were ok.

 

There is a very good male ayurvedic physician, I've met/heard speak

associated with the John Bastyr University in Seattle, an excellent

college with strong ayurvedic program also. Once you have 30 - 45

prerequisite (basic) classes under your belt, I am willing to do

correspondence with you on the postpartum picture and skills, if you

like. Send me your email and I'll send you the curriculum outline to

me at AyurDoulas(deletethis)@sacredwindow.com.

 

Note that The national Ayurvedic Medical Association (NAMA) will not

be recognizing correspondence training if you would also want their

ayurvedic practitioner recognition, however the knowledge we can offer

some of it for home study and in communication by phone/net to get it

in th ehands of mothers. There are many circumstances in which I have

facilitated significant improvement with telephone consultations as

well, and this might serve in conjunction with the ayurvedic doctor's

consultations and herbal specifications. To have such skill reading

your pulse alone is worth it.

 

I have a woman coming to see me on Monday was so excited when I said,

I can tell you what happened to you, and we can also take much of the

burden/self blame etc off the psychology with this understanding. She

is just one month off a 3 month drug detox program followed by one

month depression retreat/special program, having spent years suffering

from antidepressant complications and postpartum complications. It

will take some time, but amazing results can be experienced very

quickly.

 

Yes, it will be a tremendous service for you to undertake. What is

your site that you host? Undoubtedly there is good support happeining

there?!

 

My understanding about accupuncture is that energy work, although

often a good adjunct therapy, is not a cure at all in these

situations. When you get into the Ayurveda basic study, reflect on

the elemental and doshic factors with particularly, vata imbalances.

The earth, water and fire elements are the ones needing most

attention, not the more nervous system and subtler energetics, which

self correct most often very easily with proper postpartum recovery

modalities. Translate that really simple for now as we need

grounding, proper digestive enzyme kindling/babying and not more

subtlety. We need simplicity, and physical plane supports of various

forms.

 

Of course, with long term vitiation of your metabolic balance, energy

medicines can be also very valuable, but still the core modalities

which I have been seeing and given to understand as most

valuable/effective are not this. Personally, I'd choose jin shin

jitsu or polarity or marma or accupressure therapy over accupuncture.

> One of our moderators got an herbal treatment from a Chinese Dr. up

>in Canada. She drank the " potion " and felt really bad at first and

>then was stunned that she was finally symptom free.

How long ago did this happen, was she on SSRIs, and what is the follow

up on that experience over the next 6 months? This chinese remedy,

was it a one time potion, or many weeks of ingested herbal brew?

There is obviously proven and highly schooled/experienced good

medicine there, although I find well guided Ayurvedic care more gentle

and thorough (herbal included), more inclusive of diet and daily life

heads up what we can change, other sub-modalities related.

 

The " felt really bad " part could be from cleansing reaction, also

could be from some download of the stored SSRIs if she had been on

antidepressants, which can happen up to 6 months in standard

withdrawal surprises, I have seen this and Dr. Tracy talks much about

this. You think you are doing great and then confusion, anger, rage,

hit the wall etc! many end up in the nut house for real, without

something helping the body process this excess, such as the herbal

potion below.

 

>How does ayurvedic compare or work with other alterative medicine?

I would choose one primary modality, (*Ayurveda*) and use others as

you feel called/have access if you can, but not mix herbal and dietary

advice from multiple physicians. Ayurvedic antidepressant herbs, from

what I know from Dr. Saraswati Buhrman who is published on the three

types of depression and thier management, finds no contraindications

to tandem use of appropriate herbs with one's antidepressant, for

about a month in tandem, then she slowly with cooperation of medical

observations, can begin weaning the antidepressants. (Protocol Journal

of Botanical Medicine, several years ago; unfortunately this awesome

journal is no longer publishing).

 

> It seems to me that Western medicine is only putting a band-aid on

the problem

Yes...that's my observation too, although I must applaud and affirm

their expertise in crisis care; amazing.

 

Blessings;

Martha