"Melancholy
The second subject I want to discuss is the difference between depression and melancholy. The latter is an old fashioned word, nowadays, and when it is used it is often mixed up with depression. This is important in both Chinese and Greek medicine, where emotions are associated with organ systems and paid much attention to from a clinical diagnostic standpoint. Depression proper comes from a loss of something. Friendship, love, the ability to spend time with or communicate with a person. Money, valued possessions, emotional important possessions. It is related to grief and it is associated with the lungs. The heaviness of grief falls upon the chest. Melancholy, on the other hand, is not a form of depression per se, but a type of brooding or pensiveness where one is locked up within oneself, within the imagination. One broods, turns over thought again and again in the imagination. The melancholic is stuck in their imagination; can’t think their way out, can’t think of a solution to their problem. This causes them to be too introspective, introverted, and cut off from the world. We don’t use the word “melancholy” too much anymore. The closest thing we have in modern English is the concept of “artistic funk.” The artist can’t imagination another great work of art, can’t imagine how to be creative."
Matthew Wood, MSc (Herbal Medicine), Registered Herbalist (AHG)
"Herbs are incredible tools to help facilitate our healing process both
physically and energetically. However, it is even more important to do
our best to explore the deeper causes behind depression. Past trauma is
often an issue, as is living one’s life primarily from a mental
perspective and/or based on fear rather than living in the moment,
following our heart, and connecting with and living in alignment with
our life’s purpose. For most of us, much of our stress, anxiety and
depression results from stories we tell ourselves which are often out of
proportion with our actual life situations. Buying into the consumerist
dogma and slaving away to accumulate material possessions, or being on
call 24/7 via cell phones, text messages, Twitter, Facebook and all our
other social networking addictions, which create an illusion of
connection while actually distracting us from our real life that is
right in front of us, also creates more stress and disconnectedness in
our lives that can contribute to depression. We need time to just be
quiet and present, free of the sensory overload that consumes so much of
our lives. Connection to nature is also necessary for our well-being,
as is good quality relationships with our fellow human beings. On this
level counseling and various meditation and other disciplines that help
us to live more in the present and develop a deeper level of
self-awareness are often an important part of the healing process; as is
spending more time in nature."
Michael Vertolli, Herbalist, Director of Living Earth School of Herbalism
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