At OSU’s Wexner Medical Center, researchers are looking into a natural approach for the treatment of children with depression and a kind of bipolar disorder. I’m sure many of you in this natural parenting community find this news as positive as I do. There are just too many medications being prescribed to our little ones.
These researchers have been working on a very promising new treatment. It includes a combination of supplementation of omega-3 fatty acid and psychotherapy. They feel that it will be more effective treatment than the current use of medications for many children.
The psychotherapy that is used is called psycho-educational psychotherapy (PEP). This method teaches parents and children how to manage the symptoms and regulate their emotions. It’s a family approach. Then, in order to help with emotions, brain function and sleep, the children are given omega-3 fatty acids, which, according to these researchers are drastically lacking in our children’s diets. The omega-3 supplements are used because epidemiological studies indicate that there are far less psychiatric disorders among people who have diets rich in them. Omega-3 fatty acids can be found in foods like seafood and flaxseed.
A century ago, people had diets that had a fairly equal balance of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids. Now, children are consuming up to to twenty times more omega-6 than omega-3 fatty acids. With the state of children’s health today, it seems that it’s not just children with mood disorders that can benefit from omega-3 supplementation or diet additions. Omega-3 fatty acids may also help prevent inflammatory diseases and autoimmune diseases- both of which are rampant among American youth.
Currently, the researchers are also looking at young people’s blood to see if there is any connection between mood and inflammatory biomarkers. Will they find inflammation to play a role in mood disorders as well as the countless other diseases plaguing our children.
Learn more here.
Common Sources of Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Animal Sources:
- Sardines
- Salmon
- Albacore Tuna
- Mussels
- Rainbow Trout
- Anchovies
- Eggs
Vegetarian Sources:
- Flax Seeds
- Pumpkin Seeds
- Hemp Seeds
- Walnuts
- Pecans
- Organic Soybeans
- Brussels Sprouts
- Kale
- Spinach
This article makes me so happy. What a great way to treat mood disorders!
Common sense to avoid pharmaceutical medication in children, huh? I guess money must be spent and studies must be completed to prove the obvious lol
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