Today, the world is waking up and giving us the opportunity to accompany its path to health in a holistic way. Until a few years ago, treating depression was only synonymous with antidepressants, anxiolytics and sleeping pills. In fact, very few people were aware of the possibilities available to each of us to help us get better.

How many boxes of drugs have been sold around the world to treat or simply relieve a pain? A decrease in sales had been noticed in the years 2013 but following the attacks and the logical consequences on the morale of a large part of the population, an increase was again reported in 2015.

According to the AFSSAPS expert report: Source (http://ansm.sante.fr)

• 22 benzodiazepines or related products were marketed in France in 2011
• 134 million boxes sold in 2010, of which 50.2% were anxiolytics and 37.6% hypnotics
• 183 million euros in sales in 2010, representing 0.7% of total drug sales in France
• In 2010, 20% of the French population used a benzodiazepine or related drug at least once;
• 60% of benzodiazepine and related users are women
• Median treatment time is 7 months for an anxiolytic and hypnotic or related benzodiazepine
• 22% of users use 2 benzodiazepines simultaneously
• 131 million boxes of benzodiazepines were sold in 2012 compared to 134 million in 2010
• Approximately 20% of serious adverse events reported with benzodiazepines are nervous system disorders (drowsiness, coma and loss of consciousness) and approximately 15% are psychiatric disorders (confusional state, agitation, disorientation...)

This fuss over medication is scary. This is why today, we have the possibility of largely decreasing the rate of drugs ingested by the French by proposing alternative therapies, complementary to the basic medical follow-up.

What are the alternative methods for depression?

• The best known are :
  • Homeopathy
  • Psychotherapy
  • Neuro linguistic programming : NLP
  • EFT, a method of releasing blockages by tapping.
  • Aromatherapy
  • Osteopathy
  • Sophrology
  • Hypnosis
  • Meditation
  • Mindfulness
• Touch therapies: massage
• Methods related to traditional Chinese medicine
  • Acupuncture
  • Shiatsu
  • Moxibustion
  • Qi Gong
  • Tai Chi Chuan
  • Chinese massages
  • Foot or palm reflexology
  • Auriculotherapy
  • Cupping therapy
• Art therapy
• Chromotherapy
• Iridology
• Energy and vibrational therapies
  • Kinesiology
  • Dowsing
  • Energy treatments: reiki or others
  • Quantum medicines
  • The harmonization of the chakras
• Naturopathy and Ayurveda (traditional Indian medicine) can also provide solutions and keys to the patient because these health techniques allow the person to be considered as a whole.
• Etc.

Today, personal development is also taking more and more place in the literary world and on the web, and therefore in the lives of a population that tends to grow more and more towards a so-called "green" well-being by avoiding chemical medication as much as possible, except when it is really necessary.

Alternative therapists are developing more and more and they give us the opportunity to find the tool that best corresponds to our evolution towards health and wellness. Don't be afraid to walk through their doors, but don't forget to keep your complete medical follow-up with your doctor, because alternative therapies will only be able to support and accompany you if you take your malaise into consideration in its entirety.