According to a recent article, there are five distinct biotypes of depression: undermethylation, high-copper, folate deficiency, toxic metal, and pyrrole. These biotypes offer a biological explanation for the cause of a patient’s depression. For the 300 million currently suffering from this mental health disorder, understanding why they feel the way they feel is of secondary importance behind the potential to treat their symptoms based on biology .
The following list describes the biotypes of depression and their symptoms in greater detail:
- Undermethylation accounts for roughly 38% of depression, and occurs when too few methyl molecules are available to add to enzymes, hormones, neurotransmitters, and DNA. These patients are diagnosed with depression because of low serotonin levels, which is the original, 30-year-old interpretation.
- 95% of women who are diagnosed with depression can attribute their condition to the high-copper biotype. Copper is essential for biological functioning, but too much of it—like most things—is actually detrimental. This uniquely affects women because of the prevalence and use of oral contraceptives, which have been found to elevate copper levels.
- Folate deficiency—or anemia—is another source of depression, and is considered the third biotype. While it’s often hard to discover, the most common symptoms are low energy levels and a libido incongruent with the patient’s high anxiety.
- Toxic metal is the fourth biotype, and commonly causes its recipients to develop a metallic taste in their mouth. Also accompanying this unusual symptom is abdominal pain and a persistent irritable mood. Many individuals with depression due to toxic metal also appear to have difficulty absorbing and retaining new information.
- When depression is accompanied by severe mood swings and an extreme sensory sensitivity, it’s classified as the fifth biotype: pyrrole. Many of these individuals also suffer from a zinc and vitamin B6 deficiency.
Thankfully, depression classified under any of these biotypes means is treatable with a variety of different therapies. Many patients have reported the most success with different combinations of the following:
- Nutrition Therapy: All 5 biotypes of depression are the result of a biological deficiency. As such, this therapy attempts to provide biological balance through a specific diet. Many patients find that they are able to overcome their imbalances after providing their body with the correct energy to function.
- Acupuncture: This 3,000 year old Chinese practice is based on the understanding that our bodies are composed of energy—or Qi. According to many Eastern practices, the careful manipulation of this energy, through specific parts of the body, can offer relief for specific conditions.
- Functional Medicine: Functional medicine is a combination of modern science combined with natural therapy. Through this treatment, patients are evaluated with lab tests to determine where, if any, deficiencies may lie, and then various medications and therapies are applied to bring them into balance.
- IV Vitamin Therapy: Similarly to the nutrition and functional medicine therapies, IV Vitamin therapy attempts to provide the body with all essential vitamins and minerals through an IV. Many find this a quick and easy way to replenish their body without having to undergo rigorous tests. Thanks to the bioavailability of an IV treatment, 100% of the solution is made available to the body.
- Ketamine Infusion Therapy: In the last decade, applying low doses of IV ketamine to patients with severe, treatment resistant depression have been extremely successful. For most of these patients—nearly 70%—they quickly find the fog of their depression lifting, and their mood improving. When this is compared to the weeks or months of waiting with traditional SSRI’s, it’s a dramatic improvement.
Regardless of which of these 5 biotypes of depression are prevalent, what remains true for all cases of depression is that a successful treatment requires vigilance and persistence. Unfortunately, no case of depression is quite like any other, so a treatment that may work for some, may not for others. Thankfully, new treatment options have been made available since the original single option 30 years ago. Now, finding an effective treatment to overcome depression—whether it’s for you, or for a loved one—is simply a matter of time.
CONTACT ICONIC INFUSIONS
Iconic Infusions offers IV vitamin therapy to those living in or around the Fayetteville, NC area. Scheduling an appointment is easy to do: simply give us a call at 910.987.5300 or request an appointment online.
