Nature’s Indoor Anti-Depressant?
A No Drug, Practical Approach to dealing with Depression and Anxiety: ‘Kinetic Oxygen’
In the main, anti-depressant drugs work to increase activity levels of serotonin in the brain, based on the theory that low serotonin is the cause of depression and also anxiety. Examples of such medications are the SSRI group; Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (which includes the brand names Prozac and Zoloft). These medications are commonly used as anti-anxiety drugs, since there’s believed to be such a crossover of the Neurophysiology of both conditions and potentially a crossover of causes.(1)
However, effectiveness of these drugs in reducing symptoms of Depression and Anxiety is considered low, particularly in those who are ‘mildly’ to ‘moderately’ affected (2,3,4,5) and reported negative side effects are extremely common.(6,7)
Here we propose a clinical hypothesis rationalising use of a new (natural) therapeutic approach for management of depression and anxiety where medication is inappropriate or undesired.
It has been demonstrated that chronic stress plays a key role in the roots and development of clinical Depression(8,9,10) and this concept has been studied in depth.(11) It’s believed that elevated Cortisol levels, as a consequence of chronic (excessive or unremitting) stress may be the cause of low serotonin levels found in individuals with Anxiety Disorder or Clinical Depression.(12,13) Multiple data have shown an inverse relationship between Cortisol levels in the body and Serotonin levels (i.e elevated Cortisol levels usually correlates to low Serotonin levels, particularly in Anxiety Disorders or Clinical Depression).(14) This reinforces the theory and effectiveness of reducing Cortisol levels as a method of increasing Serotonin activity within the brain.
It’s also found that depressed individuals with documented raised cortisol levels find talking therapies and psychological interventions much less effective than those with normalised cortisol levels,(15) adding weight to the value of this Cortisol-normalising approach.
Our hypothesis is that in individuals experiencing Anxiety or Depression, with demonstrably raised cortisol levels and low serotonin levels, regular, consistent use of Kinetic Oxygen can normalise Cortisol levels, thereby increasing Serotonin levels in the brain, thereby decreasing symptoms, increasing responsiveness to other therapies (where appropriate) and improving quality of life, in a safe, side-effect free, body-synergistic manner.
Initial data have demonstrated that Kinetic Oxygen reduces high (salivary) Cortisol levels, (16) enhances activation of the Parasympathetic Nervous System(17) and improves oxygen metabolism (i.e. cellular energy production) throughout the body. (18) It is also believed, that via production of gaseous nitrite, which, when inhaled, converts into the highly important signalling molecule of Nitric Oxide, healthful vasodilation occurs, which is relevant both in terms of optimising the body’s stress response, normalising blood pressure and improving blood flow (and thereby oxygen and nutrient delivery) throughout the body and brain, improving both restorative sleep and mental clarity.
Kinetic Oxygen provides a safe, affordable method of helping to reduce stress levels,
improve sleep and rebalance mood and emotions.
Use of Kinetic Oxygen entails the hire or purchase of a Kinetic Oxygen device, used at home (by multiple individuals, as desired) and involves simple inhalation of ‘energised oxygen’ via a comfortable mask or convenient ‘hands-free’ nasal cannula option, for a period of 10-20 minutes per session.
Through a patented process within the device, filtered room air is activated to transport increased levels of bio-available (i.e. usable by the body) Oxygen energy into the user’s cells. Since this approach simply boosts the levels of ‘singlet oxygen energy’ in the body, rather than adding any foreign substances, there are no interactions with medications or any other treatments, no contraindications and no negative side effects.
For more information, contact Life@KineticOxygen.com or call +44(0)1743 718 324.
Medical Disclaimer: Please note that in no way is this article intending to imply that Depression and Anxiety should not be treated by conventional means. If you are experiencing symptoms of Depression or Anxiety or any other mental or physical health problems, please seek appropriate medical assistance. This article and website are for educational purposes only and these statements have not been evaluated by the MHRA or FDA.
References:
1. Kessler RC, Berglund P, Chiu WT, et al. The US National Comorbidity Survey Replication (NCS-R): design and field procedures. Int J Methods Psychiatr Res. 2004;13:69–92.
2. Fournier, J.C., DeRubeis, R.J., Hollon, S.D., Dimidijian, S, Amsterdam, J.D., Shelton, R.C., Fawcett, J. (2010) Antidepressant Drug Effects and Depression Severity, A Patient-Level Meta-analysis. JAMA. 2010;303(1):47-53.
3. Penn, E. and Tracy, D.K., (2012). The drugs don’t work? antidepressants and the current and future pharmacological management of depression. Ther Adv Psychopharmacol. 2012 Oct; 2(5): 179–188.
4. Kirsch, I., & Sapirstein, G. (1998). Listening to Prozac but hearing placebo: A meta-analysis of antidepressant medication. Prevention & Treatment, 1(2). Article ID 2a.
5. Khan A, Warner HA, Brown WA. (2000) Symptom reduction and suicide risk in patients treated
with placebo in antidepressant clinical trials: an analysis of the Food and Drug Administration database. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2000 Apr; 57(4):311-7.
6. Bet PM, Hugtenburg JG, Penninx BW, Hoogendijk WJ. (2013). Side effects of antidepressants during long-term use in a naturalistic setting. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 2013 Nov;23(11):1443-51.
7. Cartwright C, Gibson K, Read J, Cowan O, Dehar T. (2016). Long-term antidepressant use: patient perspectives of benefits and adverse effects. Patient Prefer Adherence. 2016; 10: 1401–1407.
8. Dolan RJ, Calloway SP, Fonagy P, De Souza, FVA, Wakeling A. (1985). Life events, depression and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function. British Journal of Psychiatry, 147, 429-433.
9. Breier A, Albus M, Pickar D, Zahn TP, Wolkowitz OM, Paul, SM (1987). Controllable and uncontrollable stress in humans: Alterations in mood and neuroendocrine and psychophysiological function. American Journal of Psychiatry, 144, 1419-1425.
10. Post, J. M. (1992). Transduction of psychosocial stress into the neurobiology of recurrent affective disorders. American Journal of Psychiatry, 149, 999-1010.
11. Dinan, T.G. (1994). Glucocorticoids and the genesis of depressive illness: A psychobiologicalmodel. British Journal of Psychiatry, 164, 365-371.
12. Croes, S.,Merz,P., & Netter,P. (1993). Cortisol reaction in success and failure condition in endogenous depressed patients and controls. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 18, 23-35.
13. Hammen C, Kim EY, Eberhart NK, Brennan PA. (2009). Chronic and acute stress and the prediction of major depression in women. Depress Anxiety. 2009;26(8):718-23.
14. Lenze EJ, Mantella RC, Shi P, Goate AM, Nowotny P, Butters MA, Andreescu C, Thompson PA, Rollman BL. (2005). Elevated cortisol in older adults with Generalized Anxiety Disorder is reduced by treatment: a placebo-controlled evaluation of Escitalopram. Psychosom Med. 2005; 67(5): 734-439.
15. Fischer S, Strawbridge R, Vives AH, Cleare AJ. (2017). Cortisol as a predictor of psychological therapy response in depressive disorders: systematic review and meta-analysis. Br J Psychiatry. 2017 Feb;210(2):105-109.
16. Bowen CJ. (2018) Preliminary Findings on the Importance of Kinetic Oxygen in Managing the Impact of Stress.
17. Knop U. (2003) Report on a two-stage controlled study, using heart-rate-variability-measurements (HRV) in respect of the effectiveness of Airnergy+ Oxygen-Therapy.
18. Schollmann C. (2004) Concentrated Oxygen and Activated Respiratory Air: A comparison between the physiological effects of two inhalation applications. A study involving healthy test persons. 2004, Die Naturheilkunde No. 2 / 2004