寒冬惹人愁 “自然”解心忧

经过连日雨雪，国内一些省市已经提前进入了寒冬。阴沉沉的天空，漫漫的长夜，刺骨的寒冷，心情不知不觉就蒙上了一层灰色。如果你也因为冬天的到来而感到抑郁，那就来试试本文所说的“自然之道”吧！

The dreary days of winter are here, when sunlight is in short supply and nights are long and cold. Millions of Americans realize they don’t feel as chipper as usual, and may be downright depressed. If you’re one of them, you may be suffering from “seasonal affective disorder” or SAD.

阴郁的冬季已经到来，日照不足，长夜漫漫，寒意逼人。数以百万计的美国人发觉心情不再爽朗，甚至会彻底萎靡不振。如果你也是其中一员，那就有可能患上了“季节性情感障碍”（SAD）。

SAD depression is caused by lowered levels of serotonin, the mood-affecting brain chemical that is triggered by seasonal changes in daylight. Shorter days may also disrupt the body’s biological clock – circadian rhythm – which upsets the balance of melatonin, the hormone which regulates mood and sleep patterns.

SAD由血清素水平降低所诱发，大脑中的这种化学物质能够左右情绪，其分泌受到季节性光照变化的影响。白昼变短同样会扰乱人体生物钟——又称昼夜节律，继而导致褪黑素（调节情绪和睡眠规律的荷尔蒙）分泌失衡。

Although SAD is often confused with other problems, such as regular non-seasonal depression, people with SAD usually suffer their worst symptoms during winter and improve when spring arrives. SAD symptoms are the same as those for regular depression, and they include excessive fatigue, difficulty concentrating, sleep problems, body aches and pains, and a loss of interest in activities you normally enjoy.

虽然季节性情感障碍经常容易与其他病症混淆，例如常见的非季节性抑郁症，但季节性情感障碍患者通常在冬季症状最为严重，春季来临之时即可缓解。季节性情感障碍的症状与常见的抑郁症一模一样，包括感觉筋疲力尽，难以集中精力，睡眠出现问题，身体疼痛不适，对平时喜欢的活动兴致全无，等等。

Try these easy, natural ways to fight SAD:

想战胜SAD？那就试试下列简单的“自然之道”：

Take extra vitamin D. The body makes vitamin D when the skin is exposed to sunshine, but numerous studies show that many Americans are deficient in vitamin D even during sunny months. Levels fall even lower as fall and winter approach.

额外补充维生素D。当阳光照射皮肤时，人体即会产生维生素D。但大量研究证明，许多美国人即便在阳光充足的月份里，也会缺乏维生素D。而秋冬两季来临时，维生素D 缺乏情况变得更为严重。

“The best natural method is to maintain optimal vitamin D levels throughout the year,” says board-certified family practitioner David Brown-stein, M. D. “The key is to not let vitamin D levels fall before beginning fall and winter supplementation,” he tells Newsmax Health.

具有执业资格的全科医生戴维·布朗斯坦表示：“最佳的自然疗法就是全年保持理想的维生素D 水平。”他告诉美国健康医疗指南网站：“关键在于秋冬季开始进补之前不让维生素D 水平下降。”

Researchers at the University of Georgia analyzed more than 100 articles that examined the link between vitamin D and depression. Researchers found that a lack of vitamin D appeared to be a major factor in the development of SAD.

乔治亚大学的研究人员分析了100 多份探讨维生素D 与抑郁症之间联系的论文， 并发现缺乏维生素D 似乎是导致季节性情感障碍的一个主要诱因。

Vitamin D is necessary for the synthesis of serotonin and dopamine(chemicals associated with depression), so researchers concluded that a link between low vitamin D levels and depression was logical. The Vitamin D Council recommends 2,000 IU daily, but suggests taking more if you get little exposure to the sun.

维生素D 对于合成血清素和多巴胺（两者都是与抑郁症有关的化学物质）不可或缺。所以研究人员得出结论： 如果维生素D 水平较低，就会产生抑郁，这种解释合乎逻辑。维生素D 委员会建议每天补充2000 国际单位的维生素D, 如果不常晒太阳，则应补充更多。

Get more light. Most researchers agree that the people who fall victim to SAD most often are particularly sensitive to the lack of light. Although any amount of outdoor light can help raise serotonin levels, getting light in the morning seems to offer the most benefit.

多接触光线。大部分研究人员都认为，对光线不足特别敏感的人最容易患上季节性情感障碍。尽管任何数量的户外光线都有助于提升血清素水平，但在清晨享受阳光似乎效果最佳。

If the weather permits, take a walk. In your home or office, try sitting close to a window that faces south.

如果天气条件允许， 多外出散步。在家里和办公室， 尽量坐在朝南的窗户旁边。

Replacing light bulbs in your home with full spectrum light bulbs can help because they emit light similar to sunlight. Or you can buy a light box that delivers light that mimics sunlight. “Exposure to full spectrum lighting for 30 minutes to one hour per day can help many patients,” says Dr. Brown-stein. Light boxes can be purchased for around $200.

把家里的电灯泡换成全光谱灯泡会大有益处，因为全光谱灯泡发出的光和太阳光相似。或者购买一个能够模拟太阳光的灯箱。布朗斯坦博士表示：“每天接受30 分钟到1 小时的全谱光线照射，对许多病人疗效甚佳。”灯箱的售价在200 美元左右。

Do NOT use sun lamps or tanning beds for self-treatment – they use UV light for tanning, while light boxes use full-spectrum light that simulates daylight.

不要使用日光灯或者日光浴床进行自我治疗——二者用紫外线灯把皮肤晒成褐色，而灯箱使用的是模拟太阳光的全谱光线。

Increase exercise. Although exercising may be about the last thing you want to do and would rather curl up with a book or watch a DVD, studies have shown that upping your exercise routine can counteract SAD. Exercise raises levels of serotonin and also increases levels of endorphins, which are responsible for “runner’s high” and have been shown to fight depression.

多做运动。虽然你有可能最不想做运动，宁愿蜷在沙发上看书或欣赏DVD, 然而研究表明，平时多运动可以避免患上季节性情感障碍。因为运动可以提升血清素和内啡肽水平，两者都能使人产生“跑步者的愉悦感”，并已得到证实可以对抗抑郁症。

Dr. Brownstein advises exercising at least 20 minutes a day at least three times a week. Any type of exercise offers benefits. “The benefits are also long lasting,” he says. “The longer you do it, the more benefit you’ll get.”

布朗斯坦博士建议每天至少锻炼20 分钟，每周最少3 次。任何锻炼方式都会带来益处。他表示：“人们可以终身受益。坚持锻炼时间越长，益处越大。”

Eat more fish. Fatty fish, such as salmon and sardines, contain omega-3 fatty acids. Studies have found that people who have low levels of two chemicals found in fish, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are at increased risk for depression. Either eat more fish – at least three times a week – or take fish oil capsules to combat SAD.

多食用鱼类。富含脂肪的鱼类，比如鲑鱼和沙丁鱼，包含奥米伽-3脂肪酸。研究表明，人体如果缺乏鱼肉所富含的两种化学物质：二十碳五烯酸（EPA）和二十二碳六烯酸（DHA），患上抑郁症的风险将大增。应对SAD 之策就是多吃鱼，每周至少3次，或者服用鱼油胶囊。

Try St. John’s wort. Use of this herb as medicine dates to the ancient Greeks, and it has been used for centuries to treat depression. “The Cochrane Collaboration, an independent, non-profit healthcare study group, found St. John’s wort compares favorably to SSRIs and older tricyclic medications in patients with major depression,” says Dr. Brownstein. “In addition, St. John’s wort was found to have 75 percent fewer side effects than standard medications used to treat depression.”

试试圣约翰草（贯叶连翘）。这种草本植物入药的历史可以追溯至古希腊时期。许多个世纪以来，一直被用来治疗抑郁症。布朗斯坦博士表示：“独立的非营利性健康研究组织科克伦协作网发现，对重度抑郁患者而言，圣约翰草的疗效要好于选择性血清素再吸收抑制剂（SSRI）和更老式的三环类抗抑郁药。此外，使用圣约翰草治疗抑郁症，副作用要比使用标准药物少75%。