Eating Disorder Therapy

Eating disorder therapy is considered necessary only when the normal eating routine changes to eating disorders. Eating disorders are serious health conditions that can be both emotionally and physically destructive. The eating may be excessive (compulsive over-eating), too limited (restricting), or may include normal eating punctuated with periods of abolition.

Many types of eating disorder therapy are available, today, for eating disorder treatment. They include herb medicine; massage therapy, homeotherapy, psychotherapy and nutrition therapy. They all have an important role to play. As a result, they can form a significant part of a multi-pronged way for eating disorder treatment.

Herb therapy:

Thousands of herbs are there to act as stimulants in eating disorder therapy. They may be, Western herbs, Indian ayurvedic herbs or traditional Chinese medicine. The following stimulants for the treatment of eating disorders are used as a healing method and always recommended as a complementary therapy.

The herbs that are useful for eating disorder therapy include Taraxacum officinale, Angelica archangelica, Cnicus benedictus, Fenugreek seed, Roman chamomile, Cinnamon, Skull cap, Gentiana lutea. However, consult the doctor before taking these herbs because these herbs are more powerful and should not consume without doctor’s instruction.

Massage therapy

Massage therapy can also used as a eating disorder therapy. Massage therapy helps to relieve the anxiety levels. Massage two or three times a week for one or two months help remove or relieve anxiety and increases the dopamine activity in the brain, which also improves concentration.

Homeotherapy

An intensive program with homeotherapy will help improve the eating disorder problem. It aims to stimulate the body in constructing natural defenses against attackers and also helps in stimulating the brain to relax and de-stress and be used to affect moods.

Homeopathy has no side effects but its treatment will take a very long time to help cure the disorder, it is still highly effective.

Psychotherapy

Since eating disorders are psychological disorders, going for psychotherapy as a eating disorder therapy will help you deal with the emotional stress and also find out the root of the illness. Psychotherapy includes individual psychotherapy, behavior therapy, family therapy, group therapy, cognitive therapy and follow up relaxation exercise.

Individual therapy:

Face to face analysis with the patient and continuously analyzing their emotional stress, helps to overcome their problems and also follows up their problems and feelings.

Behavior therapy:

Punishment and reward methods help in overcoming many of their problems and aid them to change their behavior patterns or follow a new behavior pattern. They also relieve stress and provide relaxation to the body and mind.

Family therapy:

When there is family support and encouragement from family members for the patient, improvement from the disorder is possible. The entire family is usually involved in the counseling process of family therapy.

Group therapy:

Group therapy focuses on the person with the disorder is involved with the instant social group. Getting them involved in a group changes the patient’s feelings of isolation.

Cognitive therapy:

Cognitive therapy focuses on the association between food and the individual suffering from the eating disorder. To keep track, you will need to maintain a complete day diary of what you consume, which helps the patients to undergo cognitive therapy.

Nutrition therapy

A well-trained dietician can help in maintaining a nutritious diet. This is significant when improvements are required in the patient's health. Food should be introduced slowly to ensure the patient does not suffer any setbacks.

Research studies show that eating disorder may be due to inadequate nutritional reserves. Therefore, patients suffering from eating disorders tend to have nutritional deficiencies, so the eating disorder therapy is to increase the quantity of vitamins and minerals in patients diet especially vitamin B complex, such as vitamins B2 (riboflavin), niacin and B6 (pyridoxine).

Also, consume antioxidants to help reduce oxidative stress. Vitamins A, C, and E, are antioxidants that helps in reducing the deterioration, which is caused due to free oxygen radicals. Zinc, which is great for increasing appetite, smell, repair skin and also relieves depression. So it is also needed to be included in the patient’s diet or can be used as a supplement.

The polyunsaturated fatty acids acts as an eating disorder therapy are necessary for the normal development of the body polyunsaturated fatty acids such as omega-6 fatty acid and omega-3 fatty acid helps in building up the body.

To prevent metabolic complications, you need to eat food that is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids like fish and should be included in the diet in plentiful supplies. A balanced meal is essential to improve the general health of anyone who suffers from an eating disorder.