A recent WHO study revealed that depression is now the leading cause of ill health and disability in the world. The number of people globally living with depression had reached over 32 crore in 2015, up 18.4% since 2005. “These figures are a wake call for all countries to rethink their approaches to mental health,” WHO chief Margaret Chan said.

Depression is a “persistent sadness and a loss of interest on activities that people normally enjoy, accompanied by an inability to carry out daily activities for two weeks or more.”

Clinical depression affects twenty to thirty percent of adults at some time during their lives. Depression and anxiety disorders are twice as common in women than in men. In women, the mid-thirties and forties represent the peak period of new-onset depression and anxiety.

Even in the most developed countries, about half of people suffering from depression are not diagnosed or treated and the percentage soar to between 80-90% in less developed nations.

Treatment can be difficult to access, while a fear of stigma also prevents many people from seeking the help required to live healthy and productive lives, the agency said. This we recently saw in life of a famous bollywood actress.

Flower Essences have been found very helpful in dealing with depression, anxiety and other mental health related issues.

Flower essences of cherry, but more specifically of orange can be useful in depression related cases. Both work on a completely different level. Here is how Lila Devi describes the difference between the two essences:

The negative Cherry state may be likened to waking up on the wrong side of the bed, but negative Orange is more like waking up on the wrong side of your life. Orange is helpful for long-standing problems-or long-term, counterproductive attitudes in dealing with those problems. One in the negative Orange state is far beyond the help of Cherry.

In the negative Orange state, it is easy to find justification for this absence of enthusiasm. Orange is like a “vibrational fork-lift” that scoops us out of the doldrums.

Let’s take a moment to understand it well:

The dictionary defines depression as a hollow or low place. Certainly for all of us, this describes those times in our lives when we have felt empty inside and hopeless.

Sunlight has major effect on our lives. It has been found that in those countries where its dark most of the winter time, people experience depression and low mood.

The morning sun rises with deep orange color as if saying sleep is over, dream is over, get up! Metaphorically, vibrational vitamin of Orange essence is like liquid sunshine which wakes us up from nightmares of depression. Orange reaches to the very core of true happiness.

Orange color belongs to a part of the spectrum that denotes, specifically, an outwardly directed energy. Orange, which lies between red and yellow in the spectrum, is associated with the color of fire. And fire, used in a right way, burns away all obstacles. Metaphorically, fire means enthusiasm in life.

In his book “Living Wisely, Living Well” Swami Kriyananda writes :  “Today, think orange: fiery enthusiasm to burn away all obstacles.”

Color is nothing but vibration. Orange embodies the vibration of not giving up, or giving in, no matter how convincing the case in favor of despair. Orange suggests a need to blast away difficulties.

It can also be irritating, however, especially if one tends toward placidity. And orange can feed a tendency to cry out to people, “Look at me!” Think of workers on the roads. They purposely wear orange to be noticed, so that cars won’t hit them.

Different colors of themselves also suggest different states of mind. Blue, for instance, is more soothing than red. Orange is more energetic than green. Blue and orange are the highest colors.

Orange juice is wonderful in the treatment of all nervous conditions; it gives one courage, and assists in taking away inflammation from the brain. Whenever you have a lot of work to do, drink a lot of orange juice.

Paramhansa Yogananda recommended to fast once a week on freshly squeezed orange juice. This is one of the greatest way to maintain good health.

Studies conducted at Yale University Hospital have shown that there is a chemical in the oil of the orange peel that acts as an antidepressant. So eating even a little of the peel is beneficial.

Orange tree wood reminds us of its resilience whose limbs will bend without breaking under the weight of many clusters of round ripe oranges—much like the ability of Orange theme individuals to endure deep, long term trials and remain hopeful long beyond their resolution.

Orange essence embodies the same vibrations of enthusiasm and hope.

A repeated word of caution: flower essences do not replace proper medical attention. With one’s main therapy, one can take the support of flower essences.