Yes interesting – but coffee lowers the occurrence of symptoms and risks but it is not a cure.
There have been a number of threads relating to depression and depression in individual case of late. There has been much advice, all well-meant some maybe not so helpful.
There is the temptation to say that the Dhamma taught by Buddha is the answer to depression (which in the end is the ending of all suffering). The point being that anyone who has acute depression needs first aid – not taking one’s life is a prerequisite for engaging in the 8FP. As far as I understand Buddha taught us a stepped approach and used that approach when teaching the Dhamma. It is hard to see how someone in the depths of despair (depression) would be in a position to understand the Dhamma and gain the benefits associated with that understanding. At best what is likely to be achieved is a sentimental attachment to Buddhism, not one based on philosophy and realization from within.
Just as Buddha taught us Dhamma saying that it was a raft to be used to cross the river, that we should not become attached to the raft and should discard the raft once it was no longer of use: there are a raft of mundane treatments that are available. My preferred website:
http://www.beyondblue.org.au/
If we look at the causes of the disease and with a view of compassion and metta then we are not only able to care/advise others but also assist our own development. I had been reading
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/stud ... index.html and there is much there that would help us understands the Dhamma that explains depression and the ultimate CURE.
In the meantime there is the need to ensure that the sufferer of depression does not take their own life because if that happens; the karmic results ….. Within the materials that are available to assist the afflict person there are those that are conducive to practicing the Dhamma, those that are natural and those that are not conducive. To illustrate the point: many people suffering from depression and other psychological disorders self-medicate with strong intoxicants that not only fail to address the issues but add to the medical and social issues they face. At the other end of the scale there are treatments such as “Mindful Based Cognitive Therapy” which not only is conducive to dealing with the issue at hand but provides a great vehicle to propagate the Dhamma (if we want to put in the effort).
It is unusual that one therapy meets the needs of the individual so a raft has to be built out of what is available. For some coffee may be an element that helps – we should not judge or be critical, rather we should act in accordance with the 5 precepts.
Metta
paul