Herbs As An Alternative Treatment For Depression Articles | Remedy

By: Richard Bleuze

Herbs As An Alternative Treatment For Depression

If you are like many millions adults in the U.S. who are suffering from depression, you have probably debated the pros and cons of taking prescription antidepressants.  While depression can often be combated with therapy alone, some professionals do recommend medication for certain cases. The right type and dosage of a prescription medication can sometimes meet with success for a patient, but many experience side effects that outweigh the benefits.

While prescription antidepressants can work for some patients, they also produce an alarming amount of side effects in many cases.  Sexual dysfunction, nausea, diarrhea and headaches are just a few of the commonly reported side effects.  Even more disturbingly, these medications can also cause thoughts of suicide, particularly in younger patients.

Side effects vary between the different types of antidepressant, but the most commonly prescribed medications are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).  Paxil, Prozac and Zoloft are all SSRIs, and often produce side effects such as sexual dysfunction, nausea, diarrhea and headaches, and in some cases thoughts of suicide.  In order to avoid these, more and more people are deciding instead to explore natural remedies for depression.

There are many other natural ingredients that are effective in treating depression, including passion flower, ginko biloba, and kava kava, among others.  However, St. John's Wort is the best known herb to treat depression.

St. John's Wort is almost unanimously agreed upon as the alternative treatment for depression.  Many believe that it is more effective at treating depression than many prescription medications but with fewer risks.  The active compounds in St. John's Wort help naturally reduce feelings of sadness, anxiety and worthlessness, and many who take it also report less exhaustion and fewer headaches.  Best of all, this herb often produces no side effects, although some might experience sensitivity to sun or other minor side effects.

Ginko Biloba is another natural ingredient that improves circulation in the brain, which often in turn improves memory and also alleviates some symptoms of depression. It is not as effective as St. John's Worth,  however.  Ginko Biloba, however, can be taken in conjunction with other natural ingredients as an overall mood-booster.

Another herb is siberian ginseng which aids the balance of essential neurotransmitters like serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine in the brain. Taking siberian ginseng regularly can lead to improved feelings of general well-being.

Passion flower is another natural ingredient that can help treat depression, anxiety and sleep disorders.  Passion flower is a natural salve that helps to calm and soothe.  When passion flower is combined with St. John's Wort, it can be very successful in treating depression naturally.

These and many other herbs are helpful in alleviating many of the symptoms of depression, and as with anything you put into your body, each person will react differently to them.  Thus, it is important to allow a trial period in order to feel the effects of the natural medications, as some will take several weeks to take effect.  And as always, you should seek a doctor's advice before you decide to stop taking a prescription medication, and you should avoid combining prescription medications with natural medications.

Whatever choice you make, patience and perseverance in exploring the options on your list of depression medication will ultimately lead you to a happier, healthier life.

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