Recently, there has been a spike in the popularity of natural, herbal remedies for common maladies. Individuals suffering from depression commonly use one of a few herbal therapies to ease their symptoms: St. John’s Wort, SAM-e, Gingko Biloba and Gotu Kola. (Depression is a significant feeling of sadness that lasts for at least two weeks and severely inhibits an individual’s ability to function day-to-day. The remedies in this article were shown to be an effective treatment for individuals suffering from only mild or moderate depression; those suffering from severe depression do not receive the help they need. See a doctor for a proper evaluation.)
St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum) has been used for centuries as a treatment for various ailments. It is believed to relieve the symptoms of depression by preventing some brain cells from re-absorbing serotonin (a common chemical found in the brain), which is similar to what most prescription depression treatments do.
SAM-e stands for S-Adenosyl-L-Methionine has only been in the United States for about six years, but has been used in Europe as a treatment of depression for quite some time. SAM-e is a naturally-occurring substance in the human body. It is usually found in the liver and brain. SAM-e is a regulator of the chemicals serotonin and dopamine, two of the brain’s chemicals that influence your mood. Irregularities in serotonin and dopamine may be the cause of the individual’s depression and SAM-e can alleviate those symptoms.
Gingko Biloba is an herb that originates from China. It can help because it has been shown to increase blood circulation to the brain and to combat fatigue. This increased circulation and boosted energy level can improve your brain’s functioning and alleviate depression.
Gotu Kola originates from Asia and Europe. It has been used in the past to treat such conditions as varicose veins and psoriasis, but has been shown that gotu kola helps the brain create new neurotransmitters, which will help your brain deliver the right messages to the rest of your body. It will help to improve mental clarity and concentration and sharpen the mind overall, which in turn can help alleviate symptoms of depression.
While considering your options for treating depression with natural remedies, it is important to remember that some vitamins and nutrients can also be very effective in improving mental function. For example, vitamins B6 and B12 as well as Folic Acid have been shown to improve well-being and ease depression. Also, there is something called Omega 3 Fatty Acids that can help. They are polyunsaturated fats that can help ease depression naturally if you simply include them as a regular component of your diet. They can be found in cold water fish, such as tuna and mackerel, and your body can use such foods as dark green leafy veggies, tofu, canola oil, walnuts and flaxseed oil to create the acids for itself. The brain needs a high concentration of these acids to operate efficiently and eating enough will improve mental clarity, thus helping to alleviate the symptoms of depression.
If you suffer from depression but don’t like the idea of taking a prescription for whatever reason, talk to your doctor about beginning a regimen of one of these supplements. It may be the best thing you could do for your body.
