Natural remedies for depression

natural antidepressants

Alternative and herbal treatments for depression

I am so glad that you have decided to look at natural remedies for depression, rather that presrcibed antidepressants.  Certainly prescribed antidepressants have some nasty side effects. Natural antidepressants are the better option in terms of sort- and long-term benefits as well as safety.

At least you won't be exposing yourself to all kinds of other depressing problems that are often linked with the stuff that your doctor will want to give you (see below).

Everything you swallow provides the raw material for the production of  hormones, peptides, neurotransmitters, etc in your body - all that stuff that ensures that our body does what it is supposed to do.  They have an effect on all processes in your body, not just those in your head - hence some of the side-effects of the tablets dished up by the pharmaceutical companies.

Lies and medical research

I strongly recommend that you read this article in the Huffington Post: Lies, Damn Lies and Medical Research.

The whole package

There are natural remedies that can help you to overcome depression.  In addition it makes sense of course to make sensible food choices.

Good quality food contains all the natural ingredients for the production of those substances mentioned.  We need proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and trace elements.  We need them in particular combinations.

Natural antidepressants

I have listed the best herbal/natural treatments for depression - read on to learn about them all.  Please be aware that the material on this site is presented as information only, not as medical advice.

General guidelines on supplements/herbal treatments

I would really like you to visit the website of the Institute of Optimum Nutrition (ION) for general guidelines on supplementation first of all.  Then do a search of the suggested supplement below.  This is to help you understand why I suggest them.  It will also ensure that you are informed about your particular condition and any potential problems/drug interactions.

Nutritional supplements

Type in the name of the supplement in the search box and you will be taken to the ION's Health Notes.

• Vit B 6 - particularly if you are on the contraceptive pill
  
• Vit B12
• Vitamin D
• Folic acid
• 5-HTP
• Iron
• Fish oil

Herbal treatment for depression

Type in the name of the supplement in the search box and you will be taken to the ION's Health Notes.

• St. John’s Wort - consult your doctor if you are any taking medication!
• Ginkgo biloba - maybe helpful for elderly people
• Damiana - traditionally used, but not researched
• Vervain - traditionally used, but not researched
  

Thyroid supplements

Low thyroid function: ask your doctor for advice, checks and if necessary medication. To learn more now, check ION's Health Notes.

Homeopathic remedies

Your best option is to visit a qualified homeopath, who will treat the ‘whole’ of you.  Your experience of what depression is will differ from that of someone else's.  Homeopathy treats every condition based on the individual's expression of symptoms.

However, ABC Homeopathy gives you the opportunity to submit your particular signs and symptoms online.  You are then directed to homeopathic remedies that would suit you.

Light treatment for depression

There was a time in history when there was only natural light.  Our daily internal cycles were dictated only by the naturally available light.  Consider for a moment how out of tune you/your body might be with this natural rhythm!  Think about how you may have developed a rhythm of life completely out of tune with what your body should be/wants to do naturally.

Properly timed rhythms regulate your sleep/wake cycle, your mood, appetite and digestion, and your energy levels. 

These daily internal cycles called ‘Circadian Rhythms’.

If your circadian rhythm is disordered, you may be suffering from symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

Bearing in mind all the functions that light helps to regulate, how useful would it be for you to pay attention to that?  Light supplementation can really help with SAD and non-seasonal depression.

Why you should not just stop antidepressants

Conventional antidepressant medication should not suddenly be stopped. Ensure that you are well-informed and have the right kind of medical support when you want to come off the antidepressants.

When you know and understand what you are dealing with, you are more likely to be successful.  This is particularly so if you have been taking antidepressants for a long time.

12 Reasons to take natural remedies

You can become depressed for, what on the surface appears to be, ‘no reason’ at all.  It could also be that you have experienced a traumatic event in your life.  Either way, you can feel really scared and out of control.

You are likely to want to take just about anything to make you feel better.  Certainly many doctors will have neither the knowledge and/or the time to explore anything else with you than prescribed antidepressants.  Do yourself a favour and inform yourself.  You are less likely to have a relapse down the line if you feel empowered to sort out the problems yourself.

Why take alternative treatments for depression?  Here is why.

Prescribed antidepressants:

1. increase your feeling of being out of control
2. increase your dependence on outside sources of help
3. don’t deal with the real problem
4. don’t help you to meet your emotional needs
5. make it more likely that you have a relapse in the future
6. are only 3% more effective than a placebo (even that is questionable, as most people in studies know that they are on a antidepressant and not a placebo - on account of the side effects)
7. can cause sleep problems
8. can increase agitation
9. can cause sexual problems such as decreased libido (which of course may cause relationship problems - very depressing!)
   
10. may cause difficult to manage withdrawal effects
11. can cause permanent damage, including movement disorders
12. may cause weight gain, constipation, diarrhea

to name but a few and all so very depressing!  So, consider do the alternatives.

Additional help

You may be reluctant to see a counsellor or psychotherapist.  Perhaps you have not been able to find one that does not have you talk endlessly about your childhood troubles.  Here is an alternative:  The Depression Free Method (affiliate link).

Finally

You can absolutely overcome that depression without any medication.  Natural remedies for depression will help, as well as a whole host of other natural treatments (see: You may also be interested in).  Also bear in mind that a huge cause of depression is utter boredom.  Just be sure that there is something exciting going on in your life and that you are working at something you really enjoy doing - just like these people here.

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