Discover Herbal Medicine For Depression And Other Natural Nutrients

Herbal medicine for depression has become more and more popular, as people are looking for safe, natural alternatives to prescription medications, many of which can cause serious side effects. However, it's important to note that you should never substitute herbal therapies for antidepressants and/or psychotherapy without speaking first to both a physician and herbal medicine specialist. In addition, immediately contact your physician or call a suicide hot line or emergency local number if you're having suicidal thoughts. These herbs and natural substances are meant to be helpful for those who suffer from mild to moderate depression.

Herbal medicine for depression

St. John's Wort - St. John's Wort has a long history of folk use for treating depression, anxiety, and other ills. Today, many studies have backed up its favorable depression effects and, as such, it is a very popular herbal medicine for depression. In fact, it often referred to as nature's Prozac. It appears to boost levels of the brain chemical serotonin, which is a powerful chemical that is responsible for good moods. It has also been shown to increase the concentration of two other brain chemicals, dopamine and norepinephrine, which are also responsible for moods.

Kava - Kava is an herb that has been used in the Fiji Islands for many years. This powerful one is highly touted as nature's valium because it promotes calming and relaxing effects. More specifically, Kava helps treat depression occurring with anxiety.

Ginkgo biloba - Ginkgo is prized for its ability to increase oxygen flow to the brain and other bodily tissues. Ginkgo also improves the activity of neurotransmitters and, as such, it can help treat depression, especially in the elderly who suffer reduced blood flow to the brain.

In addition to the aforementioned herbal medicine for depression, there are other important natural nutrients that can help lift depressive feelings and enhance your mood:

SAMe - SAMe is a substance that appears to boost levels of important brain compounds such as serotonin, dopamine, and phosphatidylserine. In addition, SAM-e enhances serotonin and dopamine as it facilitates their binding to the proper receptor sites in the brain. Serotonin and dopamine are two very important compounds that are responsible for controlling mood.

5-HTP - The body makes 5-HTP from tryptophan, a common amino acid found in high-protein foods such as chicken, fish, beef, and dairy products. In the body, 5-HTP boosts levels of serotonin, a brain chemical that has a positive effect on mood and, as such, it has been used to treat depression. In fact, 5-HTP has been shown to be as effective as antidepressants in several small clinical trials.

Tyrosine - Tyrosine is a nonessential amino acid produced inside the body from phenylalanine. Tyrosine combats stress by increasing the production of adrenaline. It also boosts dopamine levels, which influence moods.

Phenylalanine - Phenylalanine is an essential amino acid. Inside the body, phenylalanine is converted into tyrosine, which in turn is used to produce two important neurotransmitters, dopamine and norepinephrine. Some studies indicate that phenylalanine supplements is useful in treating depression.

Inositol - Inositol is required for the proper action of several brain neurontransmitters, including serotonin and, as such, it is currently thought that a reduction in brain inositol levels may induce depression.

Omega 3 Fatty Acids - Omega 3 Fatty Acids like those found in fish oil have shown to be successful in boosting mood and alleviating depression. Researchers have found that the lack of omega-3 fatty acids, particularly DHA is linked to depression. Indeed, while fish oil is not an herbal medicine for depression, it's one worth considering.

Vitamin B-complex - The B vitamins are crucial for the normal functioning of the brain and nervous system. In fact, the B vitamins are often referred to as the stress and energy vitamins. More specifically, studies have shown that clinical depression sufferers often have low levels of one or more of the B vitamins (especially B6, B12 and folic acid).

Side Note: Serotonin is manufactured in the brain from the amino acid, tryptophan with the help of three friends, which are vitamin B6, vitamin B12, and folic acid.

Nutritional-Supplement-Educational-Centre's Opinion on Natural Nutrients and Herbal Medicine for Depression

We believe you may want to consider a comprehensive formula specifically designed to combat depression. In fact, a comprehensive formula using carefully selected ingredients can offer more therapeutic benefits, often better than taking a single nutrient or herb on its own.

Therefore, it's important to understand the how and why of what makes some these comprehensive depression products useful, which is an important factor in making an informed choice. Moreover, mixing and matching nutrients and herbs on your own can be very dangerous to your health as well as expensive.

However, make sure that the product is professionally and scientifically formulated by a highly-credentialed scientific team that can ensure the proper blending of ingredients to maximize the therapeutic benefits needed to combat depression.

Final note about natural nutrients and herbal medicine for depression ...

It's important that you always speak to a physician before taking any dietary and herbal supplements. In addition, you should never stop taking any prescribed medications to try any these nutrients without talking to your physician and/or psychiatrist.

Cindy Amorin is the chief editor of Nutritional-Supplement-Educational-Centre, an information-rich site that discusses nutritional, dietary, and herbal supplements and their potential therapeutic value.