Interesting Resources on Herbs For Depression

Holistic Online.com
Good information on herbs for depression and on medicinal herbs in general.
MedicineNet.com
Article on St. John's wort for treating depression.

The Use of Herbs and Herbal Supplements for Natural Treatment of Depression

Natural treatment for depression by using herbs and herbal supplements is often sought by people who have adverse reactions to their pharmaceutical medications.

If you have been diagnosed with depression, it is important to view natural herbs for depression relief as part of a holistic approach to treating and managing your condition.

There is no one herbal remedy for depression, rather, through the use of nutrition, herbal medicine, and addressing the cause of depression with your health care practitioner, there can be the promise of better health, both physically and mentally.

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Popular Natural Herbs for Depression

St John’s Wort (Hypericum perferatum)
This herb is a favourite among herbalists, the small yellow flowers and aerial parts of this amazing herb are used to treat mild to moderate depression and anxiety for thousands of years. In recent times the standardised extract of Hypericum has shown to benefit in alleviating depression and anxiety. St John’s Wort’s additional benefit is that it is a gentle sedative and is useful in treating insomnia.

The flowers contain hypericin, and hyperforin both considered to be vital components in the mood lifting action of this herb; and their compounds is enhanced by the flavenoid glycosides naturally found in this plant.

Caution is warranted if you are taking warfarin, digoxin and some drugs used to treat HIV (indinavir and nevirapine), chemotherapy medications such as irinotecan, and antihistamines, benzodiazepines and simvastatin. Consulting your health care practitioner is advisable before beginning any new medication and in the case of St John’s Wort, it is recommended to discontinue for seven days before a general anaesthetic.

Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata)
Passionflower has a tranquilising affect on the nervous system and is indicated specifically for anxiety and insomnia. With a reputation as non habit forming medication for anxiety, passionflower has been indicated in preparations for alcohol, nicotine and opiate withdrawal. This herb is extremely gentle in its action and should be considered for insomnia associated with anxiety before using Valerian.

Valerian Root (Valeriana officinalis)
Valerian root is possibly one of the most pungent herbs in use. This strong smelling herb is famous for being the plant that Valium was derived from. It is one of the more potent calmatives in use and care should be taken when using valerian for more than three weeks for insomnia associated with anxiety. Valerian can cause drowsiness and prolonged use may disrupt deep sleep which can lead to tiredness, even after a full nights sleep.

Skullcap (Scutilaria lateriflora)
Skullcap is recommended for nervous tension due to long term stress, disease or fatigue; including neuralgia, insomnia as well as depression. This herb is considered to be useful in coping with the withdrawal effects of anti-depressant medication and has also works in relieving headache, anxiety and mild pain; giving Skullcap the reputation as a nervous system tonic. Skullcap is often used where relaxation is a required and may make some users drowsy.

Other Natural Remedies and Supplements for Depreesion Relief

The use of Vitamins is well documented in the natural treatment for depression. Studies have shown decreased folate and vitamin B12 levels with elevated homocysteine have been linked with depression in studies. This association between depression and low levels of folate and vitamin B12 has also been established in the general population and has also been linked to a poor response to antidepressants. Supplementation of these nutrients is known to improve the response to antidepressants. The dose for folic acid supplementation is 800 mcg daily and 1 mg of vitamin B12 taken as part of a quality B Complex Vitamin is suggested to help improve depression.

Another useful medication that is gaining popularity in treating nerve pain, fibromyalgia, depression and anxiety is SAMe (S-adenosyl-methionine) and increases the action of several neurotransmitters, dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine for example, by facilitating the binding of these to cell receptors and essentially mimics many classic anti-depressants.

Using a herbal remedy for depression is only recommended under the guidance of a health care professional as natural herbs for depression relief need to be evaluated for their interactions with other medication and their ability to manage your symptoms.

"Health is not simply the absence of sickness !"
Hannah Green

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