Herbs For Depression

In recent years, the craze over natural and herbal remedies has increased. Today, a large number of people do not want to deal with the side effects and risks of taking traditional prescription drugs and are looking for the herbal equivalent.

Most illnesses can be treated or cured using the right amounts of herbs. These illnesses can range from anything from allergies to severe clinical depression. Herbs for depression have been shown to reduce or eliminate the symptoms of the disease with a lower risk for side effects than other medications.

Often, depression is caused by chemical imbalances in the brain. Neurotransmitters in our brains send signals back and forth throughout our bodies and within the brain. Sometimes, there is an imbalance between these chemicals or they are weak, not sending the proper messages or levels of chemicals to keep our moods balanced. Some natural herbs for depression can help your brain to balance neurotransmitters, alleviating the symptoms of your depression.

St. John’s Wort has many different uses, including treating depression. What makes this one of the great herbs for depression is its ability to cure the symptoms of mild depression. Several studies have been conducted around the world and each one has proven that tea made from this herb can decrease feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, and sadness while helping to improve sleep patterns and elevating your overall mood.

Of course, there are risks associated with this herb as well. If you are taking St. John’s Wort you should avoid excessive exposure to the sun since your skin’s ability to absorb harmful rays will be heightened. You should also not take it if you have just started an amino acid regimen. Instead, wait about a month. You also want to avoid taking the herb if you are taking other pharmaceutical antidepressants.

St. John’s Wort seems to be the most effective but, there are other herbs for depression that can help as well.

Siberian Ginseng has been shown to help lessen the symptoms by balancing out the transmission of neurotransmitters in the brain. It acts as an MAO inhibitor
. Other natural MAO inhibitors include caraway, celery, and dill.

Gingko Biloba is also great for treating depression. By increasing blood flow to the brain, Gingko helps improve memory and an overall sense of well being. Although it’s not as effective as some other natural herbs for depression, it can be taken with other treatments with little risk of interactions or side effects.

Before taking anything for depression, you should speak with your doctor or a reputable therapist. A diagnosis is necessary to decide a treatment plan to cure your symptoms. When starting any herbal regimen you should discuss it with your doctor as well. Herbs for depression do have a lower risk of side effects but taking the wrong amount can have unpleasant consequences as can any interactions that may occur when you mix your herbs with other pharmaceutical drugs.

By being responsible and handling the herbs as you would any other medication you can be assured that they will benefit you and not do any harm