Natural Remedies for Depression

We have said it many times before, but it is worth noting again. If you feel as if you are suffering from the symptoms of depression the first thing you need to do is seek help from a qualified medical professional, such as your physician. Once you have done that, and it is confirmed that you are suffering from depression you can discuss with your doctor the different treatments for depression. Some of the more common treatments include anti-depressant medications, therapy, and support groups, but there are some “natural” things you can do to relieve some of the symptoms. It is worth noting that some do not believe that some natural treatments are all that effective, but as with any form of treatment it is usually best to use various methods combined. However, this really depends on the person, and what the doctor recommends. You will definitely want to run any natural remedies by your doctor to see what they think. Most people looking for natural remedies are looking to avoid taking anti-depressants, so other treatments such as therapy, or counseling could be combined with natural treatments. To be clear though, natural remedies are by no means a substitute for depression medications, and you and your doctor need to decide what it right.  Here are some of the more common, and well-known natural remedies for depression

• St. Johns Wart – This is one of the more well-known natural treatments for depression, and the one you hear mentioned most often.  Its a plant whose scientific name is Hypericum perforatum, and it has been used for hundreds of to treat many different things including depression. St. Johns Wart can usually be purchased at any drug store, health store, or even grocery store, and usually comes in pill form. Before taking it, you should consult your physician to make sure it does not interfere with any other medications you may be taking.

• Other Supplements – Although St. Johns Wart may be the most talked about, there are some other supplements that have been studied to show signs of treating depression. One of those is Omega-3 fatty acids, these are naturally occurring in such foods as cold water fish, but can also be bought at the store in pill form. Some studies have shown that omega-3′s have positive health effects including helping with symptoms of depresion. S-adenosylmethionine, also known as SAMe, is chemical that occurs naturally in the body, and a synthetic supplement can be purchased. Some studies have shown that SAMe can be used for people suffering from depression. Some others that have been studied to reduce depressive behavior are folic acids, and saffron extract. Before taking any of these you will want to consult your doctor to make sure they will cause no adverse reactions.

• Maintaining a Healthy Diet – Keeping an eye on your diet could have a definite impact on how you are feeling. I am sure almost everyone has heard the saying “you are what you eat”, well in the case of depression your diet could make a big difference in respect to everything else. If you are eating foods that are high in fat and sugar you could find yourself “dragging”, which if you are already feeling down from depression could compact problems. As with sweets, you will want to avoid caffeine and alcohol. These are all things that can give you an artificial high, and with that high usually comes a crash. A crash or artificial high is not something you want to experience while suffering from depression.

• Exercise and Stay Active – If you have ever had a really good workout you know how it makes you feel afterwards. Basically it makes you feel good. It is an absolutely great way to relieve stress, and take your mid off of things that may be bothering you. Even if it is just 30 minutes of light cardio or walking a few times per week, it could make a big difference in your mood and how you feel.

These are just some of the natural remedies for dealing with depression. There are others that you may find helpful, but it really just depends on your situation and what works best.

Do These Natural Remedies Work?

Well, as with any discussion on natural remedies you will find that there are people that swear by it, while others think it is bologna. It is really up to you to decide if some of these natural remedies are right for you. If you do decide to try some or all of them, then you will probably be able to tell if they work or not. One thing for sure is that you will definitely still want to consult a medical professional so that you are properly diagnosed, and given guidance on what they would prescribe for treatment. It would also be wise to let them know if you do decide to use any of these treatments.

Are There Certain Things to Avoid When Suffering From Depression?

Actually, yes there are! While these are probably not things you would think of as “natural remedies” these are definitely things that you will want to stay away from when suffering from depression, as they could make the symptoms even worse than they are.

• Drugs – Of course any type of illegal drugs, as they could just make your problems worse, but also certain prescription drugs. Many prescription, and even over the counter drugs, have warning that say they may cause depression. If you are already suffering from depression taking these drugs could make matters worse. One thing you want to keep in mind is that you should not just stop taking, or not take a medication, you should always consult your doctor about any of this. It is likely they are the ones that will diagnose you with depression, so you might want to ask them if there are any medications you should stay away from.