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Depression is a state of mind which is characterized
by a negative sense of inadequacy and a visual lack of activity. It is
a mental state in which the effecting person experiences sad feelings
of gloom and downturn in mood, which may be relatively transitory and
may be due to something complex. The common behaviour includes feelings
of sadness, despair, low self-esteem, low self-reproach and discouragement.
Anxiety is a characteristic feature of most
people. In it's 'normal' form, it helps with vigilance, learning and general
performance. Anxiety is useful. However, in excess it starts to work against
us.
Depression has nothing to do with weakness
and there does not seem to be any particular type of person who is more
prone to the disorder. The word depression is used to cover a
very wide range of problems, from short periods of low mood to a lifetime
of mind-numbing inability to function.
Depression can affect anyone
Many people with depression also experience some degree
of anxiety - anxiety that goes beyond the typical tension we experience
when we face life's challenges. For people with an anxiety disorder, the
overwhelming worry and fear is constant - with obsessive thoughts, feelings
of panic, trouble sleeping, heart palpitations, cold or sweaty hands.
The depressed person often experiences a lot
of anxiety. This can lead to them having panic attacks. Having panic attacks
can itself be a depressing thing. Any lack of control within our lives
can contribute to depression.
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Welcome to Natural Antidepressants.org
There are many safe, natural and benign ways to
directly and effectively deal with depression. On this site we will
discuss the key herbal and nutritional substances that have proved
effective in helping people like you feel good again.
Although we intend to grow this site to include
all the key resources, we are starting now to provide some basic
information on what we consider the herbal substances available
today. These are the rare Southern African plant called Sceletium
and St John's Wort.
Natural treatments for depression:
The herbal treatment of depression has fewer side effects and they
show promise for the long-term treatment of light and moderate depression.
Some herbal treatments include:
Alternative treatments for depression:
There are a host of natural treatment that can be used to alleviate
depression. These include:
- Exercise
- Yoga
- Meditation
- Aromatherapy
- Diet control
Some of the natural alternatives for depression
are listed below:
Sceletium tortuosum (Sceletium,
Kanna, Kougoed)
-- Antidepressant and Mood Enhancer --
History and Traditional Use:
Sceletium tortuosum is a rare succulent from the Mesembryanthemaceae
family and is distributed in certain semi-desert areas of Southern
Africa. It was (and still is) highly regarded and sought after
by both the Khoikhoi and the San (bushmen) people who have used
this plant as a mood enhancer since prehistoric times. It has
also been used as an appetite suppressant and mental and physical
endurance enhancer by shepherds and hunters walking long distances
in arid areas. Sceletium elevates mood and decreases anxiety,
stress and tension, and functions as a model anxiolytic, as
well as being a very effective anti-depressant. Sceletium is
also known to reduce addictive cravings particularly with regard
to nicotine and also lessens the withdrawal effects of alcohol.
Due to its ability to stimulate feelings of empathy it has also
been used with success in couple and family therapy.
Sceletium has a unique ability to bring about
emotional balance and simultaneously cause both relaxation and
stimulation of a positive mood. Sceletium has been used as a
natural supplement for:
- low mood, including grey weather syndrome,
- anxiety states, including social phobia,
- irritability in menopause,
- improvement in libido, when lack of libido is from anxiety
or low mood, and
- post-traumatic stress disorder.
Contraindications and Side-Effects:
Although there have been no confirmed reports of drug interactions,
because of the neuro-receptor activities of Sceletium tortuosum
there are theoretical interactions with other psychiatric medications
and cardiac drugs. People taking any psychiatric drug (including
all anti-anxiety drugs, sedatives, hypnotics, anti-depressants
and anti-psychotics and so-called designer or recreational drugs)
or any cardiac medications, are advised not to take Sceletium-containing
products. Do not use during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
St John's Wort
(Hypericum)
St John's Wort is today most widely known as
a herbal treatment for depression. In some countries, such as
Germany, it is commonly prescribed for mild depression, especially
in children, adolescents, and where cost is a concern. Standardized
extracts are generally available over the counter. Extracts
are usually in tablet or capsule form, and also in teabags and
tinctures.
St. John's Wort has been clinically reported
to prove successful in relieving depression and anxiety with
fewer side effects than prescription drugs. What research data
exists supports a noticeable effect in many cases of light and
medium depression. As psychiatric medication, it is usually
taken as pills, or as tea. Other studies, including a major
National Institutes of Health (NIH) study that focused on moderate
to severe depression, have shown no improvements. Another meta-analysis,
with stricter inclusion criteria than early studies, found that
Hypericum was more efficacious than placebo; and as efficacious
as tricyclic antidepressants, with, once again, fewer adverse
drug reactions.
There are some trials that show effectiveness
of St. John's wort, beyond a placebo effect, on treating different
types of depression. A 2006 study involving 150 patients with
minor depressive symptoms or dysthymia found that St John's
wort has a clinically significant effect in patients with minor
depression, but not those suffering from dysthymia. It was concluded
that St John's wort can be effective in the treatment of people
with minor depression with a Hamilton Depression Scale for Depression
(HAM-D) score of up to 17. The British Medical Journal has recommended
that the results of the randomized controlled trials of St John's
Wort should be interpreted with caution, as many did not use
standardised preparations or homogenous populations, and doses
of antidepressants varied. A major review of the efficacy of
St. John's Wort cautioned that the pharmaceutical quality of
various preparations on the market may vary considerably.
Hyperforin is the constituent of St. John's
Wort that is thought to be responsible for its antidepressant
effects. Other biologically active constituents present, for
example, flavonoids and tannins, may also be involved. Hyperforin
has been shown to inhibit the uptake of 5-HT(serotonin), dopamine,
noradrenaline, GABA and glutamate. Hyperforin is also thought
to be responsible for the induction of the cytochrome P450 enzymes
CYP3A4 and CYP2C9 by binding to the Pregnane X Receptor (PXR).
St John's wort used alone refers to the species
Hypericum perforatum, also known as Tipton's Weed or Klamath
weed, but, with qualifiers, is used to refer to any species
of the genus Hypericum. Therefore, H. perforatum is sometimes
called Common St John's wort to differentiate it. The species
of Hypericum have been placed by some in the family Hypericaceae,
but more recently have been included in the Clusiaceae.
Cautions
St John's wort is generally well tolerated, with an adverse
effect profile similar to placebo. The most common adverse effects
reported are gastrointestinal symptoms, dizziness, confusion,
tiredness and sedation. St John's wort may rarely cause photosensitivity.
This can lead to visual sensitivity to light and to sunburns
in situations that would not normally cause them. Related to
this, researchers showed in laboratory experiments that the
drug reacts with light, both visible and ultraviolet, to produce
free radicals. St John's wort has been known to instigate mania
in bipolar patients and for these people it should be used with
caution, just as with any anti-depressant. Also, it is important
to note that St John's Wort interacts with many drugs, so if
a person is taking any other medications, they should talk with
a doctor or pharmacist to see if it may interact.
History
The first recorded use of Hypericum for medicinal purposes dates
back to ancient Greece, and it has been used ever since. Hypericum
was also used by Native Americans internally as an abortifacient
and externally as an anti-inflammatory, astringent, and antiseptic.
Its use as a herbal tea has long been enjoyed. The flowers and
stems of St John's wort have also been used to produce red and
yellow dyes.
5-HTP
5-HTP is an endogenous, intermediate Amino
Acid formed from Tryptophan. Exogenous 5-Hydroxytryptophan is
manufactured as a supplement as a means of bypassing the first
step in the production of endogenous Serotonin (the brain neurotransmitter
linked with pleasure and fulfilment).
5HTP is the direct precursor to serotonin,
alleviating the harmful effects of worry and stress. Stress
causes more serotonin to be released into the body, and the
longer the period of stress the greater the danger of serotonin
depletion. Low serotonin levels are associated with irritability,
aggression, impatience and anxiety, and significantly decreased
levels in serotonin have been found in suicidal patients.
Some patients that fail to respond to standard
antidepressant drugs find relief in 5-HTP. The benefits of 5-HTP
are very similar to those of L-Tryptophan, such as the assistance
of sleep and alleviation of age related mental depression, as
well as alcohol withdrawal. Unlike other antidepressants, such
as L-Tryptophan which has other roles throughout the body, 5HTP
affects the brain only.
Ginkgo Biloba
Ginkgo Biloba is one of the oldest living tree
species and its leaves are among the most extensively studied
botanicals in use today. Unlike many other medicinal herbs,
ginkgo leaves are not frequently used in their crude state,
but rather, in the form of a concentrated, standardized ginkgo
biloba extract.
Ginkgo is widely used in Europe for treating
dementia. It use is primarily due to its ability to improve
blood flow to the brain and because of its antioxidant properties.
The evidence that ginkgo may improve thinking, learning, and
memory in people with Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been highly
promising. Clinical studies suggest that ginkgo may provide
the following benefits for people with AD:
- Improvement in thinking, learning, and memory (cognitive
function)
- Improvement in activities of daily living
- Improvement in social behavior
- Fewer feelings of depression
A clinical study found that a standardized ginkgo extract may
reduce the side effects of menopause as well as risk factors
for osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease. Women are becoming
more reluctant to use pharmaceutical hormone replacement therapy
(HRT) due to its undesirable side effects, such as irregular
bleeding and an increased risk of breast cancer. Several human
studies have reported that a standardized ginkgo extract has
estrogenic activity and might be suitable as an alternative
to HRT.
A standardized ginkgo extract was reported to significantly
improve functional measures (such as coordination, energy level,
strength, mental performance, mood, and sensation) in 22 individuals
with multiple sclerosis (MS).
Cautions
Antidepressant medications - Taking ginkgo along with selective
serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRIs) antidepressants [including
fluoxetin (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), paroxetine (Paxil),
and escitalopram (Lexapro)] may cause serotonin syndrome. This
condition is characterized by rigidity, tachycardia (fast heart
rate), hyperthermia (high body temperature), restlessness, and
diaphoresis (sweating). Ginkgo may enhance the effects (both
good and bad) of antidepressant medications known as MAOIs,
such as phenelzine (Nardil).
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