Taking Herb Medicines to Help Depression
Serious health complications can result from taking antidepressants Medical studies have revealed findings that taking prescription antidepressants could be linked to serious health conditions such as coronary diseases and diabetes. There are even reported cases where people who did not have existing heart ailments prior to taking antidepressants have suddenly suffered fatal cardiac arrests. Other fatal effects of taking some of these antidepressants could also spread to the liver and the kidneys. Alarmed by these findings, medical practitioners have been increasingly shifting to psychotherapy and therapies using herbs for depression treatment. That’s right, doctors are now recommending herbs for depression relief. These herbs for depression treatment has steadily gained popularity over the past years.
Depression in itself is not a disease or ailment. A person suffering from depression will have unexplained feelings of being weak, sad, and hopeless among other negative feelings causing him to be physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially unable to go about his daily activities. Feeling this condition whether from time to time or regularly is something that medical practitioners consider as chronic in nature that needs to be treated over the long-term. Different people can experience depression in varying intensities. The symptoms and the way the major depressive disorder can manifest itself would likewise differ from one person to another. Anyone who thinks that he might be suffering from clinical depression has to go and consult a medical professional to be prescribed with the appropriate treatment.
Some of the herbs for depression treatment that are commonly recommended by medical practitioners as well as alternative medicine experts include:
1. Among the herbs for depression treatment, St. John’s Wort is the most widely used. People all over the world have been using St. John’s Wort or hypericum perforatum for centuries now. St. John’s Wort is used in the United States as a dietary supplement that comes either in pill form or in tea bags. Taking St. John’s Wort supplements have been known to increase the amount of serotonin, a mood regulator, in the brain.
2. Another herb that is often included in depression formulations is the Valerian Root or valerian officinalis. Those who are suffering from insomnia as part of their clinical depression are recommended to take formulations with Valerian root extract. Valerian root, however, is only recommended to be taken for periods up to six weeks. As an approved dietary supplement, Valerian root supplements are taken as pills.
3. Hops, despite its potentially aggravating effects, are also used in herbal depression formulations along with a host of mood enhancer herbs. The stress and tension relieving properties of hops are good for reducing the irritability in people who are depressed. Hops have also been found to fight insomnia.
4. Perhaps another one of the more popular herbs in supplements and energy drinks is ginseng. It is a proven stress buster and energy booster. Common herbal depression treatments that contain ginseng come in teas, pills, and juices.
There are several other herbs for depression treatment. Kava kava and gingko biloba depression treatment are two examples. Other alternative treatment methods aside from psychotherapy are also available. As there are differences to the way that clinical depression manifests itself and the causes of clinical depression, the right treatment could only be prescribed after consultation with your doctor. You have to make sure that you consult with your doctor before taking any medications for your depression, herbal or otherwise.
