Royane Real

By Royane Real

Author of “How You Can Be Smarter - Use Your Brain to Learn Faster, Remember Better and Be More Creative”

Many people who suffer from depression prefer the idea of finding a natural treatment for their condition instead of taking prescription anti-depressants. They are looking for alternatives to prescription medication for depression.

Is there anything you can get in a health food store that might help with depression? Yes, maybe, if your depression is in the mild to moderate range of severity. A more severe or long-term depression should be treated by a qualified professional.

If you are already taking prescription anti-depressants, do not also take any natural remedies at the same time without first consulting your doctor!

In some cases, there can be dangerous interactions. Just because something is natural does not mean it is always safe for everybody. Be sure to check with your doctor before taking any alternative supplements for depression, especially if you are already taking prescribed antidepressants.

Here are some commonly available alternative remedies for depression that may be helpful for milder cases of depression.

St. John's Wort

One of the best known and most widely prescribed natural remedies for depression is St. John's Wort. This herb has been used as a remedy for depression in Europe for decades. It is believed to now be the most commonly used anti-depressant in the world.

Many people who take St. John's Wort say they prefer the gentle lift this herb provides compared to the side effects of prescription anti-depressants.

The exact method by which St. John's Wort works is unknown. The main active ingredient is believed to be hypericin. Other factors in the plant may have an anti-depressant effect as well.

A typical recommended dose is 900 milligrams per day, divided. Look for a product that is standardized to contain.3 percent hypericin.

Some side effects with St. John's Wort may be experienced. They include nausea and abdominal pain. Some people experience increased sensitivity to sunlight and there is some indication that taking it may lead to a higher incidence of cataracts.

Not all studies of St. John's Wort have shown positive results. Many researchers in Europe say that St. John's Wort is effective, but at least one large recent American study found it to be ineffective as a treatment for depression.

When buying St. John's Wort, or any other herbal preparation, purchase only those brands that have a reputation for reliability. Some independent tests have confirmed that not all brands of St. John's Wort offered for sale actually contain the ingredients being claimed on the package.

If you are already taking a prescription anti-depressant, do not start taking St. John's Wort without consulting your doctor first. It may not be compatible with your other medications.

Don't take St. John's Wort if you have bipolar depression or if you are pregnant.

SAM-e

If you want to find something from the health food store to fight depression, you could ask for SAM-e, also known as s-adenosyl-methionine.

SAM-e is a substance which our body can make using the amino acid L-methionine, and various other nutrients. It is believed that SAM-e can boost the neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine in the brain, which may be able to improve mood.

Research reports from Europe say SAM-e has the same rate of effectiveness as most prescription anti-depressants, about 70 percent, but that it works faster and has fewer side effects. Some studies have found positive improvements in depressed patients in as few as four days.

SAM-e is better absorbed if you take it on an empty stomach between meals. A suggested dose is 400 milligrams per day.

People who have bipolar depression should not take SAM-e. If you are already taking MAO inhibitor antidepressants, do not take SAM-e. SAM-e is not legally available in all countries.

Amino Acid Therapy for Depression

Not all psychiatrists prescribe pharmaceutical antidepressants. Some psychiatrists prefer to treat depression with natural supplements such as vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, and amino acids.

The amino acids which have been found most effective in treating depression are L-tyrosine, L-tryptophan and L-phenylalanine.

People who are taking MAO inhibitor drugs for depression should not be taking amino acid supplements. Very young and very old people should avoid amino acid supplementation.

For many decades, the amino acid L-tryptophan was widely used to successfully treat depression. However, in 1989 a contaminated batch of this substance resulted in several deaths, so L-trypophan was removed from the market. Even though the manufacturing process for L-tryptophan has been changed to prevent this problem, the ban on the sale of L-tryptophan in many countries persists.

Today, a product related to L-Tryptophan, called 5-HTP is available in many health food stores. The 5-HTP molecule is believed to have none of the problems that caused L-Tryptophan to be withdrawn from the shelves, and it appears to be effective in lifting depression in some people.

If you decide to use 5-HTP for depression, discuss it with your doctor. Although many natural health practitioners claim that 5-HTP rarely causes negative side effects, this is not true.

Be sure to do your homework when you are looking for alternative methods to treat depression.

This article was written by Royane Real who is the author of the book  “How You Can Be Smarter - Use Your Brain to Learn Faster, Remember Better and Be More Creative”  Download it today and learn more ways to get the maximum use of your brainpower. It’s available at  http://www.lulu.com/real 

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