http://www.care2.com/greenliving/natural-cures-for-depression.html
Natural Cures for Depression
By Veronica Peterson, Editor, Healthy & Green Living
In the eerily prophetic book Brave New World, Aldous Huxley foresees a future society “high” on mood-enhancing drugs. Cut to 2009–how right he was. Worldwide sales of antidepressants topped 30 billion dollars last year and while it’s clear this phenomenon isn’t going anywhere, there are a bunch of things we can try before trekking to the pharmacy.
Natural Cures for Depression
• St. John’s Wort This “miracle herb” is one of the most popular natural remedies on the market, simply because it works. Scientifically it’s been shown to have an impact on mild forms of depression and is commonly prescribed in Germany in place of chemical anti-depressants. “Overall, we’ve found that St. John’s wort extracts are as effective as standard antidepressants, with fewer side effects,” said Klaus Linde, lead researcher, for the Centre for Complementary Medicine in Munich, Germany in an article for Science Daily. The plant produces a number of different substances that may have anti-depressive properties, but the whole extract is considered to be more effective.
• Revamp Your Diet Too many refined carbohydrates and a diet low in omega3-fatty acids has been linked to depression. If you’ve been feeling blue try switching out some of your processed foods for whole food–this is food as close to its natural state as possible. To get those all-important omega3’s the answer is simple–fish. Salmon, tuna and herring all have high concentrations of omega3-fatty acids and just 3-4 servings a week will give you a much-needed boost. Try taking a fish oil supplement if eating fish regularly is not feasible. Check here for other foods that boost serotonin.
• Exercise It’s that dreaded word! Yes, we’ve all heard the rumor that exercise is a great depression minimizer but it’s fast becoming fact as study after study back it up. Not only does a regular routine boost your self-esteem, even with light exercise, your body releases endorphins that directly effect the level of pain you are able to perceive both mentally and physically.
• Meditation Get ready to Om. Just 15 minutes of daily meditation can work wonders if you’re in a funk. Learning the simple act of mindfullness helps put things into perspective and can calm a busy mind. 15 minutes of silence may sound daunting but there is no right (and therefore, no wrong) way to meditate. Anyone can practice meditation. It’s easy, free and doesn’t require any particular skill or training. Spiritual leader Deepak Chopra gives some easy meditation tips here.
More from Veronica Peterson (52 articles available)
related stories
-
(53 comments)
-
veronicap
(2 comments)
-
(20 comments)
Robyn
Melissa
Deepak
Eric
Dave
Dr. Brent
Isha
Susan
Delia
Michelle
Wendy
Megan
Hilary
Ann
Judi
Ronnie
Kelly
Lily
Terri
Betsy
Cait
Andrew
Jana
Annie B.
Veronica
66 comments
add your comment »thanks...
Kabin
Konteyner
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
Thank you for your good insightful comment, Jackie. Yesterday, I went to my last visit to the Neuro. surgent. Was put on a 6 yr. study to determine if the new prosedure On clipping for an anureism. It worked fine. Any way the nurse who gave me test and asked questions didn't agreed when I was not on DRUGS--only herbs. Amoung many things our country needs to change, In my mind, NATURAL CURES! we would be healthter
Healthly day everyone
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
I think that it is a shame for your family that they are experiencing difficulties in their personal lives. They are suffering for not being able to change their life styles that is for sure. Sometimes we have to use drugs and sometimes the herbal remedies work very well each person is different. I think that getting over depression and how we handle life is very individual. Unfortunately for some people stress has actually become their coping mechanism and the urge to return to that behavior is stronger than changing their life styles and attitudes toward their life styles. All family members can do is listen. I tell my kids all the time the only to change the world is to our little corner of the world and be responsible for ourselves because no one change anyone else only yourself. So be proud you have come a long way you must be an amazing person.
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
Kyraa, too bad you got that horrible sideaffect. I take 10 herbs for many illnesses, one of them is St.John's Wort. I'm what some people consider me HARDCORE herbal guy. 2 mos. ago I injurded my shoulder real bad,bad enough I had to take Phy. rehab, the doc. prescribed pain medicine, I didn't take it, OF course I used natural herbs to cure the damage. All bodies are different, you're right, we need to study up. I accuried much health info. from NATURAL Docs and family/friends
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
Don't assume herbal remedies are perfectly safe though. Herb don't have to be regulated nor do they have to list all their ingredients. I began taking St. John's Wart after deciding to quit taking Lexapro for depression and soon after had a severe grand-mal seizure. Turns out St. John's Wart has some serious side effects including seizure, coma and death. All I'm saying is be careful no matter what you choose to take and study up!
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
Very helpful reading the words of those who have tried to go the natural route and found no change and finally, consciously - decided to give the pharmaceuticals a try.
I am in the latter boat, and am rowing along quite fine to a safe harbor where I can practice life affirming skills, until they become habit and part of my lifestyle. Then I can 'swim' on my own, without the medication.
Ten years ago I went on Zoloft to battle an eating disorder. I learned to deal with anxiety. I learned controlling my food was not making Order in my life. I became a provincial champion cyclist, a dance performer, a childrens art instructor etc.. Then went off medication for over a decade.
I have a VERY healthy lifestyle - in many ways: Creative, active, good home made meals, local produce, supplements, friends, ok job (low pay-good people!)
I find myself on Zoloft once more to get through another bout of the debilitating effects of axienty/depression as I go through another passage in my life.
My real father was a healthy, active, creative and popular guy who took his life when he was 28. My grandfather suffered from depression and I have the gene as well... If I could go all natural, I would, but I have exhausted the alternatives.
I see Zoloft as a last resort, but a real support, as I learn to cope. I can go off of them once I have the new skills needed to move forward. We may have to accept that there is no healthier alternative than being happy to be alive. Meds hel
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
While I do take celexa for mild depression, I have been looking more closely at the diet and lifestyle connection as well, and it has made some difference. The Brave New World analogy does makes some sense, as our society has given us a bad bill of goods, along with nutrient-deficient corn syrup and splenda-laden crap foods, as far as keeping up in the rat race. Let's face it, if you give your car low quality fuel, how long will it take before it breaks down? As living being, we are no different. Don't get me wrong, I am certain I was born with depression, and the family environment with alcoholism, workaholism, and all the other isms did not help. I can choose to smart over "OMG another insensitive remark about mentally ill people", or I can work with what I got and make it better than before. If you have friends or family members who shame you about having depression, well, f*** them, they are not worth the oxygen wasted on trying to educate or drop kick them. Life is too short.
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
Evidence is coming out now that St. John's Wort is also effective for severe depression.
I am alarmed at the devestation going on in the oceans. The # of fish (as well as whales and dolphins and turtles) is finite as well as the amount of oil and coal and natural gas that can be harvested. Therefore, I prefer a non-fish source of Omega-3 such as Chia (Salvia hispanica L.) seed. I haven't checked out hempseed oil personally but I do like hemp for protein.
Personally, the best thing I found for depression is SAM-e and Gabatone. The latter is manufactured by Apex Energetics and available through professionals. I imagine one would contact Apex Energetics for a distributor in your area; in Denver this would be the Smithson Clinic.
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
Reference Baby Boomers generation and assuming National Institution of Health is a USA organisation, it is very easy to understand at an intuitive level the prevalence of depression among this generation but hard to know who is going to be at risk because of individual differences.
A few - Expectations society puts on the individual to do well financially socially educationally, stress of keeping families sustained as best the individual can. The speed of change in technology, poor food, less exercise. In order to keep up with this onslaught the individual has to be very resiliiant. "Failure" has become a dirty word.
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
FYI --- the National Institute of Health finds that the "baby boomers" have/had ten times more depression than any previous generation. Why? What happened here?
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
Facebook account: