With over 1 in 4 people estimated to suffer from mental health problems, depression is not an uncommon condition. Affecting people of all ages and genders, anyone can suffer the symptoms of depression. Whilst there are various treatments available, the side effects associated with conventional medications can put people off this type of remedy. Fortunately, there are alternatives available.
Herbal remedies and supplements, for example, can be extremely effective in treating depression and low mood. Recognised for centuries, these treatments provide a natural and low-cost way of improving your mood and ridding yourself of negative feelings.
Using St. John’s Wort for depression
Hypericum perforatum, or St. John’s Wort, is a well-known treatment when facing the problem of depression. Although it’s a natural substance, it’s believed to work in the same way as many conventional antidepressant medications.
By increasing the amount of serotonin and noradrenaline in your system, St. John’s Wort can help to regulate and improve your mood. Particularly effective for mild to moderate depression, as well as mild anxiety and insomnia, St. John’s Wort is used by people worldwide.
Supplementing with 5-HTP
5-Hydroxytryptophan, more commonly known as 5-HTP, has become increasingly popular as a form of treatment in recent years. Generally, treatment for depression involves increasing the amount of serotonin in your brain. In order to create serotonin, however, various precursors are needed. Without these, your body will find it more difficult to produce serotonin and, therefore, recover from the symptoms of depression.
As an amino acid, 5-HTP is a precursor to serotonin and also helps your body to produce melatonin. As an aid for depression, sleep, and anxiety, 5-HTP can, therefore, be extremely effective. Many people also find that 5-HTP is helpful in treating migraines and joint pain, so it seems that there are numerous benefits associated with the supplement.
Adding omega-3 to your diet
Omega-3 fatty acids are commonly found in foods but the vast majority of us don’t consume enough for it to successful combat depression. Available in capsule form, it’s easy to supplement your diet with omega-3 and it can have a profound effect on anxiety and depression.
Both DHA and EPA are found in omega-3 and low levels of these chemicals are typically seen in people suffering from depression. By increasing the levels of these chemicals in your body and regulating the ratio between the two, omega-3 can help to successfully reduce feelings of depression and despair.
Treating depression and anxiety naturally
With various herbal remedies and supplements available, many people prefer to take a natural approach when dealing with depression. As well as providing a low-cost form of treatment, many people find that natural remedies cause fewer side-effects than other types of medications.
Of course, it’s always beneficial to access medical advice before you begin any new course of treatment. Despite being natural, herbal remedies and supplements can interact with each other and may have a negative impact on other medication you’re taking.
Once you’ve confirmed that it’s safe to begin a new treatment regime, you can get the best herbal remedies and look forward to alleviating the symptoms of depression and anxiety for good.
About The Author:
Sarah Taylor is working as a health, nutrition and fitness writer for the last 6 years. Nowadays I’m working with various UK’s industry-leading health and beauty product brands, like- Natural Supplies. I have Loved for and enjoys experimenting with Foods, Health values, Healthy living, Fitness, Bodybuilding and like this much more.
