Many herbs for depression are available

Herbs for depression

A substantial amount of research has gone into the use of herbal remedies to treat this illness. Many commonly prescribed antidepressants work by keeping the neurotransmitter serotonin circulating in the brain. It has been found that herbs such as Siberian ginseng, licorice and Saint-John's-wort also help increase the availability of serotonin in the brain.

Although the effects of the use of such herbs are yet to be scientifically proved and evaluated, some of the herbs that may be recommended by professional herbalists for symptoms are Valerian root (Valerian officinalis), for insomnia, Damiana (Turnera diffusa), to help reduce sexual dysfunction, Ginseng (Panax ginseng), for general body stress.

In clinical studies, Siberian ginseng has shown to be helpful for people who are depressed or have other serious emotional problems. Licorice is also considered more effective than some of the commonly prescribed MAO inhibitors. Other herbs for depression that may help are basil, thyme, lemon balm, lavender, spearmint, peppermint, rose petals, gingko, marjoram, lemon verbena, and ginseng.

Studies indicate that St. John's wort may be as effective as tricyclic antidepressants, but with fewer side effects. However it is important that St. John's wort should not be taken in conjunction with other antidepressants or with certain medications, including indinivir, oral contraceptives, theophylline, warfarin, digoxin, reserpine, cyclosporine, and loperamide as it might cause undesirable side effects.

In Chinese medicine herbs are widely used either in the form of pills, tablets or as other preparations. Some of them include Hare’s Ear root, White Peony Root, Tang Gui Root, Hoelin Fungus, White Atractylodis, Ginger, Mint, and Chinese Licorice Root.

Many herbs are available on the market, but caution should be exercised since only a few have actually been proven to effectively relieve depression. Most of the herbs have not been studied at all. Enough clinical proofs have not been recorded for some of these herbs. However there are exceptions here too. There are a few that have been proven to effectively relieve symptoms supported by clinical trials.

The best herbs for depression are those are those containing proven ingredients in the proper doses and potencies and manufactured with strict quality-control procedures. For effective relief, Amoryn, a herb for depression that combines the proven dose of pharmaceutical-grade St. John’s Wort extract with 5-HTP, B vitamins, and mood-related nutrients.

Also read our article about Seasonal Depression