Natural Remedies for Depression

Depression affects approximately 18.8 million American adults each year. Natural remedies for depression are the safest most effective approach for relief because they get to the root of the problem. You’ve probably heard traditional psychologists use the word chemical imbalance when speaking of depression, what that means is that neurotransmitters in the brain are not functioning properly. They are sometimes depleted or disrupted.

People who suffer with Depression typically have lower than normal levels of two crucial neurotransmitters called serotonin and dopamine. Serotonin and dopamine are responsible for making us feel good and give us feelings of pleasure. They make us relaxed, confident, alert, euphoric and provide a comforting overall sense of well being. When they are not present in our brains in adequate numbers we feel empty, flat, lifeless and depressed. They may also be deficient in endorphins/enkephalins, our built-in natural pain relievers or have too much norepinephrine or acetylcholine.

Pharmaceutical drugs are designed to target these neurotransmitters, however the problem is that taking drugs does not fix this problem. They only do more harm in the long run because they actually deplete the neurotransmitters even more or cause more malfunctioning. In addition to that, they are accompanied by a variety of negative side effects that may include dry mouth, dizziness, headaches, thoughts of suicide, diarrhea, insomnia and loss of libido, sedation, constipation and much more.

The goal in relieving depression is to restore balance to those neurotransmitters and that can be achieved with a variety of natural remedies for depression like the following:

1. Eat a balanced healthy diet that provides the body with healthy fats and is rich in animal protein. Protein provides the body with amino acids and amino acids are the building blocks for neurotransmitters.
2. Identify nutritional deficiencies. Neurotransmitters require a variety of amino acids, vitamins and minerals in order to be produced, like tryptophan, tyrosine, b6, copper, iron and many more. If you are deficient in any of these nutrients, then production will be impaired. Much of the population is deficient in crucial nutrients, because of a poor diet.
3. No smoking, caffeine, sugar, alcohol or drugs as all these substances have a detrimental effect on neurotransmitters.
4. Reduce exposure to environmental toxins and identify any toxins like heavy metals that may be in your body, because they too deplete neurotransmitters.
5. Candida overgrowth, hypothyroidism, low blood sugar and adrenal fatigue also have a negative impact on neurotransmitters and should be investigated as potential culprits.
6. Exercise is one of the most beneficial steps you can take to improve mood. Regular exercise also increases the release of endorphins in the bloodstream. Endorphins are another one of our “feel good” chemicals (neurotransmitters) that elevate mood, reduce pain and alleviate stress in the body.
7. One of the most common causes of depression is a hidden food sensitivity, allergy or intolerance to something like sugar, wheat, corn, soy, dairy, etc. I eliminated my depression by removing sugar and wheat from my diet. You can find out if you have hidden food sensitivities with ALCAT testing.
8. Other steps you can take to improve neurotransmitter function naturally is to engage in meditation, mindfulness, deep breathing exercises, prayer, yoga, dance, art, writing, music, communing with nature or any activity you find to be spiritually fulfilling.

There are a variety of natural remedies for depression that include specific nutritional supplements and they attempt to restore the chemical balance (neurotransmitters) within the brain and restore a feeling of well being to the body as a whole without the serious risks to health that accompany prescriptions.

Here are some of the more popular natural remedies for depression on the market:

1. Sam-e— is an amino acid derivative. Sam-e affects the balance of neurotransmitters in the brain that are responsible for mood. It raises neurotransmitter levels and their ability to bind to the proper receptors in the brain. SAMe also reduces build up of excess norepinephrine.
2. Omega-3 fatty acids—Omega-3 fatty acids are another positive formula for depression relief and can be found in the form of fish oil gel tablets. Increasing the amount of EPA and DHA (two omega-3 fatty acids) in the diet by eating more fish improves brain function as well. Omega 3s are needed for proper neurotransmission.
3. Free From Amino Acids – As we mentioned earlier amino acids are the building blocks for neurotransmitters. If you’re not ingesting enough amino acids, then your neurotransmitters will not be in balance. There are many Amino Acids on the market, but it’s important that you get “free form” aminos.
4. 5-HTP or Tryptophan. Both of these amino acids increase levels of serotonin.
5. Tyrosine – this is an amino acid that increases levels of dopamine.
6. DL-phenylalanine – this is an amino acid that increases endorphins.

It’s important to be aware that tryptophan, 5HTP and tyrosine should always be accompanied by B6 in the pyridoxal-5-phosphate form. All nutritional supplements should be used in conjunction with the other steps I mentioned above like a healthy diet and exercise.

You may be familiar with a product called St. John’s Wort – it’s received a bit of press in the past five years. Administered in tablet form, St. John’s Wort is an herb known commonly used elevate mood in people with mild depression. I do not recommend this product, because it actually works similar to a prescription drug and will ultimately deplete neurotransmitters even further. The underlying problem will not be addressed.

Now, although an herbal preparation or supplement may be helpful to you, if you suffer with depression it’s important to address it with a comprehensive plan that incorporates a variety of different natural remedies rather than just one.

Depression is a serious condition and usually has more than one factor involved. Before starting any treatment natural or otherwise, consult a physician. It is essential to have a definitive diagnosis of depression before beginning any natural course of treatment. Some natural remedies for depression can interact with other medicines and even herbs or reduce their effectiveness. Additionally, not everyone responds positively to herbs or supplements that manipulate neurotransmitters, in some cases symptoms get worse.

Even though they are natural they too can have some minor side effects associated with them when taken alone. For example, St. John’s Wort can cause fatigue, dizziness, dry mouth, and stomach or intestinal problems if taken too often or in the wrong doses.

Additionally if you have anxiety disorders, hypomania, manic depressive, bipolar, parkinsons or other similar problems, some natural remedies can cause an increase in symptoms in these conditions. It’s crucial that you consult with a health care provider who is knowledgeable about herbs and supplements so you don’t make your problem worse.

It’s important to always inform your physician of any natural approaches you may try and make your natural health doctor is aware if you are taking any standard pharmaceuticals.