Depression is a condition that affects practically every human being minimum once in his/her life. It ranges from mild to serious. Symptoms can vary from the not-so-critical feeling of sadness and anxiousness, often named "the blues", to the more life-threatening thoughts of suicide and suicide attempts. Other symptoms include loss of interest in ordinary activities including sex, feelings of worthlessness and guilt, too much changes in appetite & weight, difficulty in concentrating and remembering, fatigue and lethargy.
Experts know from experience that depression could be cured. The important thing is to recognize the symptoms and seek professional help as soon as possible. Most of the depression specialists, apart from counseling, prescribe anti-depressant drugs like Prozac. However, these almost always have unwanted side effects that may trigger other problems like insomnia and anxiety. These days, therefore, more people prefer natural herbal supplements over pharmaceutical medicines.
The most popular herb that's used to treat depression is St. John's Wort. This is a plant with yellow flowers that have many chemical compounds including hypericin and hyperforin. For centuries, this plant has been used for mental and other health issues. Recent studies show that St. John's Wort is effective for mild to moderate depression, as it improves sleep and feelings of well-being. It likewise is non-addictive and does not show any significant unwanted side effects. St. John's Worts are sold as capsules, tablets, dried teas and liquid extracts.
One more popular herb for the treatment of depression is kava-kava, a shrub that belongs to the pepper family. Found mostly in the Pacific, the roots of this plant have been used traditionally for sedating and treating anxiety. More recently, even the stems and leaves are used, although there have been signs of unwanted side effects affecting the liver, specially hepatitis and cirrhosis. It's always recommended to take kava-kava under close supervision by a doctor. Kids, pregnant women, persons with liver diseases and those with history of alcohol consumption are not advised to take kava-kava.
Passionflower is also used to treat mild depression. Native to the USA, with a number of species in Asia, South America and Australia, this perennial vine has been called a calming herb since ancient times. It's believed to help lower the activity of some brain cells, thus it makes a person relaxed and calm. But, since it is always combined with other herbs like valerian and lemon balm, there is no known effect of passionflower if taken alone. Likewise, its side effects are inconclusive. It is available in the form of teas, fluid extracts and tinctures.
Other efficient herbal supplements for the treatment of depression are: 5 HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan), an amino acid that is known to improve a person's mood in just a couple of days without any significant unwanted effects; SAM-e or S-adenosylmethionine, another amino acid that aids normalize liver function aside from its antidepressant properties; Ginseng, an herb grown in some parts of Asia and is known to increase energy and vitality; Ginkgo or Ginkgo Biloba, a tree whose leaf extract works well in improving the social behavior of the elderly.
Overall, all the above herbal supplements have their own merits. Proper doses with professional medical supervision will aid alleviate the symptoms of depression, especially if still within the mild and moderate levels.
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