What are some natural supplements you can take for anxiety/depression? Tried and true?
Nikki asked:
I’ve done some e-searching but i’m skeptical to try a few different ones as i’m a broke college student. I cannot afford health insurance and I do not qualify for any government programs so this is my last hope. Has anybody tried buying herbal supplements, and if so, did any of them have any sort of significance?
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I’ve done some e-searching but i’m skeptical to try a few different ones as i’m a broke college student. I cannot afford health insurance and I do not qualify for any government programs so this is my last hope. Has anybody tried buying herbal supplements, and if so, did any of them have any sort of significance?
August 31st, 2010 at 5:31 pm
St John’s Wort is a natural remedy for depression which can be bought over the counter (in the UK, at least). tattyhead65
August 31st, 2010 at 9:57 pm
st john wort’s is herbal med shud be cheap tp buy also try yoga and reiki shame u cant get health insurance hunni i wish u luck and happiness for future x christina w
September 1st, 2010 at 10:44 am
let me see.. Chocolate, Hash and Ganja leaves do the trick.. Praxibetel Ix
September 2nd, 2010 at 9:37 pm
St. John’s wort pills work like a charm for me. They are only $11 or $12 a bottle and have 90 pills in each bottle. You won’t need a prescription for them. Hope they work for you as well. kenoplayer
September 5th, 2010 at 6:15 pm
I took St. John’s Wort for several years on and off, and never noticed the slightest difference. Try exercising and getting out more, I have found it to be much more helpful. yagatbe
September 6th, 2010 at 8:42 pm
Ask yourself: “Why do I feel depressed, and when did I first start to feel this way: can I associate this with any recent change in my life?” (if so, it is probably reactive [situational] depression: counselling, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy may be indicated, but most of life’s adverse situations are resolved within 16 weeks, yet the medical criteria for depression, and the prescription of antidepressants is only 2 weeks!). Or, was it a more gradual thing, with no apparent cause? (a nutritional deficiency, hypothyroidism, environmental toxicity, or reactions to some medications, etc., becomes more likely as the cause). Antidepressants work quicker than the following; 2 - 6 weeks, but you may have to adjust dosage, or types. St. John’s wort helps most people; tolerance doesn’t develop, and the few side effects don’t occur often, and even then are normally not severe (neither should be relied on as a sole treatment).
It doesn’t cause sleeping problems, or weight change, but usually takes at least 2, and generally 4 - 6 weeks to become effective, but can work quicker than antidepressants, sometimes. A recent, independent German double blind study showed it to be as effective as a commonly prescribed antidepressant, in cases of major depression, with far fewer side effects, and those were generally better tolerated, with a lower rate of discontinuation. Unlike antidepressants, where sexual dysfunction is a common side effect, it happens much more rarely with St. John’s wort (I have noticed no effect in this area). A multidimensional approach to treating depression without medication follows. All except for no. (7.) are safe to use with medication, but not St. John’s wort, because of interactions, and it’s sensible to check out anything else first with your doctor.
(1.) Take 4 Omega 3 fish oil supplements, daily: (certified free of mercury) it is best if consumed with an antioxidant, such as an orange, or grapefruit, or their FRESHLY SQUEEZED juice. If vitamin E is added, it should be certified as being 100% from natural sources, or it may be synthetic: avoid it. In the winter months, if not getting sufficient daily exposure to strong light, see SEARCHBAR: enter: “vitamin D3″, & Go to a doctor and ask for a 25(OH)D, also called 25-hydroxyvitamin D, blood test. When you get the results, don’t follow the typical “normal” reference range, as these are too low. The OPTIMAL value that you’re looking for is 45-52 ng/ml (115-128 nmol/l)”. The company which tests your levels has to be one of those using the correct form of test, and this topic is addressed via the searchbar at mercola.com - “vitamin D3; testing”. Also take a vitamin B complex which is certified as being 100% of natural origin; a deficiency in vitamin B9 (folic acid, or folate) is known to cause depression. Around 30% - 40% of depressed people have low vitamin B12 levels. Depressed females using the contraceptive pill may benefit from vitamin B6 supplements.
(2.) Work up slowly to at least 20 minutes minutes of exercise, daily, or 30 - 60 mns, 5 times weekly. Too much exercise can cause stress, which isn’t wanted when dealing with depression. (3.) Occupational therapy (keeping busy allows little time for unproductive introspection, and keeps mental activity out of less desirable areas of the brain). (4.) Use daily, a relaxation method* and/or yoga*, and/or Tai Chi*.(5.) Initially, at least, some form of psychotherapy or counselling; later, perhaps either Cognitive Behavio(u)ral Therapy, or Rational Emotive Behavio(u)ral Therapy for, say, 6 months. (6.) Maintain a mood chart, and daily activities schedule**. (7.) As options, if desired, either a known, effective herbal remedy, such as St. John’s wort, (get a German variety, if possible; local ones may vary in effectiveness. Perika, and Kira brands have been recommended as being effective. Take with a meal) or supplements, such as SAMe, or Inositol (from vitamin and health food stores, some supermarkets, or mail order: view section 55). shaneris5
September 9th, 2010 at 5:31 pm
I would like to suggest you get as much information as you could before taking action,here is a good place for that. SHARON S
September 10th, 2010 at 10:05 am
I’m taking Vilift. It is a natural herbal supplement. Main ingregient is St. John’s wort. It gives me a better feeling. Blufeather B
September 13th, 2010 at 12:38 am
Depression - caused by chemical imbalances of serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine and other important neurotranmitters in the brain which balance emotions is a serious issue. Psychologists state that depression is a unhealthy state which we ‘can’ work through in order to experience greater levels of happiness. *Dr Jon Kabat-Zinn PhD along with Psychologists Mark Williams, John Teasdale, and Zindel Segal have authored an Excellent self-help book called: “The Mindful Way through Depression: Freeing Yourself from Chronic Unhappiness”. Mindfulness, a simple yet powerful way of paying attention to your most difficult emotions and life experiences, can help you break the cycle of chronic unhappiness once and for all, that you may experience greater levels of happiness. In ‘The Mindful Way through Depression’, it is explained why our usual attempts to “think” our way out of a bad mood or “just snap out of it” leads us deeper into the downward spiral of depression. Through very insightful lessons-drawn from both Mindfulness and Cognitive Therapy - Dr Jon Kabat-Zinn PhD and Psychologists- Mark Williams, John Teasdale, and Zindel Segal demonstrate how to sidestep the negative habits that lead to unhappiness and despair, including self-blame and rumination so you can effectively face life’s challenges with much resilience. Ian