| If you suffer from depression, you may not want to | | | | Research reports from Europe say SAM-e has the |
| use pharmaceutical drugs to treat your depression. | | | | same rate of effectiveness as most prescription |
| You may prefer to use natural methods to fight | | | | anti-depressants, about 70 percent, but that it works |
| depression. Here are some ways you can overcome | | | | faster and has fewer side effects. Some studies |
| depression naturally, as long as your depression is in | | | | have found positive improvements in depressed |
| the moderate range. | | | | patients in as few as four days. |
| Like millions of other people all over the world, I have | | | | SAM-e is better absorbed if you take it on an empty |
| suffered from depression for many years of my life. | | | | stomach between meals. A suggested dose is 400 |
| And like many people who suffer from depression, I | | | | milligrams per day. |
| didn't really like the idea of taking powerful | | | | People who have bipolar depression should not take |
| pharmaceutical drugs to treat it. | | | | SAM-e. If you are already taking MAO inhibitor |
| So, I have always tried to find ways to help | | | | antidepressants, do not take SAM-e. SAM-e is not |
| depression that don't necessarily rely on using heavy | | | | legally available in all countries. |
| duty drugs. | | | | Amino Acid Therapy for Depression |
| When I was doing my research into my book "How | | | | Not all psychiatrists prescribe pharmaceutical |
| You Can Be Smarter - Use Your Brain to Learn | | | | antidepressants. Some psychiatrists prefer to treat |
| Faster, Remember Better, and Be More Creative" I | | | | depression with natural supplements such as vitamins, |
| found a lot of information about natural treatments | | | | minerals, essential fatty acids, and amino acids. |
| that could help depression as well as help improve | | | | The amino acids which have been found most |
| memory and thinking. | | | | effective in treating depression are L-tyrosine, |
| One of the things I found very interesting is that if | | | | L-tryptophan and L-phenylalanine. |
| you live in Europe or Asia, and you happen to have | | | | For many decades, the amino acid L-tryptophan was |
| depression, you are much more likely to get | | | | widely used to successfully treat depression. |
| prescribed a herbal preparation by your doctor. | | | | However, in 1989 a contaminated batch of this |
| However, if you live in North America, prescribing | | | | substance resulted in several deaths, so L-trypophan |
| herbs or other natural products is about the last thing | | | | was removed from the market. Even though the |
| your doctor will do for you. Instead, a North | | | | manufacturing process for L-tryptophan has been |
| American doctor is much more likely to prescribe | | | | changed to prevent this problem, the ban on the sale |
| antidepressants from a big pharmaceutical company. | | | | of L-tryptophan in many countries persists. |
| What I have written in this article is a really, really | | | | Today, a product related to L-Tryptophan, called |
| short overview of some of the many natural | | | | 5-HTP is available in many health food stores. The |
| treatments that have been used for depression. | | | | 5-HTP is believed to have none of the problems that |
| If you happen to have a mild form of depression, | | | | caused L-Tryptophan to be withdrawn from the |
| then natural methods can work. | | | | shelves, and it appears to be effective in lifting |
| If you have a serious depression, and that means a | | | | depression. |
| state of sadness or emptiness that goes on and on, | | | | If you decide to use 5-HTP for depression, discuss it |
| and bleeds all the joy out of your life so that you | | | | with your doctor. People who are taking MAO |
| feel like it is all empty and meaningless, then some | | | | inhibitor drugs for depression should not be taking |
| professional treatment can be helpful. | | | | amino acid supplements. Very young and very old |
| Some Natural Treatments for Depression | | | | people should avoid amino acid supplementation. |
| Many people who suffer from depression prefer the | | | | Other Natural Therapies to Consider |
| idea of finding a natural treatment for their condition | | | | In those countries where the population eats a lot of |
| rather than taking prescription anti-depressants. | | | | ocean fish, the rate of depression appears to be low. |
| Is there anything you can get in a health food store | | | | North Americans don't eat very much ocean fish, and |
| that might help with depression? Yes, maybe, if your | | | | the rate of depression in North America is quite high. |
| depression is in the mild to moderate range of | | | | Many nutritionally oriented therapists believe there is |
| severity. A more severe or long-term depression | | | | a connection. |
| should be treated by a qualified professional. | | | | Certain ocean fish such as tuna and salmon are very |
| If you are already taking prescription | | | | rich in Omega 3 fatty acids and other compounds |
| anti-depressants, do not also take any natural | | | | that are beneficial to the heart and the brain. Eating |
| remedies at the same time without first consulting | | | | more of these fish, or getting fish oil capsules from |
| your doctor! | | | | the health food store may be useful in treating some |
| In some cases, there can be dangerous interactions. | | | | instances of depression. |
| Just because something is natural does not mean it is | | | | However, there is a lot of controversy over whether |
| always safe for everybody. | | | | these fish are safe to eat, since many large ocean |
| St. John's Wort | | | | fish are now contaminated with mercury poisoning. |
| One of the best known and most widely prescribed | | | | Does the benefit of the fish oil outweigh the possible |
| natural remedies for depression is St. John's Wort. | | | | danger of the mercury? |
| This herb has been used as a remedy for depression | | | | Researchers don't agree about this at this time. But |
| in Europe for decades. It is believed to now be the | | | | you can try to include a lot more fish like salmon and |
| most commonly used anti-depressant in the world. | | | | tuna in your diet to see if it boosts your mood. |
| Many people who take St. John's Wort say they | | | | Folic Acid |
| prefer the gentle lift this herb provides compared to | | | | Folic acid is one of the most important nutrients in |
| the side effects of prescription anti-depressants. | | | | the body, but sadly, a lack of folic acid is one of the |
| The exact method by which St. John's Wort works is | | | | most common deficiencies in the world. |
| unknown. The main active ingredient is believed to be | | | | Low levels of folic acid are associated with heart |
| hypericin. Other factors in the plant may have an | | | | problems, memory problems, and depression. |
| anti-depressant effect as well. | | | | If you suffer from depression, consider taking at |
| A typical recommended dose is 900 milligrams per | | | | least 400 mcg. per day in a supplement. |
| day, divided. Look for a product that is standardized | | | | Final Thoughts |
| to contain .3 percent hypericin. | | | | This has been a brief rundown of natural products |
| Some side effects with St. John's Wort may be | | | | you might find at the health food store that can help |
| experienced. They include nausea and abdominal pain. | | | | with depression. |
| Some people experience increased sensitivity to | | | | But there are at least two more ideas I want to |
| sunlight and there is some indication that taking it | | | | mention in closing that have been shown to be very |
| may lead to a higher incidence of cataracts. | | | | beneficial to cases of depression. |
| Not all studies of St. John's Wort have shown | | | | Remember that before antidepressants were |
| positive results. Many researchers in Europe say that | | | | invented, people mostly relied on talk therapy to try |
| St. John's Wort is effective, but at least one large | | | | get better. This can still work really well, if you have |
| recent American study found it to be ineffective as a | | | | a good therapist, and if paying for therapy isn't a |
| treatment for depression. | | | | problem for you. |
| When buying St. John's Wort, or any other herbal | | | | Not all types of psychotherapy work for depression. |
| preparation, purchase only those brands that have a | | | | Cognitive therapy teaches the patient new, more |
| reputation for reliability. Some independent tests have | | | | realistic ways of thinking. Cognitive therapy has a |
| confirmed that not all brands of St. John's Wort | | | | record of curing depression that appears to be just |
| offered for sale actually contain the ingredients being | | | | as the rate of cure of most antidepressants. |
| claimed on the package. | | | | Also remember that before therapists were |
| If you are already taking a prescription | | | | invented, people talked over their problems with |
| anti-depressant, do not start taking St. John's Wort | | | | trusted friends, family members and spiritual advisors. |
| without consulting your doctor first. It may not be | | | | So, if good therapists aren't easily available where |
| compatible with your other medications. | | | | you live, you can try look for other people to talk to |
| Don't take St. John's Wort if you have bipolar | | | | that might help. |
| depression or if you are pregnant. | | | | And now, one here is one final cure for some cases |
| SAM-e | | | | of depression that is easily available to most of us - |
| If you want to find something from the health food | | | | exercise. |
| store to fight depression, you could ask for SAM-e, | | | | In some studies, regular physical exercise was shown |
| also known as s-adenosyl-methionine. | | | | to relieve depression just as effectively as |
| SAM-e is a substance which our body can make using | | | | medications! |
| the amino acid L-methionine, and various other | | | | So, consider incorporating some of these ideas into |
| nutrients. It is believed that SAM-e can boost the | | | | your life if you are feeling a bit depressed. |
| neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine in the | | | | Serious depression may need much more |
| brain, which may be able to improve mood. | | | | intervention. |