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What Is A Homeopathic Remedy for Depression?

Clinical depression is a common condition that is often treated with psychiatric drugs like selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and counseling. Homeopathic medicine also offers a number of treatments for clinical depression that focus on bringing the body back in to balance and, thus, curing the depression, rather than simply treating its symptoms. In many cases, teas or other preparations can be made with homeopathic herbs, but more consistent results can usually be obtained from using standardized tinctures that better control the dosage of the herbal active ingredients.

  1. St. John's Wort

    • Many herbs and tinctures can be used to treat depression. One of the most common, and one which is, in some cases, prescribed by medical doctors in Germany in place of SSRIs, is St. John's Wort. It has been used for hundreds of years as a natural, herbal treatment for nerve pain and mental disorders. In addition, it is useful in the treatment of malaria, burns and insect bites. Although it can be drunk as a tea, a standardized tincture is usually more reliable.

    Valerian

    • Valerian root has also been used to treat mental disorders for hundreds of years. Because of its calming effect, it has also been used as a sleep tonic. Valerian root takes longer than chemical SSRIs to build up in the body, and as such results are slower to manifest. Valerian root is also useful for headaches and migraine. It can also help with the flu.

    Passion Flower

    • Passion flower is a term used to describe around 500 closely related species of flowers that mostly grow on vines, although there are bush growing passion flowers. They are native to subtropical areas of North and South America. Passion flower tinctures are often used to relieve depression, as well as nerves, mood swings, irritability and sleep disorders.

    Licorice

    • Licorice root has been found to be effective for depression when given as a standardized tincture. By inhibiting the breakdown of the hormone cortisol, it helps people deal better with stress. It also contains natural compounds that inhibit the re-uptake of serotonin, one of the neuro-chemicals associated with depression.

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