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Natural Remedies for Menopausal Depression

Women just beginning the journey into menopause often find that one of the symptoms they experience is depression. The discomfort of hot flashes, irregular periods and water retention can take a toll. If your depression is severe or long lasting, you should see a health care practitioner for diagnosis and treatment. But if you have mild or moderate depression, there are a few herbs, supplements and exercises you can try that should give you relief.

  1. Two Important Supplements

    • St. John's wort, with its constituents hypericin and hyperforin, acts much in the same way as Prozac, without the possibility of severe side effects. The ancient Greeks used this herb for depression and nerve disorders like anxiety. The few side effects that might be experienced from St. John's wort are mild--mainly nausea, dry mouth and light sensitivity.

      The brain chemical 5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan) is a precursor of serotonin in the brain and is valuable in fighting depression. While St. John's wort and Prozac work to stop the reuptake of serotonin, 5-HTP actually helps to produce more so it is available to improve your quality of sleep and help you fight stress and anxiety. This supplement is available in tablet form and can be purchased at any pharmacy or health food store, as well as online. Start by taking one pill at dinner time for the first week or so. You can add a pill in the morning as long as you tolerate it well; in other words, if it does not make you too drowsy during the day. The maximum dose is usually four tablets per day, two in the morning and two at night.

    Bioidentical Hormone Therapy

    • When dealing with menopause, and pre-menopause, the subject of hormone replacement therapy comes up. Modern medicine's answer to the uncomfortable symptoms of menopause has been to prescribe synthetic or animal derived estrogen. This may help relieve some of the symptoms, but new information suggests that these medicines are linked to the increase of the incidence of breast cancer and stroke in women. A safer, and non-prescription, way to manage menopausal symptoms, including depression, is bioidentical hormone therapy. Bioidentical hormone therapy is progesterone derived from plants that metabolizes in the human body just like your own progesterone. Usually applied as a cream, soy-derived progesterone has been shown to relieve the problems associated with estrogen dominance in both women and men. The so-called sex hormones actually have many jobs outside the reproductive system. They, along with the adrenal- and thyroid-produced hormones, need to be kept in balance for optimum physical and emotional health. Progesterone cream can be helpful in this.

    The Mind and Body Connection

    • Your overall health has much to do with your emotional state. When you have chronic discomfort like constipation, water retention or fatigue, it can have a profound effect on your outlook. A healthy diet comprised of at least 75 percent vegetables and fruits, plenty of water and regular moderate exercise should give you the advantage in the fight against menopausal depression. Remember to get enough rest, and take time for yourself as your body changes.

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