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What Natural Herbs Will Decrease Depression?

According to the CDC, depression, whether mild or chronic and severe, affects one in five people in the United States. The best treatments involve therapy and medication combinations. Some patients may seek out natural remedies; some remedies are clinically supported, whereas others have only anecdotal support.

  1. St. John's Wort

    • St. John's wort has experienced enormous marketing popularity as an antidepressant herb and is available prepared in capsules, tablets and powders. According to the National Institutes of Health, an evaluation of 37 trials of St. John's wort showed low success of the herb on depression, with better effects on mild depression than on more severe types. Although St. John's wort has been studied extensively, accurate information about active ingredients and consistency among standardized products are lacking. In addition, St. John's wort can worsen side effects of prescription antidepressants and can cause decreased levels of heart and lung medications like digoxin and theophylline.

    Lavender

    • Lavender

      Lavender is an herb often used to enhance relaxation and to provide relief of headache; lavender also has cleansing properties. Since at least the the late 20th century, though, lavender (as tea or as essential oil inhalation or skin application) has been used to treat depression and related mental health disorders. Although there are no studies to support this use, lavender is generally considered safe for adults when used as directed for each type of preparation; side effects, if any, are typically mild.

    Valerian

    • Like lavender, valerian is an herb used for relaxation and to reduce anxiety; its most common use is to induce sleep. Valerian has also been used in the 21st century to treat depression, in part because of its effect of improving anxiety. Valerian is available as a tea, capsule or tablet and is considered safe with few side effects. However, no clinical studies are currently available to support the use of valerian for depression.

    Recent Research

    • A variety of Chinese herbs are being studied in controlled trials to identify potential antidepressant use. One example is a study of magnolia bark and ginger root, which are used anecdotally in traditional Chinese medicine. In the June 15, 2009, issue of "Progress in Neuropsychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry," researcher LT Yi and colleagues reported that active ingredients in these two herbs caused increased serotonin and norepinephrine in the bodies of mice, and the latter increase was greater with the combination than with either herb alone. This early study supports the anti-depression activity in these herbs and continued study in people.

    Cautions

    • As with any medications (i.e., herbs, over-the-counter drugs or prescriptions), ask a doctor about side effects or other body changes when taking a drug. Also remember that herbs are drugs that can interact with any other medication and that marketed products are not required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to provide accurate health information, such as benefit claims or active ingredient amounts.

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