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Natural Herbs for Major Depression

Many drugs prescribed to major depression sufferers have unpleasant side effects. For this reason, many sufferers turn to natural herbs to help regulate their mood and alleviate their symptoms. If you are looking to treat your depression naturally, consult your current physician as well as an alternative medicine practitioner to find out if these herbs may work for you. Do not stop your current medication against the advice of your physician.

  1. Ginseng

    • Natural medicine practitioners often prescribe ginseng for major depression sufferers because it helps to regulate the body's response to stress by balancing the levels of serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine and epinephrine in the brain. It also gives the body energy, which helps to combat the fatigue and listlessness that are often side effects of major depression.

    Valerian Root

    • Insomnia and anxiety often accompany major depression. When taken daily, valerian root not only combats depression, it also treats insomnia and reduces stress-related anxiety. Some people, however, experience an adverse reaction to valerian root, which then causes anxiety. Furthermore, taking Valerian root in too large a dose or for too long a time (more than a few weeks) can be dangerous. Be sure to consult your natural medicine practitioner before taking valerian root.

    Damiana (turnera diffusa)

    • Since many antidepressants prescribed to major depression sufferers lower their sex drives, homeopathic doctors often prescribe daily doses of damiana to increase sexual function as well as to help regulate the mood of major depression sufferers. While this herb is less known in the United States, it is frequently used in Germany and Netherlands to increase libido as well as alleviate depression and reduce anxiety.

    St. John's Wort (hypericum perforatum)

    • More than 20 controlled clinical trials have demonstrated that St. John's Wort can help to relieve the symptoms of depression. These trials include a 2008 trial by the Center for Complementary Medicine that found that St. John's Wort was just as effective in treating mild-to-moderate depression as selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

      St. John's Wort, however, can adversely affect many of the medications prescribed to major depression sufferers. Furthermore, if you plan to replace your medication with St. John's Wort (after consulting your physician), be advised that the herb can take up to two months to become effective.

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