Alternative Natural Cures for Bipolar Disorder

Although it is highly recommended that you take some sort of medication to help manage your bipolar disorder, many do not feel comfortable with this idea. If you are one of these people there are many ways you can attempt to manage your moods without the use of prescription drugs.

Vitamin Supplements and Herbal Remedies

• There are many vitamins and herbs recommended for the treatment of bipolar disorder. St. John's Wort has been approved for use in treating depression and related disorders. Each of the components of Vitamin B complex work together to promote healthy brain function and are used to treat bipolar disorder as well. Ginkgo Biloba has been used in Chinese medicine to help with disorders that effect the brain. It's effectiveness has not been confirmed, but it is often used to treat bipolar disorder as well.

Mind-Body Medicine

• Mind-body medicine is a form of holistic medicine that involves the connection between the mind and the body. This type of work is meant not only to help improve your mental health, but your physical health as well. One type is known as Hypnotherapy which is a type of hypnosis meant to be used for healing purposes. It is used to treat a variety of mental and physical ailments including bipolar disorder. Writing is another form mind-body medicine which not only can help you track your moods and help reduce stress. Meditation is known for helping stabilize moods which makes is useful for those suffering from bipolar disorder.

Self-Management Strategies

• In his book, "The Bipolar Disorder Survival Guide", Miklowitz identifies four self-management strategies that can help you manage your bipolar disorder. The first is to track your moods on a mood chart. Keeping a record of your moods can help you find triggers to your moods and help you identify when you are about to have another episode. In a sense it should also be a mini diary outlining the day's events and your moods to help identify any triggers.

  The second self-management strategy is to maintain a regular routine and sleep and wake cycles. This means first of all that you should go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, even weekends. You should also keep your work, exercise, school and any other activities at the same time every day. Maintaining a regular schedule is important to helping stabilize your moods.

  The next two strategies include avoiding alcohol and other mood altering substances. Even if these substances appear to help they can actually deepen your depression and cause your moods to cycle more rapidly. The final strategy is to develop and maintain social supports. This means to have a group of people that you spend time with regularly. This can mean family or co-workers. Having social supports can help keep your moods more stable.