Are there any natural remedies like herbs or alternative medicine for depression?

Answer 1

The most popular things that can help with stress and relaxation are St. John's Wart, SAMe, some B-Vitamins, GABA, Ashwagandha, and L-Theanine

Answer 2

Several.

St. John's Wort is the most common herb recommended. However a recent study found it relieved depression no better than a placebo. Kava kava has found to be effective but can have side effects.

A less known herb, Rhodiola rosea is receiving some attention for boosting serotonin levels and alleviating depression.

Walking and moderate exercise will increase endorphin levels (feel good opiate like biochemicals in the body) and have also been found to increase serotonin levels. Be aware the strenuous exercise may run the risk of exacerbating depression.

A truly "natural remedy" is being with other people, which may relieve depression for some.

Acupuncture has been found to be effective for depression in some cases.

Homeopathy will work with the underlying cause of your depression -- but may take a long time to get to the depression itself.

A light box -- "Light therapy" has helped people with depression stemming from Seasonal Sffective Disorder.(SAD)

Meditation may have some effect on depression.

For some people, grieving may alleviate depression, In other words, if your depression comes from attempting to suppress emotions, allowing them to surface and be expressed may help to resolve the depression.

Answer 3

Take a half an hour walk wearing some winter clothes to a rent a DVD shop and rent a comedy, buy some popcorn, walk back home, take a shower, turn on the TV and the DVD player, relax, watch the film and laught as much as you can. Finally think that the day after you'll find the best solution for what is bothering you now, and if not take the second walk and the second comedy film, one day you'll be free.

Answer 4

5HTP

I recommend it because that is what I take, and it literally pulls me out of suicidal episodes within 15 minutes of taking it. It has saved my life countless times and I know it has done the same for many many other people. It is not a supplement that is recommended for people with Irritable Bowel Syndrome unless it is formulated in a special way to avoid triggering an IBS attack. I have IBS, so I take a supplement called Mood Sync which has the 5HTP blended with other supplements which keep me from having digestive side effects from it. I wouldn't try using it unless under the guidance of a health professional.

Edit: Also, I want to comment on what people are saying about chocolate. I use milk chocolate (dark chocolate is too strong for me) as a way of self medicating when my stomach is bothering me, and I don't want to take a chance with even taking the Mood Sync. Milk chocolate can not only bring me out of a depression, but it also helps me to relax enough to fall asleep. Lots of people with depression have a hard time falling asleep or staying asleep. Not everybody reacts well to chocolate, but people without an allergy or sensitivity to it may definitely want to try it to temporarily curb the symptoms of depression.

Answer 5

Natural remedy is only one, and that is, step up your spiritual understanding.

There is no answer to depression by medicines or herbs.

Edit

One can feel painless while being operated due to anaesthesia, but to think that anaesthesia is a cure to pains is not correct.

Similarly avoiding depression with stimulation is possible, but are we considering that as an option?

Answer 6

Try this first. http://www.facebook.com/notes.php?id=647347682 Also, chek My Profile on facebook blog.

If it doesn't work, because it's a sort of inner power touching bypassing the brain that needs an instructor near by and a kind of nature-based product to go along, come to my place, stay with my family for 5-7 days.

Answer 7

For me, diet made a big difference. It turns out I am sensitive to salicylates in foods (cause insomnia) and also amines (cause depression, irritability). You can learn more about this at http://www.fedupwithfoodadditives.info

In addition to diet, doing a course at TAFE (tech college) also really helped me, because of the routine, the exercise of getting there, and the chance to interact with people.

Crystal therapy also helped me, as did Pulsatilla, a homoeopathic remedy.

Chocolate is VERY bad for depression. It lifts you for 15 minutes or so, but creates a cycle that actually makes depression worse for those who are sensitive, as it is high in amines.

Regularly take a multivitamin (particular attention to magnesium and B vitamins). I take a mutli-vitamin which also contains gingko biloba (nerve tonic), oats (nerve tonic) and passionflower (relaxant). It makes a HUGE difference to my ability to cope with stress.

Oh... Prayer is not medicine, but it really helped me, too. Try praying every day for specific things, such as help to feel more faith, help to be calm, or help to overcome your depression.

Answer 8

yes, there is.
Best ways to beat depression is Diet, Exercise, Supplements or Therapy.

Its essential to get the B-complex vitamins, since they work together to balance proper brain functioning.
Fatty acids, such Omega-6, Omega-3.
Magnesium and herbal extracts such:
St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum in Latin) is a long-living plant with yellow flowers. It contains many chemical compounds.

Answer 9

St. Johns Wort really can do wonders. Getting a monthly vitamin B-12 injection helps a lot for me(the injection isn't necessary, you can get it other ways).
And my favorite... chocolate! Theobromine is an incredible drug when you're going through periods of depression.

Answer 10

I used St. John's Wort and Ginko biloba and drank one cup of green tea every day. It got be to the point where I began to workout again and now I'm doing my dance workouts and yoga and I revised my diet so I'm eating much healthier. I feel great now.

Answer 11

Hey, in the state of California your doctor could prescribe you Medical Marijuana for yoru depression. There is a reason the hippies seemed so happy back in the 60's.

Obviously smoking is questionable for health reasons.

For a case like yours I would suggest consuming cannabis compounds in the form of food, such as a cookie. All are located at Medical Marijuana Dispensaries in California for those suffering from such ailments.

It is definitely alternative medicine and only legal in 12 states in the Union.

Medical Marijuana is the Safest Medicine Known to Man

read about it at this Museum link