What is the most effective alternative remedy for depression?

Question

I've tried exercise-that's short lasting relief, I've tried St.John's Wort- that helps, but not a lot.....

Answer 1

Aside from St. John's Wort, the most popular supplements for mood are SAMe, some B-Vitamins, GABA, Ashwagandha, and L-Theanine.
The major problem is that different people respond differently to different supplements, so it's hard to say which single one will work best for you in particular. For example, there are millions of people who get a huge benefit from St. John's Wort, and you only noticed minor benefits.
You can try any of those, and they should all help at least somewhat. Good luck!

Answer 2

I had just finished typing this same answer to another question about depression and thought it was just as fitting an answer for your question.

My recommendation is regular exercise, a good multi-vitamin/mineral supplement, Omega 3, and 5 HTP (a supplement found at health food stores).

While in the past, I have been on two different kinds of prescription anti-depressants, tried St. Johns Wort, and SAMe, nothing has come close to the results I have gotten with 5 HTP. It is inexpensive and has worked for me at a very low dose, 50mg every other day.
It has enhanced restful sleep and pretty much has alleviated any Seasonal Affective Disorder that usually plagues me as winter creeps in.

And most importantly I recommend a good support system. Someone that cares enough to not judge you while you recover from depression and is willing to take baby steps with you, offering encouragement and patience.

I wish you the very best! Take care!

Answer 3

Dear Rosalie, I've been suffering with depression, and anxiety for a long time. I had all kind of prescription medicine for that, it did not help me, i had only side effects. But I found out I have hormonal imbalance, and i wanted to go with natural remedies, and this was the best choice. I do take Valerian and Thianine pills for sleep once in a wile, , but I am a totally different person since I am using progesterone cream. Now I tried liquid form which I like it too.
http://www.womhoo.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=2
But please read this and you will be the one to make a decision.
http://www.beseen.net/womantowoman/depression.htm
http://ezinearticles.com/?Progesterone-Cream-Uses&id=405516
If you decide to go with progesterone cream, I recommend B6 too, it will balance the hormones.

Answer 4

In addition to eating more raw foods, "live" foods, and exercise, the real cure for depression is adjusting how you feel about the past and life in general. The body is responding to depression through bio-chemical reactions, and you are treating the physical symptoms with herbs exercise and other things, but the root of the problem lies in the thoughts and emotions that are causing the depression in the first place.

You can assist the process with the physical support, but really what needs to happen is to let go of the past, the desires in the future that you don't have, and be here in the now moment. I spent a lot of time being depressed, but when I spent a year policing my mind and not allowing myself to think about the past or the future, only focusing what was in front of me in every moment, suddenly life got a lot better and I wasn't recreating unhappy circumstances because I was no longer resonating in an emotional low-state.

Check out this free course called Emotional Well Being, it helped me a lot when I read it. http://www.ucmeta.org/Pages/Articles/Emotional%20Well%20Being/DIREmotionThoughtIntelligenceHealth.html and I took the course at http://umsonline.org/MetaphysicalDegreesCourses/BachelorsDegreeCourseDescriptions.htm#EmotionalWellBeing

Answer 5

Before a good doctor will treat depression he/she would try to find the cause of depression. "Key to proper treatment is proper diagnosis". There are several causes of depression and the proper treatment at times is not even some what near the usual antidepressant medications and or psychotherapy etc. It is important to discuss with your doctor and seek his/her guidance for referral to appropriate specialist. The best thing one can do is to seek expert help at the earliest and stop self medication including herbs. Seasons greetings and best wishes

Answer 6

Homeopathic Remedies for Anxiety / Panic Attacks / Stress / Depression(Bereavment) / Mood Swings (Totally safe, without any side effects or complications of any sort) :-

ANXIETY / PANIC ATTACKS & STRESS :-

Sudden with restlessness and fear of death, Panic Attacks, Aconite 30X or 200X,1/2 hourly (3 Doses)

Prolonged with periodic and panic attacks Arsenic Alb.200X, 4 hourly (3 Doses)

With fainting spells; profuse sweating; worse in the morning Sulphur 30X or 200X 3 hourly (3 Doses)

Makes patient walk fast; due to anticipation Argentum Nit 200X, 3 hourly (3 Doses)

Worse lying in bed and closing the eyes Carbo Veg 30X or 200X, 4 hourly (6 Doses)

Anxiety aggravated by upward or downward motion; going in an elevator; worse till 11 P.M, Borax 200X or 1M, 3 hourly (3 Doses)

Anxious about business even when seriously ill Bryonia Alba 200X 3 hourly (3 Doses)

Full of apprehensions in the evening Causticum 200X, 3 hourly (3 Doses)

Anxiety and fears in the evening with restlessness and palpitation Calcarea Carb.200X or 1M, 3 hourly (3 Doses)

Anxiety worse while lying still. Sad music ameliorates the complaints Manganum Acet 200X 3 hourly (3 Doses)

Anxiety due to fright, fear,exciting news; stage fright; worse while appearing for examination or interview etc Gelsemium 30X or 200X 3 hourly (6 Doses)

Mood Swings, Anxiety due to grief or shock in the subconscious mind Ignatia 200X or 1M, 3 hourly (3 Doses)

Anxiety; better after eating Anacardium Or 30X, 4 hourly.

DEPRESSION & GRIEF(Bereavement) :-

Severe shock due to sudden death of loved ones; restlessness, anxiety and fear Aconite 200X. 10 min (3 Doses)

Prolonged mournings; cannot overcome the loss of loved ones and/or Mood Swings. Ignatia 1M or 10M, 6 hourly (3 Doses)

When the grief is in the conscious mind; patient weeps; does not like sympathy Natrum Mur.200X or 1M, 6 hourly (3 Doses)

For chronic grief and indignation Staphysagria 200X or 1M, weekly (3 Doses)

Depression with suicidal thoughts feeling of worthlessness, Aurum Met 30X, three times a day half hour before meals.


Take the remedy which is similar to your symptoms. No side effects or complications if taken as directed, please do not exceed the given dosage and under any circumstances do not try to mix any remedies and avoid Chocolates, Mints, Coffee, Red Meat, Alcoholic and Carbonated drinks, Spicy Rich Food while taking any Homeopathic remedies, and keep the medicines away from direct sunlight, heat strong smells and perfumes and do not store them in the fridge.
Curing without any side effects or Complications Thats the Beauty of Homeopathic Medicine (Cures Par Excellence)

Take Care and God Bless you.

Answer 7

I don't think just one remedy is going to help. You may have to try a combination of things. Continuing to exercise and eat right should help a lot, but try to add other things like massage therapy (works wonders) or CranioSacral therapy.

Answer 8

A good therapist or psychaitrist or psychologist can help, just talk to someone who is trained to deal with this and it will surly help!