Natural Herbs for Depression: Treatments and Remedies

According to the National Institute of Mental Health nearly 15 million people suffer from depression. The drug industry is taking advantage of these statistics by offering over the counter drugs that may be harmful to your health. If you or someone you know suffers from depression you need to know that there are other treatments for depression that won't harm your body the way over the counter drugs can. If you are looking into using Natural Herbs for Depression then you need to know that what you are going to purchase will actually work. Try these 5 Natural Herbs for Depression the next time you are feeling blue.

1. St. Johns Wort. St. Johns Wort is probably the longest used herbal remedy for depression. St. Johns Wort can also used to treat those who are overly worrisome, have sleep problems, and sadness. According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative medicine clinical trials of St. Johns Wort are showing that using St. Johns Wort has proven to be as effective as a placebo and works with mild to moderate depression. Side effects of St. Johns Wort may include dizziness, dry mouth, and fatigue. Pregnant or nursing women should not use St. Johns Wort.

2. Ginkgo Biloba. Ginkgo Biloba has been found to be effective in the treatment of depression especially in the elderly. Ginkgo Biloba improves cerebral circulation and has the added side effect of improving memory. According to holisticonline.com Ginkgo Biloba Extract has been shown to be effective when using 120-160 mg twice daily. Side effects of Ginkgo Biloba may include diarrhea and irritability. As with all herbal remedies make sure and consult with your doctor before taking.

3. Albizzia. Albizzia is a traditional Chinese medicine that has been proven effective in relieving minor to moderate depression. Albizzia is made from the bark of the Mimosa tree and according to Acupuncture.com is effective in treatment of irritability brought on by bad tempers. Albizzia is still in the early phases of development but initial results seem promising. Make sure and do plenty of research and consult with your doctor before attempting to use Albizzia as a self treatment for depression.

4. Caffeine. Yes your coffee can help you in the relief of depression. According to the book "The Caffeine Advantage" by Bennet Alan Weinberg, Caffeine has repeatedly been proven to have the effect of relieving mood by providing energy. Caffeine can also decrease pain and cause weight loss when taken in the right dosage. Side effects include insomnia and restlessness. As with every natural remedy to much caffeine can cause negative side effectst. Consult a doctor before drinking to much coffee or taking caffeine supplements.

5. SAMe. According to biopsychiatry.com SAMe has shown promise as an up and coming herbal treatment for depression. SAMe is a chemical found in every cell within your body and has found to be very effective in the treatment of depression. SAMe is thought to work by increasing the production of norepinephrine and serotonin. SAMe has been found to work extremely quick and has even been shown to be safe for women who are pregnant, but you should still consult your doctor before beginning treatment. At this time SAMe has no known side effects but research continues.

All of these natural herbs for depression should be thoroughly researched for side effects before you begin treatment and you should consult a doctor for more information.