Depression can be a debilitating illness, and treating depression can be almost as debilitating. Antidepressants, while generally effective, come with a long list of side effects, particularly at the start of treatment. These include worsened depression, headache, muscle aches, constipation, nausea, insomnia and sexual difficulties. If you're suffering from mild to moderate depression and looking for an alternative to conventional antidepressants, then one of these more natural over-the-counter supplements may work for you. Caution and physician supervision are recommended when making any changes to your medication or treatment plan.
St. John's Wort
St. John's wort is an herb that is used in Europe for treating depression. According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, while St. John's wort has shown little benefit in treating major depression, it has shown evidence of being effective at treating minor depression, a milder form of the illness. The benefits of St. John's wort in treating minor depression have been compared to the effect of standard antidepressants. St. John's wort shouldn't be taken along with antidepressants because of the risk of adverse affects or drug interaction. Consult your physician before supplementing with St. John's wort because it may reduce the effectiveness of certain medications, including blood thinners, birth control pills and HIV medications. Some side effects of St. John's wort include dry mouth, nausea, diarrhea and increased sensitivity to sunlight. Capsules can be purchased at many drugstores and pharmacies.
SAM-e
S-Adenosyl methionine, or SAM-e (pronounced "sammy"), is a naturally occurring molecule in all mammal cells. According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 28 studies on the efficacy of SAM-e in treating depression showed that SAM-e showed improvement over placebo after three weeks of treating, signifying at least a partial response to treatment. Treatment with SAM-e when compared to conventional antidepressant therapy showed no significant difference in data. While SAM-e may be effective at treating depression for some, finding a full strength SAM-e supplement and the correct dosage for your depression may be difficult. According to the BioPsychiatry website, to effectively treat depression, it may take up to 1600 mg daily, but starting at 400 mg daily and titrating up is recommended. The most common side effect is mild nausea. You can find SAM-e at many drugstores and pharmacies near the vitamins and other supplements.
5-HTP
The over-the-counter supplement 5-hydroxytryptophan, or 5-HTP, is derived from the Griffonia simplicifolia plant found in Africa. It is also a naturally occurring chemical in the human body. 5-HTP increases the chemical serotonin in the brain, which controls mood, appetite and sleep. Discuss with your physician before supplementing with 5-HTP, because it shouldn't be taken with antidepressants due to the increased risk of serotonin syndrome, a possibly fatal condition in which the body creates too much serotonin. Additionally, certain 5-HTP products may produce eosinophilia myalgia syndrome, a condition marked with severe muscle pain as well as a high white blood cell count, so caution is recommended if you choose to supplement with 5-HTP. It can be found over-the-counter in pill form in the vitamins and supplements section of many drugstores.
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ClaraHNS1 July 12
In addition to the Seratonin supplements mentioned by in this article, readers may also want to consider Alegria Del Campo (Scutellaria Coccinea), a South American plant used by indigenous tribes for decades to treat mental health issues. This potent natural antidepressant acts of the neurotransmitter seratonin, which influences moods and emotions helping people combat depression and lack of motivation.
Although its use its not intended to replace a conventional antidepressant drug, it may be used as a complementary supplement in the treatment of depression.
Alegria Plus is a great source of Scutellaria and also Sage, a central nervous system tonic.
This natural supplement manufactured by LabFarve, a prominent South American Laboratory, may be purchased at healthandnatureshop.com