Herbal Remedies For Feeling Depressed & Low

Herbal remedies may act as effective alternatives or supplements to traditional treatment for depression, though it is important to note that self-treatment has its risks. Herbal remedies for depression can cause undesirable side-effects, and since the efficacy of these treatments depends on correct usage, proper dosage and an accurate diagnosis, consulting a mental-health professional before taking herbal medications is paramount to both safety and success.

St. John's Wort

The ancient Greeks recognized the medicinal value of Hypericum perforatum--St. John's wort--more than 2,400 years ago, when the physician Pedanius Dioscorides extolled its virtues. Today, the plant's properties have made it a popular choice as an herbal treatment for depression.
St. John's wort works by inhibiting re-uptake of the neurotransmitters dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine. These are the brain chemicals involved in regulating mood.
While a reasonable amount of evidence supports the use of St. John's wort for mild and moderate depression, a study in the April 2002 Journal of the American Medical Association found that the plant may be no more effective than placebo in treating moderate or severe major depression. If you suffer from major depression, speak to a mental health care professional about alternative treatments.
When taking St. John's wort, look for products that are standardized to hypericin, one of the plant's depression-fighting components. The Tang Center for Herbal Medicine Research suggests taking .2 to 1 mg of hypericin per day.

S-Adenosyl-L-Methionine

S-adenosyl-L-methionine, which is also known as SAMe, is a natural amino acid that your body uses when breaking down mood-regulating brain chemicals including melatonin, dopamine and serotonin.
A study prepared for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services by the Southern California Evidence-Based Practice Center concluded that SAMe is more effective than placebo in treating depression.
Since no foods contain SAMe--it is something your body naturally produces--you can take it in pill or tablet form. The University of Maryland Medical Center recommends taking enteric-coated tablets and beginning with a low dose of around 200 mg a day, along with folic acid, B12, trimethylglycine and methionine. These supplements will help your body absorb SAMe. UMMC also recommends that you work your way up from 200 mg to 800 or 1600 mg of SAMe per day, divided into two doses. Avoid taking it in the evening, since SAMe may affect your ability to sleep.
Common side effects include diarrhea, anxiety, headache, insomnia, mania and dry mouth. Do not take this supplement if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, diagnosed with bipolar disorder or on other antidepressants.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Your body and brain need omega-3 fatty acids to function properly. Since your body cannot produce omega-3 fatty acids on its own, you must gain the necessary nutrients by eating tuna, algae, salmon, halibut and other seafoods that are rich sources of essential fatty acids.
Not having enough omega-3 fatty acids in your diet or having an imbalance between omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids may lead to increased risk of depression. A study published in Psychosomatic Medicine and conducted by The Ohio State University's Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research found that people with more omega-6 fatty acids than omega-3 reported increased problems with depression.
The University of Maryland Medical Center recommends increasing your omega-3 fatty acid intake in conjunction with regular treatment for depression. UMMC also stresses that you should not take more than three grams of omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil capsules a day. Children should gain their nutrients through eating a healthy, omega-3- rich diet rather than through fish oil supplements. Pregnant women should avoid fish oil supplements and fish that contain mercury.