Bipolar disorder is often treated with drugs like antidepressants or lithium. If you want to avoid such drugs, however, herbal remedies may help alleviate symptoms, which include excessively elevated or irritable moods, raised libido, rapid speech, racing thoughts, decreased need for sleep, increased activity, agitation and occasional delusions, says Ray Sahelian, M.D., author of "Mind Boosters." Bipolar disorder is sometimes called manic-depressive disorder, with your mood swings ranging from the highs of mania to the lows of depression. Mood shifts occur just few a times a year in some people and as often as several times a day in others, according to the Mayo Clinic. Use herbal remedies under the supervision of a doctor, especially if you take medicine for bipolar disorder or any other condition.
St. John's Wort
St. John's wort may help with the depression associated with bipolar disorder, according to the Mayo Clinic. It may even work as well as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), according to University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC). SSRIs are a common type of antidepressant that include citalopram, fluoxetine and sertraline. As with an SSRI, St. John's wort may make more serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine available to your brain. It may do this without causing loss of libido, which is a common side effect of SSRIs. However, use it with care because it can interact with medications, including antidepressants. It also has the potential to trigger mania in some people, according to the Mayo Clinic. Most evidence backing St. John's wort points to its effectiveness for mild to moderate, but not severe, depression, according to UMMC.
Flax
Thanks to its omega-3 fatty acids, flaxseed oil may help if you suffer with bipolar disorder. Omega-3s can improve brain function as well as depression associated with your bipolar disorder, according to the Mayo Clinic. In fact, this disorder appears less common in places in the world where people consume fish rich in omega-3s on a regular basis. Flaxseed oil contains alpha-linolenic acid, or ALA. Your body converts this into eicosapentaenoic acid, or EPA, and docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA--the omega-3s found in fish oil, according to UMMC.
Others
Choline may be helpful if you suffer from bipolar disorder, says Dr. Sahelian. Choline benefits brain health, supporting mood and memory. It converts into phosphatidylcholine, which is necessary for healthy cell membranes. Your body also needs it to make acetylcholine, a crucial brain chemical for memory. S-adenosyl-L-methionine, commonly called SAMe, also may be useful if you have bipolar disorder because it supports brain function and helps to alleviate depression, according to the Mayo Clinic. However, the jury is still out on whether SAMe provides benefits for people with bipolar disorder. As with St. John's wort, use caution with this supplement because SAMe may trigger mania in some people, say the experts at the Mayo Clinic.
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