Serious health complications can result from taking antidepressants Medical studies have revealed findings that taking prescription antidepressants could be linked to serious health conditions such as coronary diseases and diabetes. There are even reported cases where people who did not have existing heart ailments prior to taking antidepressants have suddenly suffered fatal cardiac arrests. Other fatal effects of taking some of these antidepressants could also spread to the liver and the kidneys. Alarmed by these findings, medical practitioners have been increasingly shifting to psychotherapy and therapies using herbs for depression treatment. That’s right, doctors are now recommending herbs for depression. These herbs for depression treatment has steadily gained popularity over the past years.
Experiencing clinical depression is not a dangerous illness on its own. It is a condition wherein a person’s physical, mental, emotional, and social faculties are hampered by unexplained feelings of weakness, sadness, hopelessness, and others. Feeling this condition whether from time to time or regularly is something that medical practitioners consider as chronic in nature that needs to be treated over the long-term. Different people can experience depression in varying intensities. The symptoms and the way the major depressive disorder can manifest itself would likewise differ from one person to another. Consulting a medical professional should be the first step that anyone who suspects that he might be suffering from clinical depression in order to get the right treatment.
With the variety of herbs for depression treatment that are prescribed by medical practitioners, here are some of the most common herbs that have been proven to work for the treatment of depression:
1. St. John’s Wort is one of the most extensively used herbs for the treatment of depression. This herb, also known as hypericum perforatum, has been used for centuries all over the world. In the United States, this herb is used in pills and tea bags as dietary supplements. Serotonin, a neurotransmitter in the brain responsible for mood enhancement, is known to be incresed with the use of St. John’s Wort.
2. Another herb that is often included in depression formulations is the Valerian Root or valerian officinalis. Those who are suffering from insomnia as part of their clinical depression are recommended to take formulations with Valerian root extract. Valerian root, however, is only recommended to be taken for periods up to six weeks. Valerian root supplements come in pill form.
3. Hops, despite its potentially aggravating effects, are also used in herbal depression formulations along with a host of mood enhancer herbs. The stress and tension relieving properties of hops are good for reducing the irritability in people who are depressed. Hops have also been found to fight insomnia.
4. Perhaps another one of the more popular herbs in supplements and energy drinks is ginseng. It is a proven stress buster and energy booster. Common herbal depression treatments that contain ginseng come in teas, pills, and juices.
The list of herbs for depression treatment is long. Kava kava and Gingko biloba for depression are two examples. Other alternative treatment methods aside from psychotherapy are also available. As there are differences to the way that clinical depression manifests itself and the causes of clinical depression, the right treatment could only be prescribed after consultation with your doctor. Anyone suffering from depression should not take any medications, whether herbal or not, without the supervision of his doctor.