Alternative Medicine | Herbal Depression Treatment

Depression is a word covering a multitude of mental or emotional states, ranging all the way from a mild and passing gloom to a state of deep and chronic unhappiness. Acute sufferers often seem to have withdrawn from life itself and need expert help, fast.

A number of nutritional deficiencies can produce depression as a symptom. A recent study at Reading University has found that depression may be due to a deficiency of zinc, and often responds to zinc supplementation with dramatic speed. Deficiencies both of zinc and of vitamin B may be responsible for many cases of postnatal depression, as well. Some women on the pill suffer a vitamin B6 deficiency: taking a good supplement and boosting your all around intake of the B vitamins in your diet - wholegrains, meat, fish, beans, vegetables - can often solve

Depression Can Be Caused By Vitamin Deficiencies:

Herbal Depression Treatment:

Millions of dollars worth of tranquillizers and anti-depressant drugs are prescribed annually for the victims of depression. But almost anything that tranquillizers can do, herbs have for centuries done better, or at least as well, and they have the added merit of being safe and non-addictive medicines. They work by soothing away tensions and nourishing, toning, and strengthening the nervous system. Amazingly, some of the most effective are among the mildest: Chamomile, Lemon Balm and Catnip are all herbs you can safely give to children when they are feverish, upset, or out of sorts, while oats - real nerve food - can be among the first cereals a baby eats when it switches to solid food. Valerian and Vervain are other gentle, effective tranquillizers. If you suffer from severe or chronic depression, seek expert help. For milder forms of depression, try one of the following remedies:

A wide range of herbs that help with mild depression are available in teabag form: among them Angelica, Fennel, Blackcurrent, Lime Flowers, and Chamomile.

this problem. Deficiencies of magnesium, iron and folic acid are other possible depression triggers. Deficiencies in all three can be induced by even moderate alcohol consumption - which also depletes other vital B vitamins and essential fatty acids as well as zinc. So, try to cut out alcohol and you may see an improvement.

Above: St John's Wort Is A Popular Herbal Depression Treatment.

Vervain seems almost specifically designed for post-flu depression: infuse 1 teaspoonful or a teabag in a cupful of boiling water, and drink 3 times a day. St John's Wort is a very popular herbal depression treatment. See the St John's Wort page for details. Oats are excellent for depression after an illness, since they're nourishing as well as tonic to the nerves. You can make a thin porridge of them, adding honey or raisins to sweeten it.

Alternative Medicine For Depression:

Postnatal Herbal Depression Treatment:

See the Postnatal Depression page.

More information about depression treatments.

Acupressure For Depression:

Acupressure can also be an effective treatment for depression. See the acupressure for depression pages for more information.