Depression is a condition that affects practically all human being minimum once in his/her life. It ranges from mild to serious. Signs can vary from the not-so-critical feeling of sadness and anxiousness, often called "the blues", to the more life-threatening thoughts of suicide and suicide tries. Other symptoms include loss of interest in everyday activities including sex, feelings of insignificance and guilt, too much changes in hunger & weight, complexity in concentrating and remembering, fatigue and lethargy.
Experts know from experience that depression can be cured. The key thing is to recognize the symptoms and seek expert assistance as soon as possible. Most of the depression experts, apart from counseling, prescribe anti-depressant medicines like Prozac. However, these almost always have side effects that may trigger any other problems like insomnia and anxiety. These days, therefore, more people prefer organic herbal supplements over pharmaceutical medicines.
The most admired herb that's used to treat depression is St. John's Wort. It is a plant with yellow flowers that have lots of chemical compounds including hypericin and hyperforin. For centuries, this plant has been used for mental and other health disorders. Recent studies show that St. John's Wort is efficient for mild to moderate depression, as it improves sleep and feelings of well-being. It likewise is non-addictive and doesn't show any major negative effects. St. John's Worts are sold as capsules, tablets, dried teas & liquid extracts.
One more accepted herb for the treatment of depression is kava-kava, a shrub that belongs to the pepper family. Found mainly in the Pacific, the roots of this plant have been used historically for sedating and treating anxiety. More recently, even the stems and leaves are used, though there have been indications of negative effects affecting the liver, specially hepatitis and cirrhosis. It's always suggested to take kava-kava under close supervision by a doctor. Children, pregnant women, persons with liver disorders and those with history of alcohol consumption aren't advised to take kava-kava.
Passionflower is also used to cure mild depression. Native to the USA, with a number of species in Asia, South America and Australia, this perennial vine has been called a calming herb since ancient times. It's believed to aid lower the activity of some brain cells, thus it makes a person relaxed and calm. However, since it is always combined with other herbs like valerian and lemon balm, there's no known effect of passionflower if taken alone. Likewise, its negative effects are inconclusive. It's available in the form of teas, fluid extracts and tinctures.
Other efficient herbal supplements for the treatment of depression are: 5 HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan), an amino acid that's known to improve a person's mood in just a couple of days without any major side effects; SAM-e or S-adenosylmethionine, another amino acid that helps normalize liver function apart from its antidepressant properties; Ginseng, an herb grown in some parts of Asia and is proven to increase energy and vitality; Ginkgo or Ginkgo Biloba, a plant whose leaf extract works well in improving the social behavior of the elderly.
Overall, all the above herbal supplements have their own merits. Appropriate doses with professional medical supervision will aid alleviate the symptoms of depression, particularly if still within the mild and moderate levels.
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