| Natural treatments for depression entailing the use of | | | | edema. Take caution in using natural or herbal |
| herbal therapy are becoming commonplace with the | | | | treatments especially when the depressed patient is |
| onset of herbal medicine in the mainstream of medical | | | | pregnant or is planning to be pregnant soon. |
| administration. | | | | Adverse Reactions to be Expected |
| Renewed Attention To The Herbal Approach | | | | Going herbal and natural does not mean that these |
| Depression and anxiety treatments are gaining new, | | | | treatment options do not have adverse effects. |
| albeit actually traditional, grounds. Herbal medicines | | | | Moreover, mixing natural or herbal treatments for |
| used for the treatment of depression are becoming | | | | depression in combination with other antidepressants |
| widely used. For example, St. John's wort is gaining | | | | may have different adverse reactions. So take note |
| renewed and increased attention in its practical use to | | | | again if you are currently or recently have been taking |
| treat depression. Another herb, the hypericum is even | | | | pharmacological medications or substances like MAOIs |
| now beginning to overtake other pharmacological | | | | or monoamine oxidase inhibitors, SSRIs or selective |
| medications in the use for depression treatment. | | | | serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, tricyclic medications, |
| Other Herbal Supplements | | | | medications for losing weight, drugs for Parkinsons |
| There are other herbal supplements that are widely | | | | disease, barbiturates and tranquilizers, antihistamines, |
| used and gaining more preference from users and | | | | alcohol, IV drugs, and antibiotic medications. |
| depression patients. Some of these are ephedra, the | | | | Natural treatments for depression may or may have |
| ginkgo biloba, Echinacea, and even ginseng. These | | | | not undergone extensive testing and trials in clinical |
| herbal supplements, however, need to be taken into | | | | environments. Consult your doctor at all times in the |
| consideration by the doctor prescribing maybe other | | | | use of these natural treatments. These herbal |
| medications for the depression. | | | | treatments must be taken only after your doctor's |
| Make Your Doctor Aware of Your Plans | | | | evaluation and prescription. Moreover, doctor's |
| Going back on substances that are used in the natural | | | | instructions must be strictly adhered to. |
| treatment of depression, these herbal medications as | | | | Other Natural Option: Condition Yourself |
| evaluated and prescribed by your doctor may prove | | | | With self-conditioning, you teach your mind how to |
| even more safe and effective. What needs to be | | | | react to certain stressors. If you fear socializing |
| ensured, however, is that your doctor is made aware | | | | because you think you can't make eye contact during |
| if you are taking other drugs or medication as these | | | | conversations and people will regard you as untrue to |
| may have different, even dangerous, reactions with | | | | your words, condition yourself to not fear eye-to-eye |
| any herbal medicine used for depression. | | | | contact. |
| St. John's wort when taken in large doses may cause | | | | Everyday, for just five to ten minutes, tell yourself that |
| sensitivity to light and must be taken strictly in the dose | | | | failing to make eye-to-eye contact does not make you |
| and frequency prescribed. Since herbal medicines are | | | | less of a person. After months or even years of |
| not regulated by any formal government regulating | | | | conditioning yourself, you will believe what you say, that |
| body, it is always a must that prior to intake, your | | | | you are unafraid of eye-to-eye contact because you |
| doctor is made aware of the fact. | | | | have taught yourself to think so. |
| The evening primrose oil supplements the production | | | | Also, while you do conditioning, practice how to do |
| of gamma-linolenic acid, the deficiency of which has | | | | eye-to-eye contact. Do it first on your own, in the |
| been found to cause PMS (pre-menstrual syndrome), | | | | mirror. Then when you are comfortable looking straight |
| which also causes anxiety and depression in some | | | | into your eyes, ask a family member to "practice" you |
| women. There is also the 5-HTP herbal derivative that | | | | with eye-to-eye contact. |
| when taken, is converted to serotonin that controls | | | | What Is Good for You? |
| mood stages and swings. | | | | Natural treatments for depression may work for you |
| While natural treatments for depression are available, it | | | | best if the degree of your depression is still mild. |
| should always be noted by your doctor if you are | | | | However, if you are already suffering from major |
| suffering from or have a history of medical conditions | | | | depression with psychotic manifestations, natural |
| like heart diseases, Parkinsons disease, worm | | | | treatments wouldn't be sufficient; you will most |
| infections, HIV or AIDS, allergies, anorexia, myalgia, | | | | probably need medications to go with other forms of |
| neuropathy, nausea, diarrhea, anemia, hemophilia and | | | | therapy. |