Mental Health Weight Loss Diet Nutrition Tips Guide

Mental Health Treatments With Herbs

By Veronica Tripplethorn

Preserving your mental health is as important as caring for your physical health. While everyone may get a case of the blues periodically, some people suffer from stronger cases of depression. If you don’t want to use prescription antidepressants, you can choose a natural alternative.

Clinical trials have shown that some herbal medicines are effective in treating moderate cases of depression. St. John’s wort is the herb most people are familiar with for treating mental health. This herb has long been used in folk medicine for sadness, worry, nervousness and poor sleep. Dozens of clinical trials suggest that St. John’s wort can be as effective as antidepressants for mild to moderate depression but has fewer side effects.

St John’s Wort May Interfere With Prescription Drugs

However, it should not be used for treating cases of major depression. It comes in a variety of forms such as capsules, tablets, liquid herbal extracts or herbal teas. Like traditional antidepressants, St. John’s wort has a cumulative effect, so it may take 4 to 6 weeks to notice the full effects. However, this herb should be taken with care because of its active ingredient.

St. John’s wort can interfere with the effectiveness of prescription and over-the-counter drugs, such as antidepressants, drugs to treat HIV infections and AIDs, drugs to prevent organ rejection for transplant patients, and oral contraceptives.

Ginkgo Is Another Herb For Depression

Ginkgo is one of the natural herbal remedies for depression that improves blood flow through the brain. This appears to have helped many people regain mental acuity and improve mood. It may also be useful for memory loss, vertigo, tinnitus, disorientation and headaches.

Ginkgo’s antioxidant effects may also inhibit platelet stickiness, which can decrease the risk of circulatory diseases, such as atherosclerosis. Ginkgo is not as effective as St. John’s wort for depression, but it can be taken along with other herbs and nutrients to bolster one’s overall mood.

However, it also has side effects including diarrhea and irritability. Because Gingko biloba also increases the level of glucose and ATP within the body’s cells, it should not be taken by people with diabetes.

Caffeine Can Improve Mood

There are a number of other herbal remedies for depression that aren’t as effective as St. John’s wort but do provide some relief of symptoms. For coffee lovers, caffeine can improve mood, decrease pain, and cause weight loss in some patients. However, most of us are aware that too much caffeine can result in insomnia and irritability.

Valerian root is helpful to those who suffer from insomnia because of depression. Valerian root acts as a sedative, calming the nerves and reducing headaches. Lemon balm, used as a herbal tea, has been found to lighten depression. It helps relieve tension and stress, and is easy to grow and have regularly as a home remedy. Gingko can also be taken in an herbal tea form.

Consult A Doctor Before Taking Herbal Remedies

There’s no denying that relaxing with a fragrant cup of herbal tea at the end of a long day is enjoyable. Once you have consulted a doctor to make sure herbs are safe for you, this form of therapy can be a soothing way to treat depression, stress and anxiety. You can review your options and use a combination of herbal therapies to combat the detrimental effects of these conditions.

Add some dried mint leaves to your bathwater, enjoy the scent of lavender oil at your desk at work, or slip some rosemary into your pillowcase for sweet dreams. There are many natural ways to improve your quality of life and your mental health, so educate yourself and enjoy the healing quality of herbs.

This Article was about Mental Health.

Please Note: All information given on this site is for general information purposes and is not to replace any medical opinion or medical diagnosis given by a qualified medical doctor, a dietitian/nutritional expert or any other medical expert, as individual circumstances may vary. Please see your medical doctor, before any action is taken to alleviate symptoms.

About the Author:
Veronica Tripplethorn is an author of health, nutrition, dieting and weight loss articles including Celiac Disease, Holistic Health, Hollywood 48-Hour Miracle Diet, Massage Therapy.
Keep a lookout for more of her articles coming soon.

More Facts About Herbs...

How should I store my herbs after I have them?
If you are buying fresh herbs and plan to use them fairly soon, you want to wash them thoroughly, wrap them in a damp paper towel and then store them in a Ziploc bag in your refrigerator. If you are buying a dried herb you need to store it in a cool, dry place. The ideal container will be airtight.

The one place you definitely do not want to store your herbs is over the stove in a cabinet. The heat from the stove will deteriorate the herb and it will lose its flavor far quicker than if you stored it in a pantry.