Saturday, December 31, 2011

Alternative Treatments For Depression

By Aleen Wilker


Depression is a serious health problem that requires prompt attention, but many people are reluctant to take medication to treat it. Their wariness is understandable. Lots of medication even anti-depressants can cause side effects, particularly when misused. Natural treatments for depression is the focus of this article.

Exercising aids in the release of endorphins into the body, a neurotransmitter that is associated with the boosting of one's mood. Your condition can benefit greatly from holistic treatments like yoga and acupuncture.

Getting rid of depression for good can be possible when you reduce stress. Getting a hobby, meditating, and getting enough sleep are some of the things that you can do to reduce anxiety and relieve depression. The kinds of food that you eat can also affect your depression.

A herbal anti-depressant includes Hypericum perforatum, better known as St Johns Wort, which has the same results with less side effects. It is capable of removing one's anxiety, stress, insomnia and melancholia and also helps in changing mood. St Johns wort helps reduce the impact of depression. It is easy to find this substance in many forms at health food stores.

Studies have shown that individuals who have a higher dietary intake of Omega-3 fatty acids are less likely to suffer from depression compared to those who have minimal intake of this nutrient. Omega-3 fatty acids can be gotten primarily from fish and fish oil supplements. Beans, fortified grains, fruits and green leafy vegetables are rich in folic acid, an important constituent of Vitamin B. Some studies have indicated that people who suffer from depression have insufficient levels of folic acid, the condition is often be counteracted by whole food that have high levels of this particular vitamin.

Omit high levels of sugar, alcohol and caffeine - Alcohol and caffeine can interfere with the mood, therefore can worsen depression. Sugary food provides a temporary mood boost, but a sugar crash that can worsen depression more than before. Get rid of sugar, alcohol and caffeine to improve this.

Herbal medicines can still cause side effects if you are sensitive to the ingredients. St. John's wort, for example, has the potential to give you an upset stomach or dizziness. It is advisable to check in with your physician prior to trying a natural remedy to cure your depression, as he can properly give treatment and advice on how to treat it.

Also, using herbal remedies may not be the best answer for you due to their side effects, any interaction effects with the drugs you are currently using, or a pre-existing condition you're taking medication for, or even pregnancy. In order to ensure you will not have any health problems later, it is a good idea to get the go ahead from the physician before using natural remedies.




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