Rethink Herbal Supplements
Rethink Herbal Supplements
by
Stephen Lau
Popular natural
antidepressant supplements
St. John's Wort
St. Johns Wort, a traditional European herb, also called the sunshine herb because of its yellow flowers, is one of the most popular natural antidepressants. Supported by controlled clinical trials, St. John’s Wort has shown its effectiveness in relieving mild mental depression. In fact, studies comparing St John’ s Wort to prescription depression medications, such as Paxil® and Prozac® demonstrate that it works just as well as these drugs, but with fewer side effects.
In addition, St. John’s Wort can help you restore self-confidence and regular sleeping patterns, as well increase appetite and avoid binge-eating.
Start with a dose of 600-900 mg daily, increasing to 900-1800 mg per day if necessary.
Take only St. John’s Wort extracts that are standardized to contain 5 percent hyperforin.
St. John’s Wort requires at least three weeks to begin working, and may not produce its full effects for a month or two.
SAM-e
SAM-e is another natural antidepressant backed by scientific evidence showing it is effective against mental depression. SAM-e works quickly, and most people start noticing improvement in days rather than weeks. The down side of SAM-e is that it is expensive (costing as much as some prescription drugs) and that it is efficacious only in certain individuals.
5-HTP
5-HTP is yet another natural antidepressant shown by clinical research to treat mental depression effectively. Essentially, it is an amino acid that increases your body’s levels of serotonin, a mood-related neurotransmitter, in the brain. 5-HTP is not only easily absorbed and highly effective in raising serotonin levels, but also a good sleep enhancer.
Taking 50-300 mg of 5-HTP may improve your mood in just a few weeks without causing side effects. 5-HTP may work best when combined with St.John’s Wort.
There have been concerns about the safety of 5-HTP, but scientific evidence remains inconclusive.
Other supplements
Kava Kava
Kava Kava is an herb that has been widely used for hundreds of years by native South Pacific Islanders. It is effective in combating anxiety and stress, which may lead to mental depression. Kava kava extract is marketed as herbal medicine for anxiety and stress.
Tiredness and decreased sex drive are some of the side effects of kava kava.
Lemon Balm
Lemon balm is a “calming” herb, which has been widely used since the Middle Ages to calm nerves and induce sleep. Due to its calming aroma and effects, lemon balm is also popular as a herbal antidepressant. Lemon balm has been used for centuries as an antibacterial ointment and also as an infusion or a tea by tearing the leaves, adding honey and hot water.
You can get all your herbal needs from Herbal Remedies - a one-stop place to get all your natural herbs, vitamins, and supplements. Bookmark this site for all your daily nutritional needs. Here, you can even search for herbs or supplements for your specific ailments and disorders.
The Natural Remedy Cure Handbook is a comprehensive book on what herbal remedies are and how you can use them to heal mental, physical and spiritual complaints and disorders.
For more information on natural herbs, go to my website Herbal Cures. Also, go to my website Longevity Vitamins And Minerals.
Rethink herbal supplements
Natural antidepressant herbal supplements may appeal to many due to the absence of side effects.
Rethink the quality control
Quality control is often a concern. For a natural antidepressant to be efficacious, it must contain proven ingredients in the proper doses and potencies with strict manufacturing procedures.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate the production of herbal supplements. Even with strict control and regulation, many prescription drugs are unsafe; without the FDA, the safety of many dietary supplements remains a concern for many.
Rethink your drug interactions
Some natural antidepressants may have significant drug interactions. For example, St. John’s Wort may reduce depression but may also trigger mania in someone with bipolar depression.
Rethink your doctor's approval and supervision
Although St. John’s Wort is prescribed in Germany ten times more frequently than is Prozac®, many doctors in the United States still have reservation about recommending St. John’s Wort to their patients. You should not stop your prescribed medications and opt for St. John’s Wort without your doctor’s approval and supervision. Always check for interactions with any prescription drug you may be taking currently.
Rethink your ability to monitor herbal supplements
It is probably best to start with just one product over two or three weeks, to establish if it is helping you and to what extent. If a little is good, it does not mean that more is better, and it is not wise to take more than you need. However, these products do have a synergistic effect and if you do not quite get the effect you need from one, you can then add in a low dose of another to enhance the overall effect. However, it requires a great deal of adjustment and observation - which, unfortunately, many patients may not have.
Copyright© by Stephen Lau
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