Top Natural Remedies For Depression
The experience of emotional and psychological depression has been noted and subjected to various explanations since the dawn of recorded history and quite probably before. The current model, which reduces all depression to a deficiency in serotonin, seems as overly simplistic and inadequate as those before it. This is to say, at least in part, that depression is a complex and age-old illness with a storied history of treatment. There are a number of herbs that have been used successfully to help relieve symptoms of depression, and thoughtful consideration of various root causes of psychological malaise can serve to steer one toward improvement.
Recent studies have reinforced the potential efficacy of a number of traditional herbal aids for depression http://bit.ly/goodmoods.
St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum)
One of the most widely known herbs purported to help with depression; St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum) has been the subject of much debate in recent years. While the data on St. John’s Wort is confusing to say the least, it is worth noting its long and extensive use throughout the world, along with several independent investigations reinforcing its efficacy. A 2009 meta-analysis by the Cochrane Collaboration concluded that “Overall, the St. John’s wort extracts tested in the trials were superior to placebo, similarly effective as standard antidepressants, and had fewer side effects than standard antidepressants [1].”
Another thoughtful and extensive meta-analysis published by four physicians in the British Journal of Psychiatry considered 37 prior studies and found that “Hypericum perforatum extracts improved symptoms more than placebo and similarly to standard antidepressants in adults with mild to moderate depression [2].” Furthermore, hypericum extracts caused fewer adverse effects than questionable antidepressants.
Rhodiola (Rhodiola rosea)
Lesser known, but also an interesting aid in depression is the adaptogen Rhodiola (Rhodiola rosea). In a very well designed and executed study of Rhodiola rosea, 89 individuals, male and female, ranging from 18-70 years of age and selected according to DSM-IV criteria for depression, were divided into three groups. One group received 340 mg of rhodiola per day, in two tablets, a second received 680 mg/day in two tablets and a third received two placebo tablets. Both groups receiving the rhodiola experienced significant improvements in overall depression, insomnia, emotional instability and somatization as scored in the Beck Depression Inventory and Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD) questionnaire. The placebo group showed no such improvement. No serious side effects were reported among any of the three groups [3].
Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa)
This herb has been used extensively to relieve depression that occurs during menopause http://www.dreddyclinic.com/findinformation/mm/menopause.php or in other times of hormonal fluctuation. Recent debate about possible liver damage resulting from long-term and excessive use is worthy of note, but certainly not reason to disregard the potential benefits of this herb. Like all herbal remedies, responsible use requires responsible consideration of the whole cost-benefit picture.
Rhaponticum (Rhaponticum carthanmoides)
Another interesting alternative for menopause http://www.dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=33619 related mood disorders is Rhaponticum (Rhaponticum carthanmoides): in a study of 109 women, published in 2007 in the journal Menopause, over 80% of women who took Rhaponticum daily for twelve weeks reported a “a marked improvement in health state and general well-being.”
Lavender and Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)
Two lovely herbs to investigate: Lavender and Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis). A fascinating study from the Neuroscience Unit of University of Northumbria in Newcastle found that a 600 mg serving of melissa officinalis alleviated the physiological effects of laboratory induced stress in healthy individuals, suggesting that the herb may have great potential in mitigating deleterious effects of stress outside the laboratory [4].
Researchers in Korea investigated the effects of Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) aromatherapy on insomnia http://www.dreddyclinic.com/findinformation/ii/insomnia.php and depression http://www.dreddyclinic.com/findinformation/dd/depression.php among 42 female college students, and found that both maladies showed improvement [5]. In another study that suggests lavender may have more powerful effects than previously speculated, Japanese scientists found that lavender “may have beneficial acute effects on coronary circulation.”
Other herbs frequently used by herbalists to reduce depressive symptoms include:
- Mimosa (Albizzia julibrissin)
- Pulsatilla (Anemone pulsatilla)
- Tiger Lily (Lilium lancifolium)
- Cactus (Selenicereus grandiflorus)
- Schizandra (Schisandra chinensis)
And of course, when all else fails, don’t forget about body cleansing http://dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=33506. A clean intestinal tracthttp://dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=33500 and liver http://www.dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=30722 can do wonders for depression.
by Dr. Edward Group DC, NP, DACBN, DCBCN, DABFM
References:
1. Linde K, Berner MM, Kriston L. St. John’s wort for treating depression http://summaries.cochrane.org/CD000448/st.-johns-wort-for-treating-depression.. Cochrane Summaries. 2009 October 7.
2. Klaus Linde MD, Michael Berner MD, Matthias Egger MD, Cynthia Mulrow MD MSc. St John’s wort for depression meta-analysis of randomised controlled trialshttp://bjp.rcpsych.org/content/186/2/99.abstract. The British Journal of Psychiatry (2005) 186: 99-107 doi: 10.1192/bjp.186.2.99.
3. NYU Langone Medical Center. Rhodiola rosea http://www.med.nyu.edu/content?ChunkIID=111798. 2012 July.
4. Kennedy DO, Scholey AB, Tildesley NT, Perry EK, Wesnes KA. Modulation of mood and cognitive performance following acute administration of Melissa officinalis (lemon balm)http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?cmd=historysearch&querykey=11. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2002 Jul;72(4):953-64.
5. Lee IS, Lee GJ. [Effects of lavender aromatherapy on insomnia and depression in women college students] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?cmd=historysearch&querykey=12. Taehan Kanho Hakhoe Chi. 2006 Feb;36(1):136-43. Korean.
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Natural menopause treatment with herbs, food remedies and hoomeopathy relieves cause of symptoms
Not all women experience symptoms of menopause; however, for those that do, natural menopause treatment can help reduce a wide range of symptoms that may bring misery to a woman's senior years. Menopause is the result of changing hormones, specifically estrogen and progesterone. The Mayo Clinic reports that 40 percent or more of women experience significant symptoms. As the body rebalances itself for the post-childbearing years, symptoms such as night sweats and hot flashes, vaginal dryness, bleeding, irritability, moodiness and depression can appear. Natural menopause treatment with herbs, food remedies and homeopathic remedies can offer relief in place of dangerous HRT (http://www.dreddyclinic.com/findinformation/mm/menopause.php).
Treatment with herbs
Black Cohosh contains a plant-based estrogen that helps regulate hormones, offering relief to a wide range of women with menopause symptoms, such as vaginal dryness, itching, moodiness, depression and hot flashes.
Wild Yam is an excellent natural menopause treatment for regulating hormones, especially progesterone. This hormone plays a role in controlling moods, and is used to help with depression, moodiness, irritability and anger.
Ginseng has been used by the Chinese for thousands of years for many health conditions, including treatment of menopause. It is especially useful in keeping the vaginal walls supple and healthy, preventing drying, tearing and pain. Ginseng helps relieve insomnia, moodiness and hot flashes.
Food remedies
Phytoestrogens contain plant-based estrogens called isoflavones that provide natural relief for women with menopause symptoms. In a study performed at The University of Naples, Italy in 2005, it was reported that isoflavones were found effective in reducing hot flashes and relieving vaginal dryness during menopause. The recommended amount is 45 grams daily.
Phytoestrogens are found in a variety of foods such as sesame and flax seeds, red clover tea and soy. Although unfermented soy products are not recommended, fermented soy products such as tempeh, miso and natto contain high amounts of phytoestrogens, which help balance hormones during and after menopause. Be sure to only consume organic products that contain no GMO soy. Other foods with estrogenic effects are alfalfa sprouts, apples, barley, carrots, cherries, garbanzo beans, black-eyed peas, beets, garlic, oats, olive oil and sunflower seeds.
Flax seeds and flax seed oil is highly touted as one of the best estrogenic foods for natural menopause treatment. They are high in isoflavones, lignans and alpha-linolenic acid, which is converted during digestion to omega-3 fatty acids. Adding daily flax seed to the diet can help relieve a wide range of symptoms. Never heat flax seeds or the oil as this destroys their nutrient properties.
Homeopathy for menopause
Homeopathy offers various natural menopause treatments with several remedies being standouts for providing symptom relief.
Cimicifuga relieves all symptoms of menopause including night sweats and hot flashes, vaginal dryness, bleeding and mood swings. It is especially suited to women experiencing arthritic pains in the joints of the hands, headaches on the right side of the head and neck, and despairing depression.
Lachesis is well suited to women who experience extreme hot flashes, both day and night. The night time heat may be worse than during the day. There may be left-sided headaches and migraines. The woman needing Lachesis is often very talkative; and can be verbally nasty, making cruel, cutting remarks. These women tend to be on the warm side all the time and may crave alcoholic beverages.
Sepia is a natural menopause treatment for many symptoms. The woman needing Sepia may be chilly most of the time, except during hot flashes. She may weep easily and desire strenuous exercise or physical activity, which often relieves her symptoms temporarily. Sepia provides relief for sadness, indifference, moodiness, vaginal dryness and pain during intercourse.
Sources for this article include:
Endo Resolved: Estrogen foods (phytoestrogens) and the diet for endometriosis - why there is confusion.
http://www.endo-resolved.com/diet_phytoestrogens.html
Dietary Fiber Food: Phytoestrogen and Its Food Sources
http://www.dietaryfiberfood.com/phytoestrogen-hormones/phytoestrogen-food-sources.php
Natural News: Fermented Soy is Only Soy Food Fit for Human Consumption
http://www.naturalnews.com/025513.html
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM): Menopausal Symptoms
http://nccam.nih.gov/health/menopause/menopausesymptoms.htm
National Center for Homeopathy: What is Homeopathy
http://www.homeopathic.org/content/what-is-homeopathy
University of Maryland Medical Center: Red Clover
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/red-clover-000270.htm
University of Maryland Medical Center: Menopause
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/menopause-000107.htm
University of Connecticut Health Center: Major CAM Treatments for Menopause
http://fitsweb.uchc.edu/student/selectives/AleagiaMercer-Falkoff/FINAL%20MENOPAUSE/PamDocInsert.htm
Mayo Clinic: Vaginal Dryness
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/vaginal-dryness/DS00550
HealthGuidance.com: Relieve vaginal dryness
http://www.healthguidance.org/entry/4661/1/Relieve-Vaginal-Dryness.html
"Minerva Ginecologiche"; The Effects of Phytoestrogen Therapy on the Endometrium in Postmenopausal Women; L Caserta, et al; Oct 2005
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16205600?ordinalpos=5&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum
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A holistic approach for gum disease and cavities - step by step
The American diet is highly acidic, high in inflammatory fats, high in sugar, and all-around toxic for many other reasons. When the blood is acidic, the body pulls minerals from anywhere it can find to correct the pH. This leaves fewer minerals for bones and teeth.
Fats are either inflammatory by nature or they have the opposite effect. Both are totally necessary, but the American diet is full of inflammatory fats, and to make matters worse, many are fats that do not occur in nature and are very toxic to us. So the average American is significantly inflamed throughout the body in many different ways. And of course, almost everyone eats too much sugar!
Foods to Avoid For Good Oral Health
Refined Foods
Sugar
Acidic Foods
Processed, prepackaged foods
To promote oral health eat produce, more vegetables than fruit, but whole, raw produce. That is what heals. Brown rice, quinoa, sprouted legumes, vegetable stir frys, and other whole foods have benefit, but raw, fresh, organic produce is what heals the body.
Balance the Gut
It is extremely difficult to have good oral health and poor gut health.
Anyone with serious mouth problems should consider a detoxification protocol that repairs the gut, kills Candida and other parasites, and balances the gut microbes. Good health starts in the gut, and so does bad health.
Stop Smoking
Smoking anything - tobacco, marijuana - anything, is very harmful to the mouth. So is vaporizing, but not as much so. If you want to have a healthy mouth, but you continue to smoke regularly, the best you can hope for with this regimen is for things to stay the same and not get worse. In my experience, those who do this and continue to smoke do notice that their mouth is not getting any worse, and generally symptoms will improve, but their mouths do not completely heal.
Lose the Toxic Toothpaste and Mouthwash
There are some decent toothpastes out there, but even if they are in the health-food section, make sure they do not contain any of the following ingredients: Sodium laurel sulfate (SLS), triclosan, artificial colors, flavors, or anything artificial, hydrated silica, alcohol.
Floss Every Day, and Floss Correctly
Most people do not floss correctly, if at all. Flossing is imperative for anyone with gingivitis because the sides of the teeth need to be cleaned so food debris doesn't feed the bacteria. Read more
