Eight herbs and depression supplements
Depression is a serious mood disorder with a range of mild to weak and life-threatening symptoms. Some people try to control depression with herbal medicines instead of medicines prescribed by a doctor.
Recent data from the National Mental Health Institute suggest that 6.7 per cent of people in the United States experienced a major depressive episode in 2016.
Drugs and counselling are traditional ways to alleviate depression symptoms. However, there are also some herbs and supplements.
We look at common herbs and supplements with links to depression treatment in this article and discuss their security and efficacy.
Herbs and supplements
The use of complementary therapies is still becoming increasingly popular because people are looking for more natural ways of managing their health.
Herbal products do not always mean safe or efficient, and knowing which products you want can save a lot of time and money.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States does not monitor herbs in the same way as food or medicines. As a result, the quality or pureness of their product is not always 100% clear to manufacturers.
Research suggests promise to treat mild to moderate depression with some supplements.
These are some of the most widely used supplements:
1.St. John’s wort
The wort of St. John is also referred to as Hypericum perforatum. This plant has been a common herbal mental health treatment for hundreds of years. However, people need to be careful about trying it as a potential treatment for depression.
A systematic review in 2016 found that St. John’s word was more effective than placebo in treating mild to moderate depression and almost working well with antidepressants.
However, this review of eligible studies found no research on the long-term impact of St John’s word on serious depression.
The authors also warned against accepting wholesale results because the herb has negative effects that many studies have not taken into account.
St John’s Wort can also interfere with antidepressant drug effects, which means it can worsen the symptoms or decrease the efficacy of conventional therapy.
While St. John’s words may help some people, they do not consistently have positive effects.
For these reasons, people should not use St. John’s wort instead of conventional treatment. They should not attempt to treat St. John’s wort with moderate to severe depression.
2.Ginseng
This supplement derives from the American or Asian ginseng plant gnarled root. Siberian, Asian and Eleuthero-ginseng plants have various active ingredients.
For thousands of years, Chinese medical practitioners have been using ginseng to help people to improve mental clarity and energy and reduce stress effects.
Some of these properties of ginseng are associated with potential low-energy solutions and motivation with depression.
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) does not however advise that any of the many studies conducted on ginseng were quality sufficient to provide health recommendations.
3.Chamomile
A 2012 study reviewed data on camomile derived from recutita plant Matricaria and its role in managing depression and anxiety.
The results show that the camomile produces a greater relief from depressive symptoms than placebo. However, further studies are needed to confirm the health effects of chamomile in the treatment of depressive symptoms.
4.Lavender
Lavender oil is a very popular essential oil. People typically use lavender oil to relax and reduce anxiety and
mood disturbances.
A review of several studies in 2013 showed that lavender may have significant potential to reduce anxiety and improve sleep.
Lavender has mixed results in studies that evaluate its impact on anxiety. However, its effectiveness as a continuous depression treatment is currently only supported by little evidence of high quality.
5.Saffron
Some studies mention the use of saffron as a safe and effective measure to control the symptoms of depression, such as this 2018 non-systematic review.
However, more research would help to confirm the potential benefits of saffron for people with depression. Scientists also need to better understand any possible adverse effects.
6.SAMe
SAMe is short on S-adenosyl methionine. It is a synthetic form of a naturally occurring chemical in the body.
Researchers reviewed all recorded randomized controlled trials for the treatment of adult depression with SAMe in 2016. There was no significant difference between the effects of SAMe on symptoms of depression and placebo symptoms.
However, they also found that SAMe was approximately equal to the common antidepressant imipramine or scitalopram. Moreover, it was better than a placebo when researchers mixed SAMe with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor medications.
Like many other herbal and supplemental studies, SAMe’s safety and effectiveness studies are of low quality. Further research is needed to determine its precise effect.
The supplement is used by people in Europe as an antidepressant prescription. The FDA has not yet approved this for use in the United States, however.
7.Omega-3 fatty acids
In a 2015 systematic review, researchers concluded that omega-3 fatty acid supplements are generally not useful for
treating depression.
While the authors did not report serious side effects from the supplement, they also noted that only effective treatment for depression due to omega-3 deficiency would be an effective measure.
8.5-HTP
This supplement, also known as5-hydroxytryptophan, may be useful in regulating and improving serotonin levels in the brain. The neurotransmitter that affects a person’s mood is serotonin.
5-HTP conducted a number of animal studies and some, such as this 2016 review, cited its potential as antidepressant therapy. There is, however, limited evidence of its effects on human subjects.
5-HTP is available as an OTC supplement in the US, but it may require a prescription in other countries.
More research is needed, particularly regarding concerns about serotonin syndrome, a serious neurological complication if an individual takes more than 5-HTP.
Supplement manufacturers do not need to prove their product’s consistency. The dose of the bottle may also be imprecise.
People should make sure they buy the herbs and supplements of a trusted manufacturer.
Symptoms of depression :
The symptoms of depression include:
- Feelings of sadness or desperation
- Frustration and anger
- Loss of interest in hobbies or activities that are usually fun
- Sleep problems, whether sleep or insomnia are too much
- Fatigue
- Appetite changes
- Trouble concentrating
- Death or Suicide Thoughts
- Headache and backache, including physical symptoms
Doctors believe that in order to meet the criteria for diagnosing depression, a person should experience at least 5 of these symptoms in an interruptive manner for at least two weeks.
When to consult a doctor
If you feel any of these symptoms to the extent that they affect your daily life, you should seek your doctor’s help.
Drugs and therapies can help a depressed person. It is recommended that people do not use herbs or supplements as a stand-alone treatment line.
Depression is usually aggravated over time and requires treatment to avoid its most serious complications.
Anyone thinking about suicide or self-harm should seek emergency assistance immediately with their doctor or local hospital.
If a loved one or friend is at risk of suicide, stay with the person immediately and call for emergency assistance.