Natural Cures for Depression
 Depression is currently at epidemic levels in the United States, but many
critics charge that depression is over-diagnosed. The easy availability of antidepressant medications and
their proven effectiveness and popularity can sometimes needlessly push natural cures for depression off of
the list of treatment options.
Antidepressant medications can certainly be lifesavers; and when they are genuinely needed that need should not
be questioned. At the same time, it’s worth noting that in many cases of mild to moderate depression, natural cures
work just as well.
Natural cures for depression have advantages over drug therapy that might not be immediately obvious: lower
cost, ease of use, fewer side effects, and perhaps most important of all, the ability to stop or change treatment
without the unpleasant withdrawal syndrome that so often accompanies any attempt to wean a patient off SSRI
medication.
The following natural cures for depression have been found to be useful on their own or as part of a
comprehensive treatment plan for this difficult illness:
Click here to Richard Mackenzie
direct program!
• Daily exercise. In recent studies, 30 minutes of moderate daily exercise was found to be as effective in
treating mild to moderate depression as antidepressant medication. Exercise causes the body to release natural
mood-enhancing substances called endorphins into the bloodstream. Exercise has also been found to boost levels of
serotonin, the substance regulated by antidepressant pharmaceuticals.
• St. John’s Wort. St. John’s Wort is an over-the-counter herbal supplement that has been found in some German
medical studies to be as effective as antidepressant medication when used to treat mild cases of depression. St.
John’s Wort is available at most drug stores, grocery stores, and natural foods markets in the vitamin section and
is sold in tincture, tablet, or capsule form, or for use as an herbal tea. St. John’s Wort has to build up in the
body over the course of several weeks before effects are noticed. Patients interested in the herb should consult
their physicians about appropriate dosage levels.
• Meditation. Fifteen minutes a day of almost any meditation practice can significantly ease symptoms of stress and
depression over time. Meditation is especially useful as part of a comprehensive approach to treatment for
depression; one that includes dietary changes, lifestyle changes, psychotherapy, and the temporary or permanent use
of herbal supplements or antidepressant medications.
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (or CBT) is a short-term course of treatment that
focuses on changing the way depression sufferer think about themselves and their lives. Negative thinking is a
major part of depressive illness. Negative thought patterns have usually been learned over a period many years. CBT
focuses on breaking up and rearranging these negative thought patterns. As thoughts change, depression symptoms
begin to lessen naturally.
Click here to Richard Mackenzie
direct program!
• Dietary changes. Sometimes depression is greatly worsened by poor dietary habits such as excessive caffeine use,
excessive sugar consumption, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, and lack of fresh fruits and vegetables.
Deficiencies of vitamin B6 have been linked to depression, as have magnesium and zinc deficiencies. Supplements can
help, but most dieticians agree that obtaining nutrients from fresh foods produces the best long-term results.
Most natural cures for depression work most effectively on depression that is mild to moderate in severity.
Severe cases of depression can often benefit from the addition of natural treatments to more conventional ones,
(under the supervision of a qualified mental health professional). Always talk to your doctor before beginning
herbal supplements or a rigorous exercise program.
Eating well, exercising regularly, and moderating stress are good habits for anyone to cultivate. For a
depressed person, these habits can help lift the fog of a complex and painful chronic illness.
| 