Natural Ways to Treat Depression: Depression – Natural Ways to Treat Depression

Is depression causing you to be depressed or are you depressed because of depression? Depression is a truly universally experienced condition affecting men, women, and children of all walks of life.   Despite what is generally thought depression is not necessarily caused by character flaws, poor parenting, or childhood trauma. Most experts suggest that genetics, drug side effects or interactions, and emotionally disturbing personal events may be the catalysts for both short and long term depression. In this informational article titled “Natural Ways to Treat Depression” I will briefly cover four of the most common ways to treat depression.   * St. John’s wort – There seems to be some solid as well as anecdotal evidence supporting this flowering herbs effectiveness in treating mild depression. Research suggests that St. John’s wort is thought to work by reducing the rate at which ones brain cells absorb the important neurotransmitter serotonin; low levels of which are linked to depression.   * 5 HTP – 5 HTP is an amino acid naturally occurring in the body which has been linked to serotonin production. It can be found in nutraceutical compounds and as a stand alone treatment for depression and mood. Many of the current list of prescription medications for depression work by boosting serotonin levels thus leading some to conclude that 5 HTP can be an effective antidepressant.   * Omega 3 Fatty Acids – Omega 3’s are generally perceived as helpful for cholesterol and heart health. While there is good evidence to support this assumption there also seem to be some recent research suggesting that Omega 3 fatty acids play a role in the function of serotonin and dopamine. These critical neurotransmitters are directly linked to mood. Omega 3 fatty acids are plentiful in certain foods including flax, fish, and avocados.   * Minerals – This is an interesting topic in itself. While mineral deficiency is not a probable cause for depression lack of certain minerals can be. Among the long list of minerals which fall into this category are magnesium, iron, calcium, potassium, and zinc.   When discussing natural ways to treat depression is difficult to know what works. What might be effective for one person may not have any effect on another. This fact alone makes dependable research difficult to conduct and even more challenges to confirm the benefits. Nevertheless, many of the natural ways to treat depression are very safe, have few side effects, and may even produce added health benefits.   Additionally, many natural health advocates are combining one or more of the treatments above with herbal formulas. These herbal depression remedies have proven to be effective in supporting emotional health and wellness and are an option worth considering.

 

 

Dr. Theresa Ramsey | Treating Depression – Natural ways to treat depression. Dr. Theresa Ramsey is a practicing physician, speaker, lifestyle expert, author of the best selling book, Healing 101: A Guide to Creating the Foundation for Complete Wellness & a weekly guest expert on Channel 3 TV’s Your Life A to Z. Dr. Ramsey has been nominated Phoenix Magazine’s Top Doc for 2010, 2011. She elegantly bridges the gap between Allopathic & Naturopathic medicine. She is a nationally recognized speaker educating patients & physicians on the language of wellness and root causes to illness & dis-ease. www.DrRamsey.com, 888.970.0077

 

Alternative Approaches to Treatment of Depression and Bipolar Disorder

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The following is an excerpt from the 10th chapter of the book where the author discusses alternative and complementary treatment options to Depression and Bipolar Disorder. This chapter describes a number of recovery … Adding some of the approaches …
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How To Deal With Anxiety The Natural Way

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Could daffodils hold a cure for depression?

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Psychiatric treatment drugs are harsh on the body and often come with "horrible side effects," says Harold Mandel at Examiner, and that's why scientists are always looking for natural ways — including possibly using flowers — to treat mental illnesses.
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Tags: omega 3, prescription medication, mental illness, treatment for depression, treatment of depression, omega 3 fatty acids