According to the WHO, it is estimated that by 2030 depression will be the largest cause of disability and for its treatment the main line of treatment is pharmacotherapy. However, antidepressant drugs have a multitude of side effects, as well as a decreased remission rate, which leads to a high treatment abandonment rate. As a result, the need for an alternative treatment is questioned, giving rise to natural antidepressants that effectively treat depression, which can be presented as natural pills, in food or in medicinal plants.
If you are interested in knowing the natural alternatives for the treatment of depression or other disorders that use antidepressant drugs for their treatment, in this Psychology-Online article, we will show you 11 effective natural antidepressants.
Natural antidepressants
What are natural antidepressants?
Natural remedies are all those that contain one or more active ingredients that can be used for a favorable treatment of certain diseases.
They can be presented either in the form of a supplement from a single herb (medicinal plant) or in a tablet made up of several (natural pill). Therapies with natural antidepressants have proven to be as effective as psychopharmacology conventional.
Benefits of natural antidepressants
The natural antidepressants They involve a high number of advantages compared to the usual treatment, since antidepressant drugs, like them, produce side effects. The benefits of natural antidepressants are:
- natural composition
- Fewer adverse effects
- Better adherence to treatment
- No need for a prescription
- More economical
- Healthier
- They can be used as individual or combined treatment.
In addition to this, there are certain dietary supplements, such as specific vitamins and minerals of natural origin that can be found in different foods or as nutritional supplements for our body. So our diet also plays an important role in the natural treatment of depression.
Medicinal plants as natural antidepressants
There are plants that can be considered natural antidepressants due to their properties and their effect on the body. Some of the medicinal plants that can be used as natural antidepressants are:
- Grass of San Juan: St. John’s wort or Hypericum, is a yellow flower with a long history in medicine. It is considered a very effective and widely used natural herbal remedy. It is normally sold as a dietary supplement and produces effects similar to the SSRI, one of the main drugs used in the treatment of depression, such as , inhibiting serotonin reuptake and changing dopamine and norepinephrine levels, producing less adverse side effects than conventional treatments. Its administration is very simple, it can be found at a herbalist or pharmacy and the dosage is twice a day, in a tea with the plant’s herbs.
- Rhodiola Rosea: This herb provides a increase in energy levels and productivity at work, producing a reduction in fatigue, tiredness and anhedonia characterized by depression, so that it is also considered a good treatment for certain depressive symptoms. The appropriate dosage is based on doses of 250 to 750 mg per day, in one or two doses, taking the dry plant.
- Ginkgo: the composition of this plant is more useful in people over 50 years of age, due to its involvement in circulation, since the leaves of this improve circulation. The dry extract should be taken in low doses of 100 to 200 mg per day.
- Lavender: this plant helps promotion of appetite and in it symptom relief colic, nausea, palpitations, nervous weakness or dizziness, exerting beneficial effects for the treatment of depression. Its administration can be in teas or it can even be found in pastries.
Natural antidepressant pills
There are natural antidepressant pills that can be used as natural antidepressants, some of them are:
- Animus: this tablet is a natural food supplement, made up of saffron and vitamin B6 that contributes to keep your mood stable, produces emotional balance and facilitates relaxation. It can be purchased in pharmacies or herbalists, with oral administration once a day.
- Courage: this natural pill contributes to mood regulation thanks to its composition of 5 vitamins (B1, B2, B12, Niacin and Magnesium) and minerals. It is used as a food supplement, with a daily dose.
- Gaba 50: the effects of this tablet help in anxiety reduction, sleep induction, is anticonvulsant and antispasmatic. However, it also works as an appetite reducer. It is made up of Vitamin B6 and magnesium, it can be purchased in pharmacies and herbalists and should be taken once a day.
Antidepressant foods
There is a wide variety of foods rich in certain substances that contribute to the regulation of mood and are therefore considered natural antidepressant foods, suitable for the treatment of depression. The main ones are:
- Foods rich in folic acid: Numerous studies indicate the relationship between this vitamin and depression, because it has been estimated that depressed people lack it. Some of the foods rich in folic acid are: peanuts, citrus fruits, cereals, vegetables and milk, among others.
- Foods rich in Omega-3: It has been determined that omega-3 supplements can help reduce depressive symptoms by up to 10%. It is generally found in seafood, egg yolk, oily fish or walnuts, among others.
- Foods rich in tryptophan: Tryptophan is an amino acid that increases the production of serotonin, thereby influencing mood and producing feelings of relaxation or tranquility. Here you can see the . Chicken, cheese and eggs are some of the foods that contain tryptophan, as well as pineapple, banana, plums or avocado.
- Saffron: Saffron has become the most expensive spice on the market and has a very powerful effect in the treatment of depression, because it protects serotonin and dopamine levels, thereby regulating mood. Here you can see the .
This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
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Bibliography
- Arrese, A & García, I (2005). Effectiveness of natural remedies in the symptoms of patients with Major Depressive Disorder. University of the Basque Country.
- Sáenz, D (2003). Medicines, medicinal plants and natural products. Drugs, 16, 8.