Natural Treatments for Depression

What to Avoid

Our diet not only plays important roles in good health, it can also negatively impact emotions resulting in depression. The following foods should be avoided to prevent a nutritional or chemical imbalance that could cause or contribute to depression: fast foods, simple carbohydrates (this is particularly important for people with low blood sugar), alcohol, artificial sweeteners, white flour products and caffeine.

Treatment

Traditional drug therapy while common can produce negative side effects and tends to treat symptoms rather than causes of depression, something that is important for the long term.

Exercise increases your energy level and produce feelings of revitalization and accomplishment. A person who is having difficulty getting started can begin with simple movements. Once the effect of the activity is felt, it can be increased to a level and type appropriate for that individual.

A diet centered on raw, fresh vegetables and fruits, and a balance of proteins is recommended to ensure that the proper amounts of amino acids necessary for proper brain functioning are being ingested. Complex, rather than simple, carbohydrates (like sugar), should be the focus.

B-complex vitamins, niacin and magnesium are important in preventing and overcoming depression.

Interaction with others may help to overcome depression. Volunteer work, in particular can help distract the person, as well as get him or her into something rewarding.

Some herbs have effects similar to those of antidepressant drugs, without drug side effects. St. John’s wort is widely used in Europe for this purpose, and double-blind studies have supported his or her antidepressant effect. People have also had success with valerian, skullcap, hops, passionflower, Chinese schizandra berry wild oats and calamus root.

Light therapy can aid in the mild depression associated with the winter season.

The homeopathic remedies aurum metallicum, ignatia, natrum muriaticum, sepia and pulsatillare are used for cases of acute temporary depression.

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