11 Natural and Effective ANTIDEPRESSANTS

According to the WHO, it is estimated that in the year 2030 depression will be the major cause of disability and for its treatment the main line of action of treatment is pharmacotherapy. However, antidepressant drugs have a multitude of side effects, as well as a decrease in the rate of remission, which leads to a high rate of discontinuation of treatment. As a result, the need for an alternative treatment is questioned, giving rise to natural antidepressants that effectively treat depression, which can come as natural pills, in food, or in plants medicinal.

If you are interested in knowing the natural alternatives for the treatment of depression or other disorders that make use of antidepressant drugs for their treatment, in this Psychology-Online article, you we will show 11 effective natural antidepressants.

What are natural antidepressants?

Natural remedies are all those that contain one or more active ingredients that allow them to 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). Natural antidepressant therapies have been found to be as effective as psychopharmacology conventional.

Benefits of natural antidepressants

The natural antidepressants involve a high number of advantage compared to usual treatment, since antidepressant drugs, such as tricyclic antidepressants 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 from natural origin that can be found in different foods or as nutritional supplements of our organism. So our diet also plays an important role in the natural treatment of depression.

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:

1. 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 herbal remedy. Normally, it is sold as a food supplement and produces similar effects to the SSRI, one of the main drugs used in the treatment of depression, such as depression. fluoxetine, 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 obtained in a herbalist or pharmacy and the dosage is twice a day, in a tea with the herbs of the plant.
2. Rhodiola Rosea: This herb provides a increase in energy levels and productivity at work, producing a reduction in fatigue, tiredness and anhedonia characterized in depression, so it is also considered a good treatment for certain depressive symptoms. The adequate dosage is based on doses of 250 to 750 mg per day, in one or two doses, taking the dried plant.
3. 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 with low doses of 100 to 200 mg per day.
4. Lavender: this plant helps appetite promotion and in the 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.

There are natural antidepressant pills that can be used as natural antidepressants, some of them are:

1. Animus: this tablet is a natural food supplement, made up of saffron and vitamin B6 that contributes to keep the mood stable, produces emotional balance and facilitates relaxation. It can be bought in pharmacies or herbalists, with an oral administration once a day.
2. Courage: this natural lozenge contributes to the 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.
3. Gaba 50: the effects of this tablet help in the anxiety reduction, the induction of sleep, is anticonvulsant and antispasmatic. However, it also works as an appetite suppressant. It is made up of Vitamin B6 and magnesium, it can be purchased in pharmacies and herbalists and should be taken once a day.

There is a wide variety of foods rich in certain substances that contribute to the regulation of the state of mood and therefore are considered natural antidepressant foods, suitable for the treatment of depression. The main ones are:

1. 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.
2. 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 shellfish, egg yolks, oily fish or walnuts, among others.
3. Foods rich in tryptophan: tryptophan is an amino acid increases the production of serotonin, thereby influencing the mood and producing feelings of relaxation or tranquility. Here you can see the relationship between serotonin and depression. Chicken, cheese and eggs are some of the foods that contain tryptophan, as well as pineapple, banana, plums or avocado.
4. Saffron: saffron has become the most expensive spice on the market and has a very powerful effect on the treatment of depression, because it protects the levels of serotonin and dopamine, thereby producing a regulation of the state of cheer up. Here you can see the definition and functions of dopamine.

This article is merely informative, in 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.