Signs of Depression-Herbal Treatments That May Work for You
Everyday it seems like you see an ad on television about a prescription medication being
recalled, either due to manufacturing errors, or the unknown health hazard the medication
poses to those who use it. That being said, many people suffering from the signs of
depression look to safer, alternative remedies, rather than prescriptions for relief. In many
cases, these remedies are just as effective as a prescription, without the side effects, but
you have to keep in mind that very few herbal medicines are actually regulated by our
government, and in some cases, there is little research into their safety. Just because a
manufacturer states that they have a proven treatment for depression, doesn’t necessarily
mean that treatment is safe, or effective. There are some herbal treatments for depression
that have been tested, and that do seem to work quite well. So, if you are worried about
the safety of your prescription depression medication, you might want to consider trying
one of the alternative herbal remedies.
The most popular herbal remedy for depression is St. John’s Wort, also known as
Hypericum Perforatum. There have been numerous clinical trials done to test the
effectiveness of this treatment, all with positive results. When compared with common
prescription medications used for depression, such as Zoloft, it seems to be more
effective, and causes fewer side effects. Another bonus for those who don’t have great
health insurance is that in general, herbal remedies are usually less expensive as well.
5-HTP is another common herbal remedy used for treating the signs of depression. Most
people report that they have to take at least 150 milligrams per day to find relief. Most
studies show that 5-HTP is safe as long as you don’t exceed more than 300 milligrams
per day. There are some herbal treatments out there that are a combination of 5-HTP and
St. John’s Wort, such as Amoryn. Amoryn has been proven to be very effective in the
treatment of depression, and again, is safer in some cases than prescription meds.
Again, when dealing with herbal medicines, you have to be careful to choose medications
made from a reputable manufacturer, and do your homework, so you can read and
understand the labels. It is best to talk with your doctor before taking any type of herbal
treatment for the signs of depression, because in many cases, the medication may interact
with something you could already be taking, or could be detrimental for other medical
conditions you may have. If you are careful and take the time to educate yourself in
herbal medicine, with the guidance of your doctor, you may be able to find a suitable
alternative for your prescription depression treatment.
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