4 Potent Herbal Supplements For Depression Relief

Herbal Tea Blend for Depression And Stress Relief

Here is a tea which can be consumed on a regular basis to prevent depression, enhance relaxation, and relieve stress.

* 3 teaspoons lemon balm
* 2 teaspoons oat straw
* 2 teaspoons passionflower
* 1/2 teaspoon ginger
* 1/2 teaspoon rose petals
* 1/2 teaspoon lemon peel

Blend all of the herbs together. For each cup of tea, use one heaping teaspoon of the herb blend. Cover the teaspoon of herbs with one cup of boiling water and let sit for twenty minutes. Strain out the herbs and drink the tea. Add fresh lemon and honey if desired. Drink the tea hot or iced. I recommend one cup four times daily for the best effects.

St John’s Wort

The most commonly known herb used to treat depression is St John’s wort. This yellow flowered plant has been used to relieve depression for countless numbers of years. It has also been the subject of hundreds of modern research investigations. St John’s wort is considered to be as effective as pharmaceutical drugs in the treatment of mild to moderate depression.

Most commercial products are formulated to be standardized to a 0.3 percent hypericin or 2-4.5 percent hyperforin extract. Hypericin and hyperforin are among some of the active compounds in St John’s wort. Most professionals recommend that 300 milligrams of the standardized form be administered three times daily. It must be used consistently for an extended period of time in order to be effective. Herb Pharm and Nature’s Way are reliable companies to purchase the St John’s wort from.

Like many pharmaceuticals used to treat depression, improvement may not be seen for several weeks when first implementing the use of St John’s wort. St John’s wort must not be used if pharmaceutical antidepressants are being used without checking with a health care practitioner, as sometimes using both types of remedies simultaneously will ender both ineffective.

St John’s wort can help to relieve anxiety. It is not sedating. Some people find that they are more alert when taking St John’s wort. This benefit is believed to be due to its antidepressant nature. As depression lifts, memory and concentration may improve.

Using Herbal Supplements for Depression Treatment

Use herbs to prevent depression and to relieve mild to moderate depression. Consult with a health care practitioner if the herbal supplements and teas to treat depression are ineffective or if you have questions regarding their use. No supplement, pharmaceutical or herbal, will effectively relieve depression without other interventions such as diet, exercise, journaling, massage or psychotherapy. Decide what interventions are most effective for you. Use supplements as part of a holistic treatment plan and you will feel better and have lasting feelings of wellbeing.

Author

This article was written for Insights-on-Health.com in Oct 2013 by Patricia Bratianu RN PhD RH-AHG. Patricia has been a Registered Nurse for almost forty years in a wide variety of settings. As a Registered Nurse, she realized that conventional healthcare was not meeting the needs of all patients. She became an herbalist and obtained a PhD in Natural Health. Patricia is a professional member of the American Herbalist’s Guild, passing the stringent peer reviewed process to become a Registered Herbalist.

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