Help for Depression - Common Herbs and Tonics
When you need some help for depression, some simple herbs really work well. You just have to know which ones work for you! Most antidepressants on the market help control the balance of the chemical serotonin in your brain.
If you don’t have enough serotonin, you can slip into a depression quickly. Antidepressants increase the amount of serotonin available in your brain to keep you from feeling low and lethargic.
 Neurotransmitters help send signals between your brain and nerve endings. Without sufficient chemicals to control those signals, it can induce depression. Many herbs also increase serotonin levels and can provide help for depression! Herbs such as Siberian ginseng, licorice, and Saint-John's-wort increase the availability of serotonin in the brain and have proven success. Many people experience depression now and then. It's just a normal part of life. Even simple things like a few cloudy days can make you feel lonely and blue. However, when sadness continues to be part of your everyday life, you must start to make assessments of the things you do have control over and get help for depression. One simple herb may help you see things in a more positive light! Why don’t I recommend more herbs on my site? Because many of them can interfere with prescriptive medications if you take them without talking to your doctor first. Since most American’s are prescribed one or more medications, it doesn’t seem appropriate to recommend many of them. Depression is a serious matter however, and if you need help for depression, it is my desire to make sure you get that information.
Herbal TonicsHerbal tonics are a combination of herbs used together. They are usually more effective and preferred for the treatment of depression. Tonics are usually prepared by herbalists or pharmacist’s who have an understanding and knowledge of which preparations work best in different instances. There are different types of depression and they are not all treated with the same herbal remedies. Three of the most common types of depression are Major Depression, Dysthymia, and Bipolar Disorder. Always consult your physician before trying any herbal remedy. Many herbs can interact with prescription medicines, so make sure you check with your doctor before starting on any herb if you are currently taking any of them. Rosemary-Sage Tea This is very easy to fix and is great help for depression: Boil two cups of water with one teaspoon each of rosemary and sage. Steep for five minutes, strain, and drink daily. Gentian Root Tea Steep 1/2 oz each of finely chopped poplar bark and gentian root in two pints of water for fifteen minutes. Boil and add 1/2 ounce each of *Agrimony and *Centaury. Simmer for ten minutes, cool, and strain. You can add honey to sweeten if you desire. Take three or four tablespoons before meals. * Agrimony has an old reputation as a popular, domestic medicinal herb, being a simple well known to all country folk. It belongs to the Rose order of plants. Its slender spikes of yellow flowers, (which bloom from June to early September), make it one of the most graceful of our smaller herbs. * Centaury is the name of the genus to which it is at present assigned, Erythraea, and is derived from the Greek erythros (red), from the color of the flowers. The genus was formerly called Chironia, from the Centaur Chiron, who was famous in Greek mythology for his skill in medicinal herbs. According to the myth, he cured himself with Centaury from a wound he had accidentally received from an arrow poisoned with the blood of the Hydra. The English name Centaury has the same origin. The bitterness of this herb has a healing and tonic effect attributed to it. Centaury is often called Febrifuga, Feverwort and Christ's Ladder. Herbal Tincture Combine 1 teaspoon tincture of Saint-John's-wort leaf 1/2 teaspoon tinctures of licorice root, ginseng root, and lemon balm leaf. Take 1 dropper-full 3 times a day. Clove Tea Crush several cloves and add to sage, camomile, or peppermint tea and a dash of ginseng powder to lift moods and provide help for depression. St. Johns Wort Blend 2 parts St. John's-wort (Hypericum perforatum) Take 5 ml of the tincture three times a day for at least one month. Useful as a general purpose remedy for depression. Kava Blend Mix equal parts of kava, lemon balm, valerian root and St. John's wort. Pour 1 cup of boiling water over 1 tsp. of herb mix. Drink 1 cup three times daily, one hour after meals. Feel Good Herb Tea 3 Parts lemon balm herb Mix the above herbs and flowers in a bowl. Store in a glass jar. To prepare the tea, use 1 to 2 teaspoons of herb per cup. Pour hot water over herbs and allow it to steep for 5 to 10 minutes. Flavor with honey or lemon if desired. Drink up to three cups per day. This tea promotes a general feeling of well-being. Chinese Herbs Bupleurum and dong quai are combined in an herbal formula that helps reduce anxiety, irritability, and are a great help for depression. Combine 1,000 milligrams of a bupleurum and dong quai formula two or three times daily for two weeks out of every month. AdaptagensThe term ‘adaptogen’ has been generalized to include herbs that don’t necessarily boost energy or counteract stress, but still have a number of benefits including enhanced immune function, antioxidant action, and physiological normalization. In Western medicine the concept of adaptogens is still not widely known, so the ideas remain controversial. However, when you consider that stress has been linked to a host of other disorders, including depression, heart attacks, hypertension, and increased susceptibility to infection, it’s easy to understand how one herb can have an all encompassing effect. Ginseng (an adaptogen), not only reduces stress-related hormones, but research shows it also improves stamina and relieves fatigue. Eleuthero (often called Siberian ginseng), and reishi mushrooms, improve stamina and enhance immune function in many instances. Ashwagandha, (an Indian plant), helps decrease damage caused by stress, and reduces cholesterol and blood sugar levels. Calcium and magnesium can also help depression. They work synergistically; that is they work with each other, hand in hand. When your body lacks these vital nutrients, it becomes out of balance. Doctors treating depression, usually opt for prescription medicines or tranquilizers that also deplete their supply. Find out more about the Benefits of Calcium Supplement Getting help for depression is very important! Do whatever you can to make sure you don't end up another statistic. It is very easy to understand how so many people become depressed! Turning on the evening news every night can be a sore source. If you think you are presently depressed, talk to someone about it, take an herbal remedy, or find other ways to get help for depression. Once you do, the real you can shine through and you'll be feeling like your 'old self' again!
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