Herbs For Depression

Can Herbal Supplements Help Addicts Relieve Depression and Anxiety?

noreply@blogger.com (jolima) — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 03:58:00 +0000

When an addict goes into rehab, their goal may seem simple: to stay clean and sober. Learning to live clean and sober is complicated. The devil is in the details: how to manage daily stress, how to deal with painful feelings like boredom and loneliness without self-medicating, how to cope with sober social situations. You’ve been through detox and rehab already. You’re gathering tools for sober living from recovery groups like AA. But what if you happen to suffer clinical depression and anxiety, and your doctor writes a script for meds? Wait, those are pills. Can you safely use prescription anti-depressants and anti-anxiety drugs as part of your dual recovery? Are there any alternatives?

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Roughly 40% of Americans with at least one episode of mental illness are also addicted to drugs and/or alcohol, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Often, these dual-diagnosis patients were using drugs to change their mood from chronically depressed or anxious to cheerful and socially-engaged. (Ask any addict how that works out in the long term.) The subsequent drug abuse that developed made it difficult to spot their underlying mental illness.

In treating dual diagnosis patients, many clinicians feel they are limited to prescribing only those medications that don’t have a high potential for physiological addiction. Most doctors, as well as some recovery groups, say the addict must avoid all substances -- even anti-depressants -- because they alter one’s mood.

However, some of the most effective prescription drugs for depression, such as Effexor, Prozac, and Zoloft, are safe for addicts because their mood-altering effects happen over several weeks’ time, and are not physiologically addictive. (Lab rats don’t press a lever to get repeat doses of Prozac as they do for cocaine.) According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, anti-depressants carry no risk of relapse when used as directed by a physician. Recovering addicts struggling with depression are best served by participating in a self-help group in addition to pharmaceuticals.

Anti-anxiety medications, such as benzodiazepines, can be dangerous for recovering addicts because they are both mood-altering and highly addictive. Yet in some cases, anti-anxiety prescription may be appropriate in treating severe anxiety during early recovery. Be aware that most 12-step groups will consider you neither clean nor sober while using anti-anxiety meds. However, medically speaking, to use a prescription anti-anxiety medication is a decision best made by you and your physician.

If prescriptions are contraindicated during your recovery, below are eight natural alternatives used by rehab centers and individuals during all stages of addiction recovery. Each of these is freely available in the United States without a prescription. But as with prescriptions, the effects of some herbal supplements could lead to a relapse; please ask your physician for guidance before trying any of these supplements.

Supplements for Depression

St. John’s Wort (Hypericum): St. John’s Wort is the most popular herb used in treatment of mild to moderate depression in addicts. Its active components hypericin and hyperforin inhibit monoamine oxidase and reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine as prescription anti-depressants do. For this reason, St. John’s Wort should never be taken along with prescription SSRI anti-depressants because it can lead to a dangerous condition called serotonin syndrome. St. John’s Wort has been thought to trigger mania or psychosis in some patients with underlying bipolar or schizophrenia.

SAMe (S-adenosyl methionine): Our bodies naturally make this molecule via a reaction of the amino acid methionine with adenosine triphosphate. The SAMe in dietary supplements is produced in labs using yeast cell cultures. SAMe supplements, available in Europe by prescription and in North America over the counter, have been studied since the 1950‘s for their ability to relieve depression symptoms. A June, 2011 analysis of clinical evidence conducted by a Canadian integrative medicine center found that SAMe reduced depressive scores in 4 out of 5 small randomized controlled trials. However, according to the Mayo Clinic, SAMe has triggered anxiety and mania episodes in some people, including those with bipolar disorder.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids: This essential fatty acid is found only in food sources such as fish, nuts and some plants. People often take concentrated omega-3 supplements to treat depression and cognitive symptoms such as slowed thinking. According to University of California, Los Angeles researcher Dr. Fernando Gómez-Pinilla, "Dietary deficiency of omega-3 fatty acids in humans has been associated with increased risk of several mental disorders, including attention-deficit disorder, dyslexia, dementia, depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia." Because omega-3‘s effects on mood are subtle and occur over time, similar to anti-depressants, omega-3 doesn’t appear to raise the risk of relapse for addicts.

5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan): A naturally-occurring metabolic intermediate, 5-HTP is a precursor of serotonin, the neurotransmitter that most affects mood. Serotonin is also known as 5-HT; vitamin B6 helps enzymes convert 5-HTP to 5-HT, therefore supplementation with B6 combined with 5-HTP may be especially useful in treating depression. Our diets contain little 5-HTP, but this amino acid can be extracted from the plant Griffonia simplicifolia, source of most 5-HTP in supplements. There seems to be little risk of using 5-HTP alone as a natural mood elevator, but as with St. John’s Wort, never use it while taking SSRI’s.

Supplements for Anxiety

Kava kava: A preliminary study done in 2001 claimed that the active ingredients in kava kava, called kavapyrones, can ease drug cravings through binding to brain regions associated with cravings. But kava kava definitely changes mood shortly after ingestion,: users report a very relaxed feeling, sometimes accompanied by “pins and needles,” numb or creeping sensation in the skin. Many people who take kava experience a temporary but strong euphoria. Also, note that kava kava can cause liver inflammation and damage if used in excess, or when there is pre-existing liver disease. For these reasons, kava is probably unsafe for recovering addicts.

L-Theanine: Traditionally sourced from green tea, L-theanine is an amino acid derivative that naturally increases GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) and dopamine levels. Higher GABA levels are associated with feelings of calm, increased ability to think, and improved mood. Dopamine levels are associated with wanting pleasurable things like food, sex, and drugs. The dopamine pathways of recovering addicts become altered during periods of drug abuse, because many drugs promote extremely high levels of dopamine over periods of time, leading to the system’s inability to regulate itself naturally. The calming effects of L-theanine are very mild compared to benzodiazepines or other prescription downers.

Fundamental Lifestyle Changes to Heal Depression and Anxiety

Exercise: Moderate exercise is proven to reduce depression symptoms, from cognitive problems to lethargy and apathy. A regular exercise routine should be a critical part of the recovering person’s self-care toolkit. It may sound like old-fashioned advice to recommend a daily walk in fresh air and sunshine, but it benefits a person on so many levels. Exercise is the safest, cheapest, and most effective alternative treatment for depression there is, and very unlikely to trigger a relapse (although we know of several addicts in recovery who seem to become dependent on exercise to maintain a good mood; personally, if you had to pick your poison, choosing moderate exercise isn’t likely to cause serious life consequences.)

Correcting Nutritional Deficiencies: Another tool in the addict’s self-care toolkit is maintaining an excellent diet. Ideally, the addict should be assessed and treated for vitamin and mineral deficiencies, which are frequent in long-term addiction but which, such as anemia, could also have existed prior to the substance abuse. When the body has proper fuel, all aspects of the person are much better able to cope with stress, anxiety, all the demands of sober living. Tom Leland, M.D. is quoted as saying at a medical panel discussion at the National Methamphetamine Drug Conference that "it takes three months for the dopamine depletion to recover. Amino acid nutrients, such as QUIT vitamins with neurotransmitter replacements, are sometimes helpful."

What’s your experience and/or thoughts concerning using St. John’s Wort, B-complex vitamins, or other supplements to treat underlying depression with addiction?

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Magnesium supplementation to relieve fatigue: a personal anecdote

noreply@blogger.com (jolima) — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 06:59:00 +0000

Maybe it's early menopause, and maybe it's my McDonald's and Starbucks-enhanced diet, but lately I tend to get tired and brain foggy. Over the past month, I'd say I spent at least a solid week and a half total in a state of lethargy. Didn't feel like exercising; didn't feel like housecleaning; didn't even feel like paying bills (I did it anyway, but to avoid mistakes and confusion I had to really concentrate on what I was doing, instead of just dashing them off as usual).

Sounds like depression, you might think. I'm not sure...I assume it is. While looking for depression-related subjects to write about, I stumbled across some more info on magnesium supplements and their use in treating depression, chronic fatigue, and a bunch of other problems.

Back in 2009 I wrote a bit about a product called A to Z Calm, which contains magnesium, derived from seawater. The magnesium, when combined with calcium, improves the body's ability to handle stress. Magnesium is a natural muscle and nervous system relaxant when used in appropriate doses.

Since I'd been having trouble falling asleep also, I went to my local health food store and bought a bottle of plain magnesium powder, called Mag-Relax. I bought it and tried it the same night. I slept great that night, very relaxed and tired. Unfortunately, the next morning my legs felt really heavy and I moved even slower than usual while doing my usual morning routine. (Hence the sarcastic label I applied retrospectively to that post...I felt I should warn people.)

However, not wanting to give up so soon on experiencing the health benefits of magnesium, I tried taking it again a few days later. This time, I added a dash of baking soda (to alkalinize my system, since I'd been eating sugar) and swallowed a B-complex vitamin with my (admittedly nasty tasting) magnesium water, and woke up feeling unusually energetic and clear-headed. I titrated the dose down to a third of the recommended 615 mg. per serving, and started taking a morning dose as well, with half the B vitamin.

I'm now on the fourth day of this regimen, and continue to have much more energy, concentration than the previous several weeks. Another unexpected benefit is a loss of weight, because of (1) increased elimination (magnesium is a laxative in larger doses). Also, (2) my appetite and hunger sensations have strongly decreased. I don't feel shaky or weak either, if I happen to miss a full meal.

I'm thinking I will continue to take magnesium and B-complex supplements to naturally relieve my depression and fatigue. The results have really been impressive, especially considering how tired and unproductive I had been feeling.

For an abstract of a 2010 study showing the positive healing effects of magnesium citrate on inflammatory stress related to poor sleep, click the link.

For a less-expensive alternative to Mag-Relax, look for Cal Mag Magnesium Citrate powder with calcium. It's available at many supermarkets and natural foods stores.

Cal-Mag Calcium & Magnesium supplement to relieve stress and boost energy

Depressed People: Takin' One for the Team!

noreply@blogger.com (jolima) — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 00:30:00 +0000

Why do people get depressed, anyway? For some folks, that’s like asking “why be normal?” I mean, what’s not to be depressed about? The economy sucks. War is hell. Politicians lie. Pets die. Spouses turn cold. Editors, um, I mean bosses, seem made of equal parts opportunism and betrayal. If those sentiments strike you as unfoundedly cynical, I invite you to take a quick hop over to Depressive Realism country, to consider some findings which assert that depressed people (1) live longer and (2) are usually more realistic about real-life problems than cheerful people.

Not only that, but according to evolutionary psychiatry, depressed people are super-socially-conscious team players with the best interests of the social hierarchy firmly embedded in their psyches.

The Wikipedia article on evolutionary psychology and depression has an excellent summary of the theories attempting to explain how depressive behaviors may have originated in our Pleistocene ancestors, and why those behaviors may still be effective today.

A thoughtful rebuttal to evolutionary theories of depression goes like this: Depression may not just be a really prolonged bad mood, but something more endogenous, something that may occur separately from any external event or stressor. Also, how in the hell can depression be evolutionarily "adaptive"? Depression actually prevents people from reproducing more or faster than non-depressed people.

Critics of evolutionary psychology point to the fact that depression leads to poor self-care, low fertility, sexual unattractiveness, poor care of children, and in the severest form, suicide. "Like the painful and sometimes fatal childbirth that is the byproduct of selection for larger human brains, depression could simply be a maladaptive byproduct of a feature that is generally adaptive—perhaps the wiring of those brains. Viewed in this way, depression could be a “spandrel,” a genetic hitchhiker that is a byproduct of something else." (Quote from the linked article)

I wonder, what kind of evolutionary advantage would have depression as an undesirable byproduct...

Put On Your Skullcap...Dr Christophers MindTrac Capsules

noreply@blogger.com (jolima) — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 07:06:00 +0000

Not sure if there's ever a good time to detox from anti-depressants. Either you're too busy and can't afford to lose your mental edge even temporarily, or on vacation and don't want to become an unstrung crying mess, or don't want your kids to see you miserable during that month or so your brain/body needs to adjust to functioning without sertraline.

It's too early to report the effectiveness in my specific case, but here are some facts from Pub Med about one active ingredient of MindTrac:

Skullcap: A 2003 Canadian study reported the following (abstract):

The phytochemistry and biological activity of Scutellaria lateriflora L. (American skullcap) which has been traditionally used as a sedative and to treat various nervous disorders such as anxiety was studied. In vivo animal behaviour trials were performed to test anxiolytic effects in rats orally administered S. laterifolia extracts. Significant increases in the number of entries into the center of an "open-field arena"; number of unprotected head dips, number of entries and the length of time spent on the open arms of the Elevated Plus-Maze were found. The identification and quantification of the flavonoid, baicalin in a 50% EtOH extract (40 mg/g) and its aglycone baicalein in a 95% EtOH extract (33 mg/g), as well as the amino acids GABA in H2O and EtOH extracts (approximately 1.6 mg/g) and glutamine in a H2O extract (31 mg/g), was performed using HPLC. These compounds may play a role in anxiolytic activity since baicalin and baicalein are known to bind to the benzodiazepine site of the GABAA receptor and since GABA is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter.

Sounds to me like skullcap made the rats a bit foolhardy, what with the unprotected head dips and spending more time on what sounds like a rickety, dangerous structure.

Here's an informational video on Western phytotherapy, including hops, skullcap, and passionflower (which we discussed in an older post).

There are over 350 varieties of Scutellaria, and I don't know if the one in MindTrac is American (lateriflora), Chinese (baicalensis), South American (racemosa) or what. However, the abstract of a 2008 study reported: "[p]hytochemical analyses detected and quantified the flavonoids baicalin, baicalein, scutellarin, and wogonin as well as the human neurohormones melatonin and serotonin in leaf and stem tissues from S. baicalensis, S. lateriflora, and S. racemosa." ("Comparisons of Scutellaria baicalensis, Scutellaria lateriflora and Scutellaria racemosa: genome size, antioxidant potential and phytochemistry," Planta Med. 2008 Mar;74(4):474-81.[PMID: 18484546])

Warning: There are several published reports of an adulterant, Teucrium chamaedrys (Germander), found in many herbal preparations containing American skullcap. This adulterant contains hepatotoxic diterpenes, meaning it's bad for the liver. The problem was first noted after an epidemic of hepatitis in French people who drank germander tea marketed for weight loss. As one research pharmacologist states, the liver is "the most important organ in botanical safety" (http://www.oxfordicsb.org/session6/KROLL%20FDA-Ole%20Miss%2008.17.05.pdf, p. 11). Before buying any product containing skullcap, you may want to check with the manufacturer to get a certification stating their product is free from germander contamination.

Here it is, in all its glory, Dr. Christopher's MindTrac. (Oh, I wanted so bad to type "MindCrack." Nope, it ain't all that.)

This formula has become one of the most popular formulas for mental sharpness and clarity, emotional balance and overall health of the brain and nervous system. This formula has been used historically for helping the brain function properly via assisting the body with delivering the nutrients to the brain and calming the nervous system. This same formula is also part of the children’s line—KID-E-TRAC. All encapsulated products are in a pure 100% vegetable based capsule.

Boost Your Yang with Sini Tang, or, Cuss Out CUS

noreply@blogger.com (jolima) — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 18:52:00 +0000

(Sorry for the silly title. But nothing starts my day better than making a silly rhyme.)

In browsing through PubMed on the term "herbs for depression," I see that another Chinese decoction** has shown effectiveness in altering depressive behaviors exhibited by stressed-out lab rats.

The abstract of a June study by Chinese researchers (PMID: 19507271 [PubMed - in process]) stated that rats dosed with a traditional herbal compound called Sini Tang decreased two common rat behaviors typically provoked by chronic unpredictable stress ("CUS"): (1) sucrose preference and (2) open-field exploratory behaviors.

It appears that Sini Tang can be made from various herbs. (Someone correct me if I'm wrong.) The particular decoction of Sini Tang analyzed in the study above is made from (a) Radix aconiti lateralis preparata (also known as Fu zi); (b) Rhizoma zingiberis recens (Gan jiang, or ginger root); and (c) Leguminosae (flowering legume family of plants).

Sini Tang has been traditionally prescribed in China to correct a yang deficiency, in which there is not enough "bright" or "masculine" energy in the body system to counterbalance the "dark feminine" energy, which takes over and basically quenches the fire in one's very being. (I hope you can look past the labeling of depression as inherently "feminine" and see the synergy of the principle - the two polarities working together, both needed, but in the necessary balances.)

Well, it's always gratifying when someone can say for sure how an anti-depressant medicine actually works. The study stated that the temporary increases in plasma corticosterol levels and processing of corticotropin-releasing hormone by the hypothalamus gland both were reduced by appropriate doses of Sini Tang.

Since it is well-established that CUS leads to overproduction of cortisol, many depression researchers look for therapeutic agents which decrease cortisol levels.

Maybe a better solution is to strive incessantly to reduce the levels of CUS in our lives, so our bodies won't have to respond in ways that harm our physiology, curtail our healthy activities, and possibly shorten our lives. Easier said than done, however.

**As usual, the Chinese are actively publishing studies supporting their traditional herbal medicines. Out of the top 20 results on this search term, only about three were from Western researchers.

Passion Flower Is Actually Quite Relaxing, Really

noreply@blogger.com (jolima) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 02:28:00 +0000

Native Remedies has a supplement called "Mindsoothe," formulated by a clinical psychologist to be an effective, safe treatment for supporting the body's ability to calm itself during challenging situations. Its active ingredients are St. Johns Wort and Passiflora incarnata or Passion Flower. From Native Remedies' website:

Many who are fed up with the side effects of antidepressants (or who simply don't want to risk them in the first place) turn instead to natural remedies for depression. Some remedies have proven to be so effective that they outsell prescription medications in some markets. St. John's Wort, for example, is one of the herbal treatments for depression that works so well that in Germany, it outsells many major prescription antidepressants. St. John's Wort is believed to boost serotonin levels in the brain, naturally lifting spirits and alleviating feelings of depression.

There are many other natural ingredients that are effective in treating depression, including passion flower, ginko biloba, and kava kava, among others. You should always consult a doctor before beginning or ending any prescription medication, and if you decide to pursue the option of treating depression naturally, remember to give the medication time to take effect. Whatever choice you make, patience and perseverance in exploring the options on your list of depression medication will ultimately lead you to a happier, healthier life.

Now, we know all about St. Johns Wort as being an effective herbal treatment for depression. Gingko and kava is often recommended for mental alertness and relaxation, respectively. But passion flower? I'm out of the loop on this one.

Oddly enough I just picked up a bottle of something called "People's Choice Relax and Sleep" at the Dollar Store, of all places. It also includes valerian root (which does nothing for me, sleep or relaxation-wise, and tastes horrible), celery seed powder, catnip powder, hops powder, and dried orange peel. This small purchase got me interested in learning more about the effects of passiflora incarnata.

According to a study published on PubMed, titled "Preoperative oral Passiflora incarnata reduces anxiety in ambulatory surgery patients: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study" (Anesth Analg. 2008 Jun;106(6):1728-32; search PubMed for PMID: 18499602), passion flower extract helped patients relax and lessen their anxiety before surgery, without causing excess sedation that would interfere with anesthesia.

For more information about Native Remedies' Mindsoothe product, or to purchase, click here. It's $34.95 for one bottle. Native Remedies always offers a "Buy 2, Get 1 Free" deal. Their products are extremely high quality and worth the higher cost in my opinion.

To buy pure Passiflora incarnata powder, which Herbal Remedies (merchant) describes as promoting a "very relaxed high and mild hallucinogen," click here. At $6.99 for 4 oz. it's a pretty good deal. I would be very cautious about using more than the recommended dose, or trying to get high from it. The merchant recommends brewing passiflora powder into a strong tea, or even smoking it for maximum anxiolytic (anxiety-busting) effect. If you visit Herbal Remedies' site, use their search bar to find more passiflora supplements; they carry quite a few.

Diet For Depression

noreply@blogger.com (jolima) — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 03:40:00 +0000

Just wanted to pass along a blog I stumbled over while researching the benefits of mandarin orange on depression. (Yes, there are Chinese herbal medications featuring mandarin orange essence. Well, it's a pretty cheerful scent after all.)

The blog is titled Depression Diet. I have no relationship to this blog. I just thought it was cool!

Guess I'm excited about it because I thought I was the only one who found that certain foods made him happy. Give me a nice, steaming bowl of spicy alloo dum (Indian potato dish) and I literally feel like I'm floating for about an hour afterwards. Must be something in the spices. Great for the digestion.

Bupleurum falcatum for depression?

noreply@blogger.com (jolima) — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 18:26:00 +0000

Ever hear of Bupleurum falcatum? I hadn't, until coming across this e-pub at PubMed.gov, "Antidepressant-like effect of the methanolic extract from Bupleurum falcatum in the tail suspension test" (Nov. 20, 2009). http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/, search for term "19932727." Bupleurum falcatum, variously known throughout the Asian and European world as bei chai hu, thoroughwax root, echinocystic acid 3-O-sulfate, hare's ear root, and saiko, is a plant native to Asia and Europe. Its roots have been used in Oriental medicine for two thousand years to treat a range of ailments from "liver stagnation" to fever to hemorrhoids.

Recent research tentatively finds that bupleurum may be effective in treating symptoms of depression through its actions on the serotonin and noradrenalin systems.

Researchers at the South Korean Acupuncture and Meridian Science Research Center, Kyung Hee University, dosed lab rats with depressant chemicals (p-chlorophenylalanine or PCPA, a serotonin synthesis inhibitor) and alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine or AMPT, a catecholamine synthesis inhibitor) followed by extract of bupleurum falcatum, then observed their behavior in two different environments: one while hanging suspended from their tails, and the other in an open field. The rats in the tail suspension test showed less immobility than the controls. However, no difference was observed in the open field test.

The publication abstract concludes:

Taken together, these findings suggest that the methanolic BFM extract has dose-dependent possibility of antidepressant-like activity valuable to alternative therapy for depression and that the mechanism of action involves the serotonergic and noradrenergic systems although underlying mechanism still remains to be further elucidated.

For information on Bupleurum based products, click here:

Herbal Remedies - Bupleurum Information

Chinese Herbs Direct - Bupleurum

Quercetin product reported to relieve stress, make you drop off to sleep in an hour flat

noreply@blogger.com (jolima) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:49:00 +0000

User Review by Me: Powdered magnesium carbonate, included in this product, can and will cause drowsiness. I mean, like, your-legs-are-made-of-lead-and-your-cranium-full-of-fog-level-drowsiness. Use with extreme care.

A To B Calm Can 144 servings 8 Oz by A To B Calm
Price: USD $15.76
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Note: This post is an advertisement for product "A to B Calm Can" carried by Herbs Pro/Universal Herbs of USA.

Why should you use herbs for depression?

noreply@blogger.com (jolima) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 01:09:00 +0000

Many people trust natural herbs rather than regular medicine, simply because any toxic side effects have already been observed over millennia. In contrast, the serious toxicity and side effects of prescription anti-depressants are only tentatively accepted by millions of practitioners and patients.

Symptoms such as gastric upset, headache, sexual dysfunction, hyponatremia, sleeplessness, and even suicidal feelings have been reported in a significant number of patients, yet physicians continue to prescribe these meds.

Although they may take longer to start helping your outlook, plant-based depression remedies usually help lift people out of depressive reactions to stress. The herbs that work to fight depression seem to work holistically to improve your overall health and immune system, rather than target specific brain chemistry reactions.

St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforate) is probably the best known of the mood-enhancing herbs. Most effective "natural" depression remedies sold on the market contain pharmaceutical-grade St. John's Wort extract. The benefits of St. Johns Wort are well-known. Search PubMed.gov for papers about hypericum to see the thousands of results.

Some exciting new research focuses on some different plant based herbals. For example -

Ginkgo biloba flavonols (chemical extracts) called quercetin and kaempferol, were shown to have positive effect on depression-related brain pathways. This research was conducted to see if these extracts could help people with Alzheimers who suffer depression caused by the Alzeimers' disease. The results were positive. Quercetin and kaempferol could be non-toxic alternatives to conventional prescription anti-depressants. (PubMed, do a search on PMID 19917299)

A Chinese traditional medicine compound called Chaihu Shugan San was shown to markedly relieve symptoms of stress in lab rats, versus rats dosed with fluoxetine and placebo. The rats were also given sugar water, and those dosed with Chaihu Shugan San began to prefer drinking plain water instead. So perhaps Chaihu Shugan San could be useful for people who overeat when they're depressed. (PubMed, do a search on PMID 19912741)

Many other medicinal herbs are advertised to help with depression. Unfortunately, for most of them there is no strong evidence that they really work. There is still a lot of testing to be done. As one recent paper concluded,

"Current evidence for herbal medicines in the treatment of depression and anxiety only supports the use of Hypericum perforatum for depression, and Piper methysticum (Kava kava) for generalized anxiety."(Sarris & Kavanaugh, J Altern Complement Med. 2009 Aug;15(8):827-36; on PubMed, do a search on 19614563)

Are This Many People Really On Anti-Depressants?

noreply@blogger.com (jolima) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 01:06:00 +0000

As of 2009, over 27 million Americans are on prescription anti-depressants, and many of these people are finding that no single drug offers an effective cure. Not only that: the long-term effects of prescription anti-depressants are largely unknown. They act on specific chemical pathways in the brain. As with street drugs, people have reported permanent changes to their brain chemistry after taking anti-depressants for lengthy periods. If you want to avoid these potential risks, look at natural mood boosters to help you cope with life's difficulties. There are many herbal remedies for depression that can help you. Find out what herbs for depression are the most effective and how to use them.