Depression is a profound malaise, a mood disorder that makes daily life difficult. It requires professional treatment and follow-up.
Fortunately, a poor emotional state does not always mean depression. There are days when you don’t pay attention to the alarm clock, don’t want to get out of bed and don’t want to see anyone, but this does not mean that you need to use antidepressants.
There are many natural antidepressants that can be effective without causing side effects and that can be used to both prevent and treat bad moods.
So, in order to overcome the blues in a familiar home environment, you need just 2 components, namely:
- Your desire to get out of this state as soon as possible.
- Natural antidepressants – plants and foods that you can easily include in your diet.
St. John’s wort
The history of St. John’s wort as a medicinal plant goes back trough the ages. Nowadays, it is a popular antidepressant that has won the support of the medical literature.
Herbal preparations containing St. John’s wort are used for the short-term treatment of mild depressive symptoms.
St. John’s wort is a good alternative to antidepressants due to its mild side effects:
- Headaches
- Mild indigestion
- Dry mouth
- Increased sensitivity to sunlight
The dosages used in the treatment of depression and chronic fatigue depend on the composition of the drug. St. John’s wort is used in different forms. It can come in capsules, extracts, tea, decoctions and infusions.
Omega-3 fatty acids
To begin with, omega-3 fatty acids are critical nutrients for overall body health. Among other things, they are essential for the functioning of the brain and nervous system.
Since our body cannot produce them on its own, we only get them in food or special supplements.
Supplements containing omega-3 fatty acids, usually obtained from fish oil, are considered very safe. They improve mood and restore the structural integrity of brain cells.
Usually doses of 1-2.5 grams are used for medicinal purposes. Do not use doses greater than 3 grams without first consulting your doctor.
5-HTP
Dietary supplements containing 5-HTP are used to relieve mild to moderate depression.
The value of 5-HTP lies in the fact that it is used by the body to produce serotonin. It is this hormone that, among other things, is involved in regulating mood, sleep and appetite.
When our brains don’t produce enough serotonin, irritability, nervousness, anxiety, and other unpleasant symptoms can appear.
Our physical and mental abilities are not at their maximum.
If you have symptoms of low mood and depression, you can try using a supplement that contains 5-HTP. A dose of about 200-300 mg per day seems to be quite tolerable.
Other additives and substances
Many substances have been studied for their role in relieving symptoms of depression. These include:
- SAMe
- Rhodiola rosea
- Vitamins and minerals
- Green tea
- Valerian
- Hawthorn
If natural antidepressants have not helped, you still feel increased anxiety and fatigue, it is better to seek help from a specialist.