Natural Depression Remedies

I know that a lot of people don't want to start taking antidepressants in fear of side effects.

We want both to conquer our depression and still live healthily, using only natural remedies. So, today I'm looking into natural medicines for battling anxiety and depression.

- St.John's Wort (Hypericum Perforatum), which you can get from the pharmacies, health stores and online. It comes in tablets, capsules, liquid form and tea.St.John's Wort is not going t help in major depression, but it's effective in mild or moderate depression disorder. There seems to be one serious problem while taking this remedy. People don't think of it as proper medication and don't mention it to their doctor, but this herbal medicine can easily interfere with your other medications, shouldn't be taken by kids, pregnant or nursing women, or people with bipolar disorder. It's counter-indicated for people with kidney or liver disease, and prevents your oral contraceptives, HIV medication and other drugs from working.

Its active ingredient hypericin reacts with sunlight, and there cases known by nerve damage or cataracts caused by bright sunlight on people taking this medicine. So, don't be tempted to use light-box therapy for SAD (seasonal affective disorder) while on St.John's Wort, - you'll be screwed.

Herbalists actually recommend using this remedy as tea or tincture, as it loses a lot of its qualities when transferred into capsules or tablets. They also say that you should stop taking it when you feel better.

- Omega 3 Fish Oil is a safer alternative to St.John's Wort and supposed to be more effective for treating depression and bipolar disorder. You general health improves as well - it's good for your heart, skin, hair and nails.

Fish oil concentration in your capsules has to be strong (90%) and you have to take correct doses for maximum effect. Again, you can get your supplement from pharmacies, health stores and online.

Bear in mind that Omega 3 Fish Oil can interfere with warfarin and aspirin, can cause indigestion and even bleeding and also shouldn't be taken 2 weeks before and after surgery.

- Vitamin Brich food and supplements, such as green leafy vegetables, fruit, beans and fortified grains. People with depression lack vitamin B6, B12, Folic Acid and Thiamine. So, you can make sure you eat food full of them or take your vitamins.

- Exercise as I've been saying before releases endorphins (happy brain chemicals) into your brain and generally makes you feel better.

- Meditation improves your mood, relieves anxiety and reduces stress and can be used in addition with other means of depression help, like yoga for example.

- Acupuncture can be used as antidepressant medication. It helps to improve mood and symptoms associated with depression such as insomnia, fatigue, changes in appetite and anxiety.

- Other remedies include asparagus dry root or powder which can be taken once daily as herbal remedy, cardamom tea, lemon balm, apple with milk and honey, an infusion of rose petals.