Herbal Remedy for Depression and Stress
Posted on 12. Mar, 2011 by Allyson Drewry in Stress
As with many physical ailments, depression can also be debilitating. Although herbs can give us some mental lift during harder times, you should concentrate on things that are causing your depression, if the symptoms seem to be ongoing. You can surely work on a goal of weaning yourself from prescribed medication drug by shaping your nervous system to respond well to a consistent use of safer herbal remedies and other natural supplements. Even so, it should be attempted under doctor’s permission and herbalist’s supervision. This article shouldn’t be your only reference for your efforts. Do yourself a favor and consult people who have successfully use this approach to improve their depression symptoms. During an occasional “down time” and if you’re not already using an antidepressant, try these herbal and home remedies to lift your sagging spirit and regain a good quality of life.
• St. John Wort is a pleasant-looking herb with yellow flowers, it’s used for centuries as stress reliever and mood enhancer. It is particularly popular among many consumers in Western world, especially in Germany. In fact, it is prescribed more often by doctors there than typical antidepressants. A combination of Brahmi, Ashwagandha and St. John Wort is used as ayurvedic treatment for stress.
• Blackstrap molasses is a good remedy for stress. It is rich in iron and vitamin B, which has an amazing benefit upon our nervous system.
• Sage leaves have been used for centuries for people with stress and insomnia. Prepare a tea from dried sage leaves. Add some honey and drink it, whenever you feel down.
• Tusly or holy basil is an aromatic plant, which is cultivated for medicinal and religious purposes. This herb is considered as adaptogen, which can balance various processes in our body, which is helpful during a stress treatment.
• Some people reported that by chewing six fresh basil leaves in the morning and in the afternoon each, stress symptoms tend to improve.
• If you often feel the effects of stress at work, bring some ajwain seeds in a small pouch. By just smelling it, stress symptoms can slowly disappear. It is a practical and simple remedy for stress that can be performed in many places and at any time.
• Take alfalfa and sunflower seeds regularly to rid yourself of stress.
• Bean sprouts are rich in calcium, which can help in treating stress.
• During difficult times, don’t indulge yourself in a favorite fast food restaurant. The extra calories and bad fats only make your condition worse than before. Instead, choose a diet rich in fruits and veggies. They contain many vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, which can strengthen your nervous system and immunity.
• Many people in East Asia use ginseng to help treat physical and emotional imbalance. It is also effective in healing stress. You may take a ginseng capsule or drink a cup of ginseng tea at every two days. In just a week, your acute and prolonged stress can get much better.
• Dried lime tree blossoms can be prepared as a tea to help combat your emotional issues. If you have an especially difficult day, drink it before you go to bed.
• If you don’t have many of the above ingredients at the moment, just add a teaspoon of honey and a few drops of lemon juice on a glass of lukewarm water.
• Warm milk can be helpful too loosen some of your mental knots due to the daily pressures, if taken before you go to bed. Instead of sugar, it is advisable to use some honey to sweeten it. Yoghurt is a good way to treat stress. It is rich in Vitamin A, B complex and D. The diary product can also work well in treating insomnia, migraine and menstrual discomforts.
• It is also helpful to open the windows and breathe the fresh morning or night air for about 15 minutes. If it is advisable to start your day with an exercise, you should also end your day with a meditation to help soothe your mind and prepare yourself for tomorrow.
Chinese also use a combination of herbs to eliminate mild depression symptoms that tend to linger in our mind. They use a combination of perilla, hoelen, zhishi, ligusticum dang gui, coptis, ginger, saussurea, gambir, bamboo, ophiopogon, platycodon, bupleurum, cyprerus, pinellia, aurantium, licorice and panax ginseng. Other than to help lift depression, they can also decongest the liver. Chinese believe that depression is caused by burdened liver as well as problems on nervous system, blood circulation and thyroid. It is a good idea to take B-complex vitamin supplements and eat zinc-rich food, as the mineral is essential for maintaining a healthy emotional condition. During a serious depression, your doctor may look for signs of zinc deficiency.
These are some extra steps that can help you to snap out of depression.
• Seek a reliable psychologist, psychiatrist or counselor that you’re comfortable with.
• Have a physically active lifestyle.
• Make changes on your environments and daily routine to stimulate better mood.
• Act happy. In many cases, by acting happily you can eventually be happy. So smile, even there is no immediate reason for you to smile.
• Get philosophical and see the big picture. You won’t feel so gloomy if you are aware that a universal order is present and that everything that is happening to you has a reason.
• Try to help others who are worse off than yourself. There is always something you can offer to the world. Giving something can enrich your life and give you a sense of purpose.
• Play with pets or do anything that can make you forget about the world for awhile.
