Natural Cures for Common Illnesses

Depression is a disease of the mind. It can be brought about by extreme emotions or through an imbalance of natural chemicals in the body.

As much as there are chemical-based medicines that would help correct this imbalance, alternative and natural therapy for depression is becoming popular as more and more studies are starting to prove the effectiveness of these forms of therapy.

The following are just some of the few effective natural remedies for depression:

St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum) is known for its many medicinal potential, most especially in the treatment of depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders. Its use would date back to ancient Greece. Researchers believe that the action of St. John’s Wort in treating depression is because of its active constituent chemical, hyperforin, which inhibits the re-uptake of serotonin, dopamine, and nor-adrenaline. Studies are also being conducted on the potential of St. John’s Wort in the treatment of alcoholism. St. John’s Wort comes in capsule and tablet form, as well as teabags, liquid extracts and tinctures.

Omega-3 Fatty Acid. Do you remember grandma forcing you to take that yucky and smelly cod liver oil? Well, it’s because of this important essential fatty acid that is believed to have countless of benefits to the human body. Luckily, today, there are preparations of this wonder drink that’s no longer smelly and easy to swallow. Essential fatty acids are needed by our body for normal metabolism, however it is unable to synthesis it on itself. That is why it is essential that our diet includes rich sources of this unsaturated fatty acid. More common sources are fish, flaxseed, butternut, and black raspberries. Studies have shown that people whose diet is rich in omega-3 fatty acids have lesser incidence of depression. This is most specially recommended to patients with postpartum depression, since antidepressants can prove to be harmful to the baby.

Vitamin B Complex. People suffering from depression are found to be deficient in Vitamin B, most especially that of folic acid. One of Vitamin B’s use in the body is its ability to regulate mental and emotional health. For example, Vitamin B12 is needed in the formation of red blood cells, thus lack of it would mean lack of oxygen possibly to the brain. This would lead to mood swings, paranoia, and irritability among others. Folic acid (Vitamin B9), on the other hand is needed for the production of SAM-e (S-adenosyl-L-methionine). Lack of folic acid could result to forgetfulness, mental confusion, and depression. Although there are many supplements available in the market, natural sources include whole grains, green leafy vegetables, and beans.

SAM-e (S-adenosyl-L-methionine), pronounced as “sammy”, is naturally produced in our liver. This is a compound essential in the transport of what is called the methyl group, which is vital for DNA repair and production. SAM-e is one of the most effective vehicles to transport methyl groups, as such, if our body lacks this compound normal body functions in the cellular level would be impaired. SAM-e is naturally occurring in the body, but as we age, we produce less of this. This is actually a combination of a compound called methionine, which can be sourced from protein-rich food, and another essential compound called the adenosine triphosphate (ATP). SAM-e is widely available as a supplement in capsule form.