Herbal Treatments for Depression: Expanding the Options on Your List of Depression Medication

Over 20 million adults in the U.S. are suffering fromare examples of MAOIs.While prescription
depression, and many of them have explored theantidepressants can work for some patients, they
use of antidepressant medication to help alleviatealso produce an alarming amount of side effects in
their symptoms. Not all people who suffer frommany cases. Sexual dysfunction, nausea, diarrhea and
depression choose to use medication; oftentimes,headaches are just a few of the commonly reported
therapy alone is enough to successfully treat theside effects. Even more disturbingly, these
condition. But those who do are faced with a varietymedications can also cause thoughts of suicide,
of options -- including herbal ones.Antidepressants areparticularly in younger patients.Many who are fed up
more widely used to treat serious depression thanwith the side effects of antidepressants (or who
mild depression. There are several kinds ofsimply don't want to risk them in the first place) turn
antidepressants, all of which work slightly differently.instead to natural remedies for depression. Some
One common type is the selective serotoninremedies have proven to be so effective that they
reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). This type of medicationoutsell prescription medications in some markets. St.
specifically targets the neurotransmitter serotonin,John's Wort, for example, is one of the herbal
which is essential in monitoring mood. Commonlytreatments for depression that works so well that in
prescribed SSRIs include Prozac, Paxil, Luvox andGermany, it outsells many major prescription
Zoloft.Another kind of antidepressant is theantidepressants. St. John's Wort is believed to boost
monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI). MAOIs areserotonin levels in the brain, naturally lifting spirits and
usually only recommended to patients with atypicalalleviating feelings of depression.There are many
symptoms, and are not usually the first type ofother natural ingredients that are effective in treating
antidepressant prescribed to a person. If a patient isdepression, including passion flower, ginko biloba, and
not responding to other types of antidepressants, akava kava, among others. You should always consult
doctor may recommend an MAOI. MAOIs work bya doctor before beginning or ending any prescription
reducing the amount of monoamine oxidase in themedication, and if you decide to pursue the option of
brain. Monoamine oxidase is the substance thattreating depression naturally, remember to give the
breaks down neurotransmitters such as serotonin andmedication time to take effect. Whatever choice you
norepenephrine, which help regulate mood. Reducingmake, patience and perseverance in exploring the
the amount of monoamine oxidase in the system canoptions on your list of depression medication will
help restore brain chemical balance. Nardil and Parnateultimately lead you to a happier, healthier life.