Are There Any Natural Cures For Depression?

This is a subject to great interest to me. I have a family member, my mother who has suffered from chronic depression for almost 60 years, yes, almost 60 years. If you haven’t witnessed something like this first hand, you can’t even begin to imagine. I have seen this woman treated with everything from shock treatments, to every powerful drug known to man. Psych hospitals and long lines of every type of therapist. The results have been marginal and fleeting at best.

I believe hers to be of a biochemical nature for the most part , some psychosocial and some physical.  A bad marriage for over 20 years surely didn’t help, now long over. Her depression was diagnosed before that. She just turned 81 last month and the current medical treatment is Buspar and Remeron barely making a dent. She did well on Ativan, but became addicted and psychotic, it is no longer an option. I have never seen anything so sad, talk about being robbed of quality of life! There is much not known about depression.

Anyways, so what in the natural supplementation arena has shown results. I don’t believe anything for severe and or chronic depression, but promising for light to moderate depression. Here are some things I have found:

St. John’s Wart – has worked for some – shown to raise melatonin levels in the brain –  may reduce effects of other medications – consult a physician first, especially with issues of pregnancy and/or contraceptives

Diet:

Folic acid -  patients have been found to have a deficiency – foods rich in folic acid are lentils, and other dried beans or legumes (if you don’t live in the southern part of the U.S., you probably don’t consume enough of these – also high in protein) leafy green vegetables, and seeds

Vitamins B6 or B12 – patient may be deficient – good sources of B6 are spinach, bell peppers, and turnip greens. Good sources of B12 are calves liver and Red Snapper (fish)

Omega 3 Fats – again a deficiency - salmon is a good source, other oily fish,  flax seed, canola, sunflower, eggs, walnuts or a high quality Omega3 supplement

I good friend of mine said she modified her diet and removed negative media (network news) and over a period of time ( a couple of years) beat her depression, no more prescription drugs

Acetyl L-Carnitine – an amino acid –  some have had success with 2-4 grams daily

Coconut oil – if you can get it down

magnesium glycinate – 400 to 1000 milligrams – depending on the person

Mangosteen – shown effective in some mild and moderate cases – many claim mild euphoria with consumption of the whole fruit puree juice - I would agree from experience, however I don’t suffer from depression.

Please treat the people in your life who suffer from depression with kindness, spend time with them talk to them, remember, it’s not all about you!

I would be open to all comments and feedback on this one please! With the family member mentioned above, I’m open to suggestions.

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