Holistic alternative to anti-depressants

The usual natural alternative to anti-depressants is St John's Wort, but it can take several weeks to start helping. In the short term the anti-depressants will probably help no end, but current medical opinion is that you shouldn't really take them for longer than a few months. The most natural anti-depressant of all is laughter, and the more you can laugh the better you will feel about yourself and the situations around you. Scientifically, laughter releases all sorts of endorphins that contribute to feelings of well-being.

Maybe you could do something for charity in your spare time, maybe in the evening or weekend. I am personally a great believer in helping others, which allows us to help ourselves.
cl-letoile2002

I've never used St John's Wort, but my mother did, with good results. Other natural herbal remedies include Passionflower and Valerian. These can be taken as a tea, or in capsule form. Like other herbs, they do take longer for their effects to be felt.

The Chinese have used Gingko to treat depression and other illnesses for centuries. It works by remedying the decreased blood flow to the brain associated with depression.

If you find your moods dipping with the change in seasons (what is called Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD), then more time spent either outdoors in natural sunlight, or indoors under bright full-spectrum light may help.

People suffering from SAD can also benefit from a change in diet - a low-fat diet of one part protein to five parts complex carbohydrates (such as whole grains) helps the brain produce more serotonin, the levels of which can decrease in winter. One reason why many of us crave starchy foods in the wintertime is that it's our body's way of trying to stave off depression.

Having a good friend to talk to can help immensely, as can a 30-minute head and neck massage - these things lower the brain's levels of stress hormones like cortisol and norepinephrine. Lastly, some people have benefited from a daily dose of vitamin B6.
cl-sevenfirearrows

There is a new natural alternative to anti-depressants called 5-HTP that has the same effect as Prozac. It works by restoring the brains ability to metabolise serotonin (the body's natural pain killer) which depressives are known to have low levels of.

Serotonin is also found in certain foods such as bananas, but you would need to eat a crate-full in order to get the equivalent of one anti depressant tablet.
owly_2001

Plenty of yoga and orange oil in the bath does it for me.
phoenix_dream