One iVillager suffering from depression asked fellow members for advice on holistic alternatives to prescription medication. Here's what they suggested:
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
I find that certain essential oils are good for depression. Nearly all the citrus oils are good, but be careful when using them in the bath because they can irritate - a tip someone gave me was to mix them in a little milk first, as this helps to disperse them in the water.
Burning jasmine, rosemary and lavender are all meant to be good for lifting the spirits, and I also like frankincense, as it calms breathing, and is therefore good for meditation.
The use of crystals can help, too. Rose quartz has a gentle loving energy and is a good healing stone, especially as it sounds as if you might be experiencing a 'healing crisis'. This would be a good stone to have around - it's also inexpensive. Other stones/crystals that may help are citrine and orange calcite. In colour therapy, orange is probably the best colour for depression.
meriti
Personally, I think its time to go to the doctor and get medication. You don't have to have a reason to suffer from depression. It can also just be a chemical imbalance within the brain that needs medicating. First you need to get better and feel more able to cope with life. Then, when you're feeling better, you can start looking at different options.
I suffer with depression on and off and I try to keep my life stress-free. When I feel myself slipping I sort of hibernate, chill out, take things easy, and that usually helps. If it persists, I go back to the doctor. When I'm feeling better I come off the anti-depressants and start with St. Johns Wort. Do not suffer needlessly. There is light at the end of the tunnel, just take those first steps towards the doctor.
i_pauline2002