Using Herbs and Supplements to Treat  Depression - By Nancy Hirsch, CN

You can't pick up a paper lately without seeing a report or study regarding unfavorable research on the side effects of antidepressants.

For example, a study published in the March 1, 2009 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology links depression to sudden cardiac death and fatal coronary heart disease in women with no known heart problems.

In this study, leading researcher Dr. William Whang found that "the risk of cardiac death was associated more strongly with taking antidepressant drugs than with symptoms of clinical depression." Although SSRI antidepressants such, as Prozac, Lexapro and Zoloft are generally safe for the heart, many cardiovascular side effects including irregular heart rhythms and even heart arrest have been known to occur in some people taking these drugs.  

An online study published April 1, 2009 in the American Journal of Psychiatry showed that taking antidepressants for more than two years is associated with an 84% increased risk for diabetes. This study monitored 166,000 patients who received a prescription for an antidepressant between 1990 and 2005. The study also found that weight gain was  linked to long-term use of some SSRIs.

There was also a study published in PLoS Medicine  which revealed that antidepressant drugs don't work any better than placebo at reducing depression. The meta-analysis of the study showed that there was virtually no difference in the scores for drug and placebo in patients with moderate depression and only a small and clinically insignificant difference among patients with very severe depression.

According to data received via a Freedom of Information Act request, there have been over 63,000 cases of people on antidepressants committing suicide in the United States. Nearly every school shooting that has taken place in the U.S. in the past ten years  has been conducted by young men who were taking antidepressant drugs.

Instead of subjecting yourself to the sometimes serious side effects of these drugs, there are safer, more natural options that can work well to help lessen symptoms of depression.

The herbal remedy, St. John's wort, is one of the most effective natural ingredients for treating depression. The active ingredients in St. John's wort are believed to increase the amount of serotonin and possibly other neurotransmitters in the brain. Numerous studies report St. John's wort to be more effective than placebo and equally effective as tricyclic antidepressants in treating mild to moderate depression.  In fact, 27 published clinical studies show a 56 percent improvement rate in depressed patients compared to 25 percent in the placebo group. In Germany, St. John's wort outsells many of the major prescription anti-depressive medications -- 50% of patients that complain of anxiety are prescribed St. John's wort, whereas 2% are prescribed Prozac. Another remedy, 5-HTP (hydrotryptophan) is an amino acid derived from tryptophan, which is a precursor to serotonin. Serotonin is a naturally occurring brain neurotransmitter that helps to regular mood. In fact, some SSRI drugs, like Prozac for example, work by influencing serotonin levels.

SAM-e, a derivative of the amino acid, methionone, has been prescribed in Europe for more than 20 years.  It works in the body by raising levels of the brain chemical dopamine. Dr. Richard Brown, an associate professor of clinical psychiatry at Columbia University has been using it on his patients for years with successful results.  A meta-analysis of 28 studies commissioned by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality found that there was a clinically significant reduction in depression scores of the participants in the study.

According to Dr. Daniel Hall-Flavin, a Mayo Clinic psychiatrist, a number of studies suggest that fish oil supplements are effective in helping to treat depression. The fatty acids in fish oil have been shown to play an important role in brain function. Some research has suggested that people who have depression have low blood levels of EPA, a fatty acid found in fish.

A  study appearing in the May, 2008 issue of Archives of General Psychiatry states that there is a connection between low levels of vitamin D and depression, and that increasing blood levels may help with depression.. The study showed that vitamin D levels were 14 percent lower in individuals with depression compared with non-depressed participants.

Aerobic exercise is a proven antidepressant. Exercise reduces stress which can exacerbate depression, and increase endorphins. It also increases the production of the neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, all of which are associated with an elevated mood.

Depression is a very serious condition; however, it is not a disease. Rather, it's a sign that your body and your life are out of balance. The options listed above are safe, inexpensive and can be remarkably effective, but they may not work for everyone.  Consult your doctor before starting any new nutritional protocol  to treat depression, especially if you take other medications.