If you have suffered from depression, then you know how difficult it can be to find a good, non-addictive treatment for the symptoms of depression. Many prescription medications can be addictive. There are also many products that claim to be natural treatments for depression. How can you evaluate these products to find the correct one? How can you weed through all of the hype to find the great products?

First, look at the ingredients in the product. Are the ingredients backed by solid clinical research as depression treatments? Use the internet to do some research. If you cannot find solid research to pack up the ingredients in the medication, then perhaps it is hyped. Also, if the ingredients are backed by research, make sure they are available in the correct dosages. The potency of different herbal extracts can vary quite a bit. Make sure the supplement you are looking at has the active ingredients in sufficient amounts. Finally, check the quality of the product. Does it have premium-quality ingredients? Can you tell that it was created in a quality-controlled environment? These considerations will help you to purchase the best natural depression herbal supplements.

There are actually only a handful of herbs that have scientific research to back their effectiveness as depression treatments. This can be frustrating for those who need help, because there are dozens of supplements that claim to be a depression treatment. The strongest evidence points to St. John s Wort extract as a natural depression medication. There have been over twenty clinical studies to prove the effectiveness of St. John s Wort to treat depression. It seems to work just as well as prescription medications, such as Prozac. The great benefit of St. John s Wort over prescription medications is that it has significantly fewer side effects. This makes St. John s Wort perhaps the first place those suffering from depression should turn when seeking treatment options. The best dosage to start with is 600-900 mg a day. This can be increased if needed. Make sure the supplement you choose contains 3-5% hyperforin, as this is the type that was tested to treat depression.

There is another natural treatment option for those suffering from depression and that is SAM-e. This promising treatment works more quickly than St. John s Wort in relieving the symptoms of depression. The downside to SAM-e is that it is expensive. It can cost over $100 per month. This puts it out of the price range for many patients.

5-HTP is another option for those seeking natural treatments for depression. This is an amino acid that causes the body to produce more serotonin, which can lift the depression state. 5-HTP works extremely well when combined with St. John s Wort as a treatment regimen. Also, increasing the intake of B vitamins helps relieve depression.

There are several options out there for those who suffer from depression and want to avoid addictive prescription drugs. Before heading to the doctor for your next prescription for Zoloft, consider trying some of these natural options. Women suffering from postpartum depression who are nursing a baby should use extreme caution before taking any natural supplements.

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Depression

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