Natural Remedies for Depression

Natural remedies for depression can help you deal with minor bouts of sadness. These depression natural remedies involve the use of herbs and a change in your diet and daily habits. Home remedies for depression are good for minor cases, but if you have a more serious problem you should get professional help.

Herbs

Herbal remedies are sometimes used to treat depression. St. John's wort is the most commonly know but other herbs can help ease symptoms of depression. They include:

• kava kava
• licorice
• thyme
• ginkgo biloba
• Siberian ginseng
• ginger root
• lemon balm
• basil
• borage
• clove
• rosemary
• sage
• black hellebore
• damiana
• oat straw
• yohimbine
• fo-ti-tieng
• ding quai

Food

Food affects your mood. Foods like apples, cashews, and asparagus contain vitamins that help combat depression. In general, make sure you're eating healthy food and getting enough essential fatty acids. Omega 3 fatty acids encourage healthy brain function. You can get these fats from oily fish, such as salmon and sardines.

Avoid sugar, caffeine and alcohol. These substances may make you feel better briefly, but when they wear off you'll feel worse than you did before.

Vitamins and Minerals

These vitamins can be used as natural remedies for depression.

• B complex
• vitamin C
• magnesium
• calcium
• zinc
• iron
• manganese
• potassium

Light

Sunlight plays a big role in depression. Some people have a condition known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD). These people get depressed if they don't get enough sunlight. Increasing your exposure to sunlight will help you if you have this problem. Try spending more time outdoors.

If you're in an area that doesn't get much sunlight you can purchase daylight lamps that mimicked the light of the sun and can help improve your mood.

Massage

Massage therapy can be used along with other natural remedies for depression. Massage helps boost the production of hormones like dopamine that make you feel good. It's also very relaxing and soothes anxiety.

Exercise

Regular aerobic exercise helps boost mood. If you exercise for at least 30 minutes 3 days a week you'll start to feel better. It may be hard to get yourself motivated enough to do some exercise but it does help. If you have to, get a personal trainer to help you motivate you to work out.

Service

Try doing something for someone else. When you serve others you often forget your own troubles. Helping people in need gives you a new perspective on life. You don't have to do anything big. Helping others in small ways can help both of you feel better.

Spirituality

Being spiritually connected can help ease your sadness. Take time to discover what spirituality means to you. You may find it in organized religion. You may find it in mediation. You may simply find it in the beauty of natural.

There's Always Hope

I struggled with depression in my late teens and early twenties. It was horrible. I felt like I was being swallowed up by blackness that I couldn't escape. I definitely had times when I even thought of killing myself.

If you're experiencing depression I would like you to know that it will pass. It may last much longer than you want but it will pass. Once you come out the other side you'll feel happiness and joy in your life.

Hang in there. There is hope. Try some of the natural remedies for depression listed above. If you need to seek professional advice.

If you liked these natural remedies for heartburn check out my other free home remedies. If you know a natural remedy that works well share it with us here.