Serious health complications can result from taking antidepressants Coronary diseases, diabetes, and other serious health conditions have been found to be linked to taking such prescription antidepressants. There are even reported cases where people who did not have existing heart ailments prior to taking antidepressants have suddenly suffered fatal cardiac arrests. Some of these antidepressants could also affect the kidneys and the liver to fatal proportions. This is a pressing enough reason for even medical practitioners to recommend a series of psychotherapy sessions combined with herbal therapies using herbs for depression treatment. That’s right, doctors are now recommending herbs for depression relief. These herbs for depression treatment has steadily gained popularity over the past years.

Depression in itself is not a disease or ailment. It is a condition wherein a person’s physical, mental, emotional, and social faculties are hampered by unexplained feelings of weakness, sadness, hopelessness, and others. This kind of a condition is considered to be a chronic condition that necessitates regular and long-term treatment. Different people can experience depression in varying intensities. In the same way, the symptoms of a major depressive disorder could also manifest in different ways. Consulting a medical professional should be the first step that anyone who suspects that he might be suffering from clinical depression in order to get the right treatment.

Some of the herbs for depression treatment that are commonly recommended by medical practitioners as well as alternative medicine experts include:

1. St. John’s Wort is one of the most extensively used herbs for the treatment of depression. This herb, also known as hypericum perforatum, has been used for centuries all over the world. St. John’s Wort is used in the United States as a dietary supplement that comes either in pill form or in tea bags. Serotonin, a neurotransmitter in the brain responsible for mood enhancement, is known to be incresed with the use of St. John’s Wort.

2. Valerian Root, scientifically known as valerian officinalis is another herb that is used to help treat depression. Extracts of this root is often included in formulations to help people who have insomnia as a symptom of clinical depression. Valerian root, however, is only recommended to be taken for periods up to six weeks. As an approved dietary supplement, Valerian root supplements are taken as pills.

3. Despite being found to aggravate depression, hops are still recommended as one of the herbs for depression when put together with other mood boosters. It is used to relieve tension and ease irritability in people suffering from depression. Hops have also been found to fight insomnia.

4. Perhaps another one of the more popular herbs in supplements and energy drinks is ginseng. This particular herbal depression treatment has been proven to fight stress and give a person the energy boost he needs. Lots of formulations including teas, pills, and juices that are recommended for depression treatment contain ginseng.

There are several other herbs for depression treatment. Kava for depression and Gingko biloba for depression are two examples. Alternatives to psychotherapy as treatment for depression are likewise available. As there are differences to the way that clinical depression manifests itself and the causes of clinical depression, the right treatment could only be prescribed after consultation with your doctor. Anyone suffering from depression should not take any medications, whether herbal or not, without the supervision of his doctor.