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Many of those who live with depression as part of their daily lives want to use something other than antidepressants to help them. Many depression sufferers are looking to natural alternatives to a lifetime of taking medication.

One popular natural alternative to pharmaceuticals is St. John’s Wort. Many studies have been conducted using this natural supplement. While the results of these studies have been inconclusive, there is agreement that St. John’s Wort seems to have some positive results. Many of those who choose to use it swear by it, often claiming that they get the same if not better results than using Prozac. They say that when they take St. John’s Wort regularly they need nothing else.

The reason for this natural plant’s positive results is because it works on all three of the neurotransmitters that affect depression: serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine, by slowing down the body’s rate of absorption. This allows the body more time to use them to send messages to the brain. The only negative aspect of this supplement is that is may interact with other medications a person takes and so a person should confer with their health care provider before trying it.

There are also others that have some good results. For example, omega-3 fatty acids, which are found mainly in fish oils, are having some success as well. Similar omega-3 fatty acids are found in walnuts, canola oil and hemp as well as fish, but it seems to be only the omega-3 fatty acids that are found in the fish oils that act as an antidepressant. These fatty acids have in them DHE fatty acids that are used by the brain as nourishment. Depressives are known to be low in these acids and so by taking the omega-3 fatty acids they are able to replenish what the brain requires.

Several of the B vitamins are recommended for those who must deal with depression. Research has found that too many adult depressives are low in their levels of folic acid. Tests have shown that those whose levels are particularly low can suffer from long depressive episodes, and may find that their bodies do not respond well to regular antidepressant medications because of this missed vitamin. It has been proven that when the folic acid levels are upped the person’s mood improves.

Thiamine, also known as Vitamin B1, has also been shown to affect mood. B1 even improves the mood of those who are not depressives.

Menopause can particularly affect moods in women going through that phase of their lives. Menopausal moods can be lifted by Vitamin B12 levels. Once a woman reaches the age of fifty her levels of this vitamin have greatly diminished to the point where she often has only half what she should in her system. Vitamin B6 is also important and is known to help premenstrual depression, called PMS. Using any or all of the Vitamin Bs can greatly improve mood. It seems worth trying them all.

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Scott Meyers is a staff writer for It’s Entirely Natural, a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit. You may contact our writers through the web site. Follow this link for more information on Depression.

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Tags: alternative medicine, b vitamins, Depression

Amongst the many different causes of depression, one that greatly affects the mood and creates depression is called Seasonal Affective Disorder (also known as SAD). SAD can and should be treated. SAD treatment can have a dramatic effect on a person, lifting the physical causes of depression. Therapy for SAD is actually fairly straightforward. Researchers claim that ten percent of depressives’ condition is primarily caused by Seasonal Affective Disorder. This article deals with the causes and treatment for SAD.

What causes Seasonal Affective Disorder? It is a depression that is directly related to the seasons and how much sunlight the person is exposed to. As the days get shorter these people suffer from the lack of light and changes in their body clock. The worst months for those suffering from SAD differ by latitude, but can start as early as September in the Northern countries, and can end as late as April as the days are growing longer and there is more sunlight available.

The symptoms of SAD are similar to most other mood disorders. The person will have no motivation to do anything. They can feel tired all the time but generally don’t sleep very well. They will have an increase in the amount of sweets that they want to eat, frequently eating so sugar that they begin to put on weight. There will be a decrease in their interest in sex. The person will be irritable, sad, feel worthless, sufferer from low self-esteem and may withdraw from friends and family. This feeling of depression will last all through the shorter daylight time unless something is done.

The exact reason that this occurs is not clear and research continues to try to better understand this phenomenon. SAD is believed to be related to the levels of serotonin and melatonin in the body that are imbalanced by the diminished hours of sunlight. There are a few ways to improve this imbalance. The best ways are natural. For example a person should try to spend more time outside during the day. Exercising outside is a great way to help reduce SAD-caused depression. Exercise releases endorphins, which naturally make the depressive feel better. If one combines exercise and exposure to more sunlight, one is on his way to an improvement in mood.

Phototherapy is another option. A mere two hours of daily exposure to phototherapy treatments can make a huge difference to a person’s mood. Most phototherapy is done at night, but for those who suffer more serious bouts of SAD, there are also dawn simulators; these will actually simulate a day’s worth of sunlight during the morning hours.

Antidepressants are another method of helping those dealing with Seasonal Affective Disorder along with the phototherapy sessions. Most people with this depressive disorder find that one treatment or a combination will help them get through this problem until the days are once again longer, and the amount of natural sunlight increases.

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Scott Meyers is a staff writer for It’s Entirely Natural, a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit. You may contact our writers through the web site. Follow this link for more information on Depression.

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Tags: Depression, exercise, melatonin, serotonin, sleep