A Natural Remedy For Depression and Anxiety

One of the big problems about antidepressant meds such as Xanax, Paxil and Celexa is that they can have a disastrous effect on a person's sex life and I know quite a few people who actually go off the meds before they have sex. This is just one of the issues of these drugs in that their side effects are sometimes more troublesome than the actual condition they are trying to heal. Small wonder that more and more people are seeking a natural remedy for depression and anxiety. It just goes to show that once you take drugs which alter brain chemicals radically, you may end up changing some other essential elements in that rather complex organ.

Usually when people refer to a natural remedy for depression and anxiety, they think of things such as yoga, meditation, physical exercise, diet, or herbal and homeopathic remedies. I want to look at two of these in this article, diet and herbal remedies.

The most popular and effective drug as a natural remedy for depression and anxiety is St. John's Wort and there is good reason for this. First, in about 20 clinical trials, this herb was shown to be just as effective as the antidepressant meds and moreover, it produced fewer side effects. In fact the side effects of this herb are mild and include dizziness, and fatigue. Compare that to weight problems, addiction risks and loss of libido and you understand why many depressed people steer clear of the anti depressant meds. Not to mention increase of depression, suicidal thoughts and hostility and mania in some patients.

Did you know that if a woman takes oral contraceptives over a period of time, there may be a Vitamin B deficiency in her diet which can impact on depression. Some studies actually showed women who had this problem were much less likely to benefit from the anti depressant meds. A few changes in diet can make all the difference but many people are not convinced. Just think that the brain chemicals such as dopamine and serotonin which govern our good mood and sense of well being actually need healthy brain function to work properly so we have to feed it with the right type of foods. For example, complex carbohydrates, fruit and vegetables (especially leafy green vegetables). Add to that the ESA essential fatty acids, especially Omega 3 found in fish (such as mackerel, salmon and anchovies) or fish oil supplements if you cannot cope with all that fish or are worried about pollutants such as the dreaded mercury.

As you can see, just by taking a herbal remedy such as St. John's Wort and a few changes in diet, you will be well on the way to avoiding depression and anxiety and if you are already suffering from this scourge, remember that this is the most natural remedy for depression and anxiety that you can choose.