According to World Health Organization (WHO), depression is a common mental disorder, characterized by sadness, loss of interest or pleasure, feelings of guilt or low self-worth, disturbed sleep or appetite, feelings of tiredness, and poor concentration. It can be long-lasting or recurrent, substantially impairing an individual’s ability to function at work or school or cope with daily life. At its most severe, depression can lead to suicide.
Depression can be genetic known as the Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), or it may occur in response to grief, illness, and life crisis events.
The biologic and pharmacologic explanation for depression is due to lack of three important neurotransmitters (chemicals that transmit messages into and away from the brain by passing through the different nerve cells of our nervous system). These neurotransmitters that we are dealing about are serotonin (referred to as happy hormone), dopamine, and norepinephrine.
Norepinephrine may be related to alertness and energy as well as anxiety, attention, and interest in life; lack of serotonin to anxiety, obsessions, and compulsions; and dopamine to attention, motivation, pleasure, and reward, as well as interest in life.
When mild, people can be treated without medicines but when depression is moderate or severe they may need medication and professional talking treatments.
Depression is a disorder that can be reliably diagnosed and treated by non-specialists as part of primary health care. Specialist care is needed for a small proportion of individuals with complicated depression or those who do not respond to first-line treatments.
Many drugs are available for depression that include Fluoxetine, Sertraline, and Imipramine. If you suffer from depression, it is advisable to consult a physician but in the meantime, there are also number of herbs that can be helpful in its management.
ST. JOHN'S WORT (Hypericum perforatum). This plant is named for St. John the Baptist because its bright yellow flowers bloom around the time of his birth, June 24. (Wort is Old English for "plant.") It contains hypericin, a chemical reportedly responsible for its antidepressant an anti-inflammatory properties. This herb is available in capsule and tea preparations. This herb is contraindicated to pregnancy and increases skin's sensitivity to sunlight.
GINGER (Zingiber officinale). Aside from being used as a condiment or a remedy for throat problem, this herb is believed by folklore to be effective for both depression and anxiety.
PURSLANE (Portulaca oleracea). Foods containing the minerals magnesium and potassium have been shown to exert antidepressant effects. Purslane is very rich with these minerals including antidepressant constituents such as calcium, lithium, and folate (the naturally occurring form of folic acid or vitamin B9).
ROSEMARY (Rosmarinus officinalis). This herb is not only used as a spice, it can also be used to stimulate the central nervous system, the reason why it is popular in the field of aromatherapy, even in the world of perfumery. Rosemary is shown to send a relaxing effect in the brain attributed to its phytochemical constituent known as cineole.
GINKGO (Ginkgo biloba). This herb is not only shown to boost memory. It can also be beneficial for depression, especially in the elderly who suffer reduced blood flow in the brain.
SIBERIAN GINSING (Eleutherococcus senticosus). This is not a true ginseng but has been shown to act as MAO inhibitor. MAO or monoamine oxidase is an enzyme that degrades neurotransmitters needed in the maintenance of well-being.
LICORICE (Glycyrrhiza glabra). This herb can be consumed as tea.
Depression can be genetic known as the Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), or it may occur in response to grief, illness, and life crisis events.
The biologic and pharmacologic explanation for depression is due to lack of three important neurotransmitters (chemicals that transmit messages into and away from the brain by passing through the different nerve cells of our nervous system). These neurotransmitters that we are dealing about are serotonin (referred to as happy hormone), dopamine, and norepinephrine.
Norepinephrine may be related to alertness and energy as well as anxiety, attention, and interest in life; lack of serotonin to anxiety, obsessions, and compulsions; and dopamine to attention, motivation, pleasure, and reward, as well as interest in life.
When mild, people can be treated without medicines but when depression is moderate or severe they may need medication and professional talking treatments.
Depression is a disorder that can be reliably diagnosed and treated by non-specialists as part of primary health care. Specialist care is needed for a small proportion of individuals with complicated depression or those who do not respond to first-line treatments.
Many drugs are available for depression that include Fluoxetine, Sertraline, and Imipramine. If you suffer from depression, it is advisable to consult a physician but in the meantime, there are also number of herbs that can be helpful in its management.
ST. JOHN'S WORT (Hypericum perforatum). This plant is named for St. John the Baptist because its bright yellow flowers bloom around the time of his birth, June 24. (Wort is Old English for "plant.") It contains hypericin, a chemical reportedly responsible for its antidepressant an anti-inflammatory properties. This herb is available in capsule and tea preparations. This herb is contraindicated to pregnancy and increases skin's sensitivity to sunlight.
GINGER (Zingiber officinale). Aside from being used as a condiment or a remedy for throat problem, this herb is believed by folklore to be effective for both depression and anxiety.
PURSLANE (Portulaca oleracea). Foods containing the minerals magnesium and potassium have been shown to exert antidepressant effects. Purslane is very rich with these minerals including antidepressant constituents such as calcium, lithium, and folate (the naturally occurring form of folic acid or vitamin B9).
ROSEMARY (Rosmarinus officinalis). This herb is not only used as a spice, it can also be used to stimulate the central nervous system, the reason why it is popular in the field of aromatherapy, even in the world of perfumery. Rosemary is shown to send a relaxing effect in the brain attributed to its phytochemical constituent known as cineole.
GINKGO (Ginkgo biloba). This herb is not only shown to boost memory. It can also be beneficial for depression, especially in the elderly who suffer reduced blood flow in the brain.
SIBERIAN GINSING (Eleutherococcus senticosus). This is not a true ginseng but has been shown to act as MAO inhibitor. MAO or monoamine oxidase is an enzyme that degrades neurotransmitters needed in the maintenance of well-being.
LICORICE (Glycyrrhiza glabra). This herb can be consumed as tea.
In addition, foods rich in B vitamins are essential. Nutritionists suggests that vitamins B6, B9, and B12 keep neurotransmitter levels high.
Tryptophan is an amino acid which is the precursor of serotonin neurotransmitter. Therefore, it is essential to boost your intake of tryptophan. Sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and evening primrose seeds (Oenothera biennis) are all rich with this feel-good amino acid.
Eating high-carbohydrate foods is also beneficial. In biochemistry, carbohydrates (including sugars) are converted to glucose, a type of sugar commonly called blood sugar. Glucose triggers the pancreas to release insulin. In return, insulin raises brain levels of tryptophan, which can now be converted to serotonin.
Tryptophan is an amino acid which is the precursor of serotonin neurotransmitter. Therefore, it is essential to boost your intake of tryptophan. Sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and evening primrose seeds (Oenothera biennis) are all rich with this feel-good amino acid.
Eating high-carbohydrate foods is also beneficial. In biochemistry, carbohydrates (including sugars) are converted to glucose, a type of sugar commonly called blood sugar. Glucose triggers the pancreas to release insulin. In return, insulin raises brain levels of tryptophan, which can now be converted to serotonin.
In conclusion, enhancing the levels of serotonin in the body is one of the accepted approaches in the management of depression.
So let's go green! Let's go natural!
*This article was originally published on June 5, 2015 @ http://thegreenpharmacist.blogspot.com/ by the same writer.
So let's go green! Let's go natural!
*This article was originally published on June 5, 2015 @ http://thegreenpharmacist.blogspot.com/ by the same writer.
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