Natural supplements have become an increasingly popular alternative way to treating depression and anxiety. While prescription medications are effective, there are several side effects, such as addiction or dependency, that steer people more towards natural supplements. While these natural alternatives can work, research should be done before starting them. There are several different natural supplements that can be taken for depression or anxiety, but it is important to remember that since the Food and Drug Administration does not really evaluate them, and some may not work for you.
Valerian dates back to the times of ancient Greece and Rome, and was often used to treat insomnia. It is a perennial flowering plant that blooms in the northern hemisphere. The root of the plant goes through a process, is put into capsules and used as a sedative, which can be used to treat anxiety. A part of the reason it works for anxiety is because it works quickly, sometimes kicking in under an hour. Many people say another benefit to Valerian is you do not get the “ groggy hungover” feeling as you do with prescription medications such as Valium.
L-theanine is also a common herbal supplement used to treat anxiety. It comes from an amino acid found in Green Tea. It is not addictive or habit forming, so it is a good alternative to prescription medication. Something to watch for with L-theanine, which is also known as Suntheanine, is making sure it is at least 98\% pure L-theanine. Another benefit of L-theanine is that it does not make you feel as drowsy as some prescription medications for anxiety do.
A great natural supplement that has more evidence to support its effectiveness is St. Johns Wort. St. Johns Wort is a yellow flowering herb found in Europe. Research shows that St Johns Wort can be as effective as prescription medications such as Prozac or Paxil, however it must contain 3-5\% hyperforin. Also, it is key to know that St. Johns Wort may take three to four weeks to really begin working and to feel its full effects.
Another natural supplement that has more clinical research to back it up is 5- hydroxytryptophan. It is also known as 5-HTP and is an amino acid found in Griffonia simplicifolia plant. Research shows that 5-HTP actually increases serotonin levels in your brain, which is what most anti depressant prescription medications do as well. Studies say that it works well alone and as quickly as just a few days, but also can be combined with St. Johns Wort to treat depression.
Ginseng and Ginkgo are also well known amino acids used to treat depression. While there is not as much scientific research that shows they work as well as some of the other natural supplements for depression, it has several other uses like controlling blood- sugar levels.
Natural supplements have many benefits over prescription medications such as side effects and addiction factors. While there are many other natural supplements that can be used to treat depression and anxiety over prescription medications, it is important to do your homework before making that decision.
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