Natural Antidepressants Info

Natural antidepressants are more important than ever as depression will affect approximately 10 to 25 percent of women and 5 to 15 percent of men in the US alone. The estimated cost for treatment as well as lost wages is estimated at $40 to $53 billion annually.

Consequently, pharmaceutical drugs like Prozac, Zoloft, Celexa, Luvox, and Paxil have grown in popularity. But there's a dark side -- a real dark side.

Side effects of these popular antidepressants include nausea, diarrhea, sexual dysfunction, loss of appetite, nervousness, insomnia, dry mouth, anxiety/agitation, weakness and fatigue, and headaches. In addition, over 44,000 adverse reports have been filed with the FDA on Prozac alone. One report says,

"Out of those reports there are about 2,500 deaths with the large majority of them linked to suicide or violence. The suicide statistics relating to women [taking Prozac] are shocking."

(The Eli Lilly company's product Prozac was the first of the serotonergic antidepressants to hit the market and since then, has been making on average $7 million daily. Due to these many reports and for other reasons, Eli Lilly has been sued for Prozac-related deaths in many state and federal courts.) It is because of side effects like these that the desire for more natural antidepressants have grown in popularity.Needless to say, the need for natural antidepressants is more pronounced than ever. So, can one take a natural antidepressant without the side effects? Yes.

In fact, there are natural substances that have literally been used for thousands of years as natural antidepressants. Let's discuss them now.

Favorite Supplements That Act As Natural Antidepressants

There are two proven natural antidepressants: SAM-e and St. John's Wort. Let's discuss them one at a time. What is SAM-e? Short for S-Adenosylmethionine, SAM-e is a potent natural antidepressant. SAM-e (pronounced as "Sammy") is a naturally occurring compound that helps to regulate brain entities like phosphatidylserine and neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin. It is also purported to generate enzymes that contribute to liver health and in repairing joints.

(SAM-e was found in a double-blind clinical trial to be effective in relieving the pain of osteoarthritis as well.) In addition, some research has been conducted on SAM-e for depression as well so as to answer the question, does SAMe work on depression?"" The answer appears to be yes.

SAM-e is critical in the manufacture of two important compounds found in the brain -- phosphatidylserine and neurotransmitters. As SAMe assists neurotransmitters in binding to receptor sites, there is a consequent increase of serotonin and dopamine activity. These, in turn, strongly influence your moods. There is convincing clinical data that verifies the claim that SAM-e is an effective antidepressant.

According to recent data, 70% of those taking SAM-e receive the antidepressant benefit -- the same degree prescribed antidepressants such as Prozac give. However, it does not give the same side effects. Plus, SAM-e works faster than prescription antidepressants.

According to Teodoro Bottiglieri, Ph.D., it takes about 10 days to see SAM-e's effects compared to the several weeks it takes for prescribed, antidepressant drugs to take effect. Other research confirms this. Lastly, one independent study validates the preceding information saying,

"SAM-e may be a treatment alternative for the management of depression in a population reluctant to add another 'pill' or another set of related side effects to an already complex highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) regimen."

Natural Antidepressant: St. John's Wort Info

How Can St Johns Wort Benefit You?

• Promote sleep
• Alleviate symptoms of PMS
• Alleviate anxiety, stress, and depression
• Control fibromylagia symptoms. Researchers believe fibromyalgia is caused in part by a shortage of the neurotransmitter serotonin that St. John's Wort can help alleviate.
• Soothe hemorrhoid itching and burning through cream application.
• Ward off infections due to its antibacterial and antiviral properties including mononucleosis.
• Treating herpes simplex and influenza though more clinical studies need to be done.

It's main claim as a medicinal herb is its potent anti-depressant therapeutic benefits. This is due to its key ingredients -- hypericin and hyperforin. St Johns Wort has consistently out performed placebos (dummy drugs) and has matched the effectiveness of standard antidepressant drugs, such as Prozac or Zoloft, WITHOUT the side effects.

Before taking a St Johns Wort dosage, please consult with your doctor. St Johns Wort has been labeled as "unsafe" by the U.S. FDA -- which will tell you that it does have some worthwhile capability as a healing agent.

I believe the FDA is a credible organization that does much good, but due to corporate greed and the political vested interests of those who stand to lose literally billions of dollars, it's been classified unsafe as well as another powerful medicine -- comfrey. Interestingly enough, St Johns Wort and many other herbal medicines like Gingko Biloba are prescribed in Europe, especially Germany, the way prescription drugs are here. Why? Because they work. St. John's wort should be classified among the powerful natural antidepressants. Millions have taken St Johns Wort without ill effects to their health. Nevertheless, consult your doctor.

Choosing Quality Natural Antidepressants

Here's what to look for when selecting natural depressants. By following these criteria, you'll be assured of obtaining the highest quality natural depressant supplements. Look for the following:

1. The supplements should be produced at pharmaceutical standard GMP registered facilities, thus producing pharmaceutical grade supplements. Facilities that are GMP registered comply with the most rigid standards so as to minimize the possibility of product contaminants. (These are the same standards pharmaceutical companies in the United States are required to operate under as mandated by the FDA.) Nutritional supplements are not regulated by FDA and as such fraud is rampant with many so-called supplements containing contaminants with 1 in 5 not having the ingredients as proclaimed on the label!

2. Ideally, make sure the supplement does not contain any fillers or additives such as sucrose (sugar), starch, gluten, silica (sand) or any other artificial colors, dyes, or flavors.

3. Look for tablets with enteric coating as this inert substance protects the vitamins from being lost in the gastric acids. Enteric coating protects the vitamins until they can dissolve in the upper intestine where they are then assimilated into the blood stream.

Natural Antidepressant Supplements

Natural antidepressants supplements are plentiful but only a very few meet the exacting standards as shown above. One of those companies we've discovered -- after much research. This company is headquartered in New Zealand where their manufacturing standards are the same for pharmaceutical drugs as for dietary supplements. In fact, the New Zealand government standards actually surpass the FDA.

Natural non-drug antidepressant supplement has over 50 critical nutrients for optimal brain functioning, including the nutrient SAM-e as discussed above. It also has the nutrient DMAE, critical B complex vitamins, Gotu Kola, Gingko Biloba, and St. John's Wort as well as other specific nutritional brain supplements designed to be not only a memory enhancer, but a natural depressant as well.

Remember, a healthy brain helps prevent depression and that is why this New Zealand company's natural antidepressant formula is such a potent natural antidepressant. This neurological formula is new, having just been released in July 2005 after two years of research. I've been taking this company's products for more than a year now and can testify to their benefits.

I hope this Natural Antidespressants web page has been useful to you.

Yours in health, hope, and harmony,
Nutritional-Supplement-Bible.com