Your Guide For Choosing Herbal Supplements For Depression

The Problem of Treating Depression

Depression can be a very difficult disease to face, and to treat.  There are many herbal supplements for depression on the market, however not all of them have been proven to be effective.  There are also pharmaceutical medications that have been created to combat depression, but many worry about potential hazards or adverse health effects of using such medications, and seek a more natural solution.

St. John's Wort Herbal Supplements For Depression

Of all herbal supplements for depression, St. John's Wort has been shown to have the greatest effect in combating the disease.  Many studies have been done, particularly in Europe (where herbal supplements are more commonly used than in the United States) showing the depression fighting power of St. John's Wort.

Studies in the United States of herbal supplements for depression, however, have shown that St. John's Wort seems to have little or no effect in fighting major depression.  While it can still be helpful against minor depression, it should not be depended on in cases of major depression.  The assistance of a doctor is recommended in such cases.

Hyperforin is the natural antidepressant found in St. John's Wort.  When using St. John's Wort herbal supplements for depression, about 900 mg daily dosage is recommended for mild-moderate cases of depression.  This has been shown to be the most effective.

5-HTP Herbal Supplements for Depression

The other primary herbal supplement for depression is 5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan).  This is an amino acid that is extracted from the Griffonia simplicifolia plant.  5-HTP has not undergone as many studies as St. John's Wort, so the case for its effectiveness is not as well understood as that for St. John's Wort, however many believe that it is also a good herbal tool for fighting depression.

When it comes to 5-HTP, taken by itself, doses of about 150-300 mg per day are believed to be effective.  Many herbal supplements for depression combine both St. John's Wort and 5-HTP.  In these cases the daily dose of 5-HTP is lowered, to somewhere between 25-100 mg.