The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Milk Thistle
Posted by Sophia (Lewisville, Tx) on 01/08/2010
★★★★★
For depression that gets worse at that time of month, Milk Thistle works great for me. I usually start feeling better within 20 minutes. It works great for the kind of depression where you just feel bad. It also works for guys' depression (I give it to my son). Try not to take it every day. I've read, and found from my own experience, that taking it daily lessens its effects.
Dietary Changes
Posted by Carmen (Nova Scotia, Canada) on 12/21/2009
oh yes!!! I too am feeling something, not a depression but an underlying GLUM feeling. I too am eating holiday junk to excess, it is everywhere!!! I went to a holiday party last night and ate a late supper, eating foods i rarely eat at an hour I never eat, slept very poorly and had odd dreams all night. I made the connection this morning, it must be it!!! Let us know how it goes.
Dietary Changes, Exercise, Supplements
Posted by Jill (Bronx, New York, United States) on 12/18/2009
★★★★★
Dysthymic Depression
I've suffered from a moderate constant form of depression called Dysthymia since I was 14 (I am now 43). I've been on several different antidepressants over the years. The last one I took was Paxil CR (which I was forced to quit cold-turkey in 2005 after production of it was briefly stopped after a problem at the pharmaceutical lab). It turned out to be a blessing in disguise. It was a hellish experience and though I did get an appointment with my Dr. a week into the cold-turkey and could have taken regular Paxil to ease my distress, at that point I wanted NOTHING to do with these medications. The withdrawal symptoms showed me just how much they mess with your brain chemistry. I was getting all sorts of electrical "zappy" sensations, dizziness, tremors, and neuralgic pain that traveled all over my body. It took about 3 months for me to get over the hardest part of it. After that I joined a gym and started a simple EXERCISE program. Just 20 minutes of cardio (pick the machine of your choice) and another 20 minutes or so of weight training and stretching. Yoga classes are super helpful as well. Not only did this help me detox from the residual symptoms but my mood improved dramatically. I still have some 'down' days, but who doesn't? Overall I feel much more energized and balanced than I ever did on the antidepressants.
I've since made incremental changes in the quality of my DIET over the years and this has boosted my mood even more. I no longer eat any overly packaged/refined foods. I eat whole grain breads (sprouted & hemp mostly), and try to cook from 'scratch' as much as possible. Extra virgin olive oil is my cooking oil of choice (except when I am sauteing or using a relatively high heat, in which case I use sesame oil). I still eat meat, but not at every meal or even every day, and when I do it is no longer the "star" on my plate, it is about a 3-4 oz serving and the rest of the plate is filled with vegetables and whole grains. I've learned to love leafy green vegetables (so much so I pile them on my plate). I still 'allow' myself to have guilty pleasures, but after awhile you find you don't really want them because your body has everything it needs nutritionally (so you don't get carb cravings) and your mood is so good you don't cave in to the emotional eating binges. The only 'difficult' time is around that time of the month...I get a little hungrier and may have a slice of cinnamon toast or a little ice cream, but nothing like the pig-outs of the past :) For any emotional irritation during that time there is nothing like a good cup of tea (sweetened with agave so as not to spike your blood sugar...I've come to prefer it over sugar).
Finally, SUPPLEMENTS can be the icing on the good mood cake. I take a whole food multivitamin to fill in any nutritional gaps, a good Omega blend oil (something with borage oil in it is excellent too) and vitamin D drops in the wintertime (along with plenty of time under a sunlight simulator bulb - I keep one in my reading lamp).
Record numbers of people are suffering from depression because of the standard American lifestyle & diet. It doesn't have to be that way...you can feel good again without dependency on pharmaceuticals and by only making a few simple lifestyle changes (no need to go vegan or raw, though go for it if that makes you even happier).
Vitamin D
Posted by Heather (San Diego, Ca) on 03/07/2013
★★★★★
Yeah. This is a no brainer for depression. If you are depressed, and not getting sunshine (10 minutes a day) get at least 1,000 mg per day of Vitamin D. Double that in the winter. Some people may need more. Generally, if you live in an area known for sunshine (in the States that would be California, Hawaii, Florida, Texas, Arizona, etc.) 1000 mg per day might be enough, unless you live in a house with the windows closed and rarely go outside.
If you live in the north, where there is less sunshine, at least 2,000 mg supplement is needed; doubled in the winter.
This helps enormously with depression, much more successful than any anti depressant prescription medication.
Give it a few weeks to see how you feel.
Don't take it if you are a surfer, outdoorsy type, or don't wear sunblock.
I had good Vitamin D levels per the doctor before supplementing it because I drank milk with Vitamin D. That is not enough, however, to help with depression. San Diego is known for its sunshine, but that didn't help me because I was depressed, rarely left my house, and would apply sunblock to my face and wear a hat in the sun for wrinkle prevention. (The one year I didn't do this, hoping to get more vitamin D, I got lots of new wrinkles on my fair skin.)
Vitamin D is CHEAP, especially at Costco where you can get 250 USP pills for $9.
Magnesium
Posted by Jennifer (Chicago, Il) on 10/09/2009
★★★★★
Feeling extremely depressed, anxious, panicky, I first stsrted taking Magenesium Glycinate, which I thought worked well until I ran out read a little more about different types of Magnesium and went to my local health food store and bought Magnesium Citrate, 200 mg. I started taking 400 mg. in the morning and 400 mg. at night before I go to bed and I can't believe how much better I sleep on Magnesium Citrate! I just wanted to highly recommend it for depression and/or anxiety, it seems to relax your body and take you in to a deep sleep throughout the night.
Magnesium
Posted by Serach (Jerusalem) on 05/21/2014
I will try the magnesium I tried liquid mag, no luck yet tastes horrible. My chiro put me on homeopathic lithium, and also a combo of bacopa, for brain fog and a few other herbs. I am unbelievabley moody, rage attacks, deep frustration often cannot stop crying and terrible depression. I was on 300 mg of gabapentin for moods, about 3+ weeks ago went down to 250 with drs ok, and feel nuts. Am also on 100mg trazodone for sleep.
I will not go up again, but wonder why I feel so much worse on such a small dose change. My holistic md friend says they make it so that when you withdraw you feel awful and want to go back on it for relief.
I am alos on high doses of valerian, cal poppy, but sleep is awful.
Any ideas? Serach
Magnesium
Posted by Nanowriter (Hotspot, Texas) on 05/22/2014
Hi Serach, I'm not sure, but I think that Gabapentin is a drug that works by enhancing the effects of the GABA that you do have. The problem I see with this is that it doesn't give you more GABA so what happens when the GABA deficiency becomes so bad that it can't be "pushed" anymore? Suicidal tendency is also a side effect of this drug.(! )
I took Xanax for a short time for anxiety and felt that it did make the anxiety worse, kind of like a rebound effect.
There is a good book called The Mood Cure that discusses neurotransmitters and depression, anxiety, etc. The author gives detailed instructions as to what nt to take for what condition.
I found that my anxiety and insomnia went away as I supplemented with large dose vitamins and minerals. Interestingly, vitamin C seemed to add to my problems of anxiety.
At night, I take zinc, magnesium, copper, and niacin, as well as tart cherry juice and sauerkraut and have minor sleep issues, if any.
Magnesium
Posted by Nanowriter (Hotspot, Texas) on 05/22/2014
Hi Serach, I'm not sure, but I think that Gabapentin is a drug that works by enhancing the effects of the GABA that you do have. The problem I see with this is that it doesn't give you more GABA so what happens when the GABA deficiency becomes so bad that it can't be "pushed" anymore? Suicidal tendency is also a side effect of this drug.(! ) I took Xanax for a short time for anxiety and felt that it did make the anxiety worse, kind of like a rebound effect.
There is a good book called The Mood Cure that discusses neurotransmitters and depression, anxiety, etc. The author gives detailed instructions as to what not to take for what condition. I found that my anxiety and insomnia went away as I supplemented with large dose vitamins and minerals. Interestingly, vitamin C seemed to add to my problems of anxiety.
At night, I take zinc, magnesium, copper, and niacin, as well as tart cherry juice and sauerkraut and have minor sleep issues, if any.
Magnesium
Posted by Suzy (Fort Wayne, In ) on 05/23/2014
Serach from Jerusalem, I want to suggest a website for help with your anger. It is
orthomolecular.org. On the home page hit Library and then click on the article Nutritional influences on Aggressive Behavior. Please read the complete article as it has much information. The site has helped a lot with our bipolar son. I wish you the best.
Dietary Recommendations
Posted by Charles (Burlingame, Calif/USA) on 02/10/2009
58 year old male with a former history of great health/runner/government worker who worked out doors. Forced retirement with foot/heal and hip problems. Those are tolerable but have self diagnosed and one doctor diagnosed depression. Absolutely cannot get out of bed...when awake seem to ruminate about everything wrong with the world or the economy. Sorry to dump on all but ...almost at a very scary point in my pysche. I am reaching out to all. Charles
Dietary Recommendations
Posted by Rick (Montreal, Quebec) on 02/11/2009
Greetings Charles, There are many substances in nature that are useful to treat depression. Rather than try a hit or miss approach, I would suggest you find a book that will help you understand what is happening and what to do about it. An excellent choice is a book by Gabriel Cousens, a noted psychiatrist who uses natural means to cure depression.
http://www.amazon.ca/Depression-Free-Life-Gabriel-Cousens/dp/0060959657
Next suggestion, water... www.watercure2.com I think learning about the effects of water would be a solid foundation in any quest for better health, mental or physical.
All of the best Charles,
T3
Posted by Mary (Regina, Canada) on 01/22/2009
★★★★★
Hi: I am so glad someone brought up T3(liiothyronine) therapy and depression. A very common effect of both clinical and sub clinical hypothyroidism is depression. Sometimes people who are depressed are misdiagnosed as not having hypothyroidism because the blood tests are negative. A true test if you are depressed and want to see if it is a symptom of hypothyroidism is to take your temperatue under your arm, three hours after waking, then 2 more times every three hours. Average these and they should not be below 37 C. If below, could be cause of depression and a host of other symproms. see www.wilsonstemperaturesyndrome.com This has helped me greatly, Mary
Chromium
Posted by Ashlee (Dallas, Texas) on 12/07/2008
★★★★★
I am taking Chromium Picolinate for minor depression and it has made me feel so much better i've heard that it is good for weight loss too but i havent seen any difference. Magnesium is also good for constipation, depression and other problems that have a tendency to pop up it pretty much can cure what ales you since most people do not receive enough magnesium in their diets.
Sam-E
Posted by Karen (Ephrata, Wa - Washington) on 12/24/2012
★★★★★
Just a word on Sam-e, it is amazing stuff. It has helped me more than any other supplement. I would like to share some information about it though. It should never be taken with any other substance that effects seratonin, such as rhodiola, 5-htp or even dextromethorphan wich is in Robotussin D.M. and many over the counter medications. And of course Prozac and other prescription medications. For me Sam-e has worked far better than anything else.
Sam-E
Posted by Rob (Manhattan, Ny) on 12/27/2012
I found a good answer to my own post...
From Dr. Ray Sahelian:"I have personally taken SAM-e just to see what it would do, and it is quite a powerful mood lifter. Perhaps I'm sensitive to nutrients, but I notice the effects on 100 mg, sometimes even less. Almost all the tablets on the market are 200 mg. If you plan to take it under medical guidance, here's a few tips your doctor may not know. It's best taken in the morning before or with breakfast. I notice within one to two hours being more alert and more motivated to do things, and in a better mood. Many of the clinical studies have used several hundred mgs but in the long run this can cause side effects. The most common are overstimulation, insomnia, and headache. You can actually feel anxious and restless if you take too much. If you wish to take a small amount, bite off half or a third of a 200 mg tablet and use the rest the next day. You may need to adjust your dose down over the next few days since it can start building up in the system, or you can take a day or two off. Each person is unique in their response."
Sam-E
Posted by Mum (Qld, Australia) on 12/31/2014
I have suffered severe depression and anxiety for many years. I have been hospitalised for several weeks and attempted suicide multiple times. During my worst anxiety, I was horrible to be around and developed extreme agoraphobia. I managed to get my condition under control using medications and CBT. However the medications had negative side effects including extreme weight gain of 50Kg and sexual difficulties. The meds also made me need to sleep 10 - 11 hrs a night. Several months ago, I bravely stopped medication and moved onto a combination of SAM-e and vitamin B complex. I feel even BETTER than I did on medication and the negative side effects are gone. I am sleeping well and my family have commented how wonderful I look. I am calm and collected. I need to take 400mg of SAM-e daily, as the 200mg dosage isn't strong enough. On 200mg, my anxiety and depression creeps back in slightly. I highly recommend SAM-e. Make sure to take the vitamin B's as well. This makes it work better.
Blackstrap Molasses
Posted by Lisa (Jerusalem, Israel) on 08/07/2008
★★★★★
I had tried a lot of things to beat depression, Including: St John wort and different traditional medications. Molasses worked - no side effects. It is just a healthy food to eat. I have about 1- 2 table spoons a day. TO make it easier to eat I made a made a molasses based taffy.
Blackstrap Molasses
Posted by Carla (Grosse Pointe, Michigan) on 09/11/2008
Hello everyone, I can't thank you enough for this great website, I love it and recommend it to everyone I know. I too am looking for a place where to buy sugar beet molasses. I have searched online and at some "fancy" grocery stores with no success. Does anybody have any ideas? Thank you so much!
EC: Well, we've found beet sugar sold online but not beet molasses. Try googling "beet molasses" rather than "sugar beet molasses". It's possible that an international grocery store would carry it.
Here's a website for traders -- sorry, not much help, but it may give you some clues! http://buy.ecplaza.net/search/1s1nf20sell/beet_molasses.html
Additional info on Sugar Beet Molasses from Wiki:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molasses
"Sugar beet molasses
Molasses that comes from the sugar beet is different from cane molasses. Only the syrup left from the final crystallisation stage is called molasses; intermediate syrups are referred to as high green and low green and these are recycled within the crystallisation plant to maximise extraction. Beet molasses is about 50% sugar by dry weight, predominantly sucrose but also containing significant amounts of glucose and fructose. Beet molasses is limited in biotin (Vitamin H or B7) for cell growth, hence it may need to be supplemented with a biotin source. The non-sugar content includes many salts such as calcium, potassium, oxalate and chloride. These are either as a result of concentration from the original plant material or as a result of chemicals used in the processing. As such, it is unpalatable and is mainly used as an additive to animal feed (called "molassed sugar beet feed") or as a fermentation feedstock.
It is possible to extract additional sugar from beet molasses through a process known as molasses desugarisation. This technique exploits industrial scale chromatography to separate sucrose from non-sugar components. The technique is economically viable in trade protected areas where the price of sugar is supported above the world market price. As such it is practised in the US and parts of Europe."
In the cuisines of the Middle East, molasses is produced from several other materials: carob[1], grape[2], date[3], pomegranate[4], and mulberry[5].
Blackstrap Molasses
Posted by Brenda (Edmonton, Canada ) on 03/23/2009
I have been surching a lot on where to find Sugar Beet Mollasses. Still have not found anything....I do have a suspicion, if one goes into their local Chinatown supermarket, and say In Mandarin or Cantonese for Sugar Beet Mollasses they just may find it!!
Perhaps someone Asian on your staff or board will attempt this..
I did find:
http://www.answers.com/topic/sugar-beethttp://www.answers.com/topic/uridine
I am not sure if taking(5 grams per day) of yeast is healthy though so I thought I better post you first.
Thank you.
Good Luck to all.
Blackstrap Molasses
Posted by Nirinjan (Traverse City, Michigan) on 12/30/2009
I would recommend using Molasses from cane sugar and not beets. Most sugar beets are GMO and could have other side effects or make sure it's organic grown.
Saffron
Posted by SB (London, UK) on 06/17/2008
★★★★★
I had been getting bouts of severe depression. I tried various remedies incl st john's wort and 5htp, both of which gave me devastating results .Then I came across saffron . It really got me balanced into normality . I had it along with acv and magnesium supplements .Wonderful it makes you feel calm and relaxed .I just boiled a tiny pinch in hotmilk and sweetened with a bit of honey .I started 2x aday but now I have it only about once a week or less. It's non addictive .see for yourself.
http://www.thehealthierlife.co.uk/natural-health-articles/mental-health/saffron-treat-depression-00913.html
Dhea
Posted by Brian Mahoney (Bellingham, Washington) on 05/21/2008
★★★★★
I've been on different antidepressants the last several years, natural and pharmaceutical and have found DHEA supplementation to be one of the most effective for myself. I'm currently taking usually 150mg /day of dhea and 200mg of Zoloft. Added in deer antler velvet this last month. The jury's still out on the DAV. I aso just tried Saint John's Wart standardized for hypericin and hyperforin and can't say it did any good. D3 didn't help. Will probably try urine drinking last if at all. Rhodiola may be next and/or a trip to a sunnier climate. I just saw some info at Perlmutter Health Center (Naples Fl) web site about hyperbaric oxygen giving some people depression relief, so that will be in the future as well.
Couch Exercise
Posted by Adrienne (ID) on 07/31/2023
I get it! Imagine laying flat on the floor face down and then trying to raise up your torso or bend your head, shoulders and back upward and back as if you were trying to curl up backwards. Now picture how much easier that would be laying over the end of your couch with your hands touching the floor. You could just curl backwards as much as you could which might only be a little at first, but if you did it often you would gradually be able to bend further. I can see how this would strengthen back muscles, but I'm not sure how it works for depression, except to say if wiggling our toes works, hey, why not bending our backs? I've been depressed for several days, so, after reading about it on Earth Clinic, I tried just tightening my toes while I was walking around today. I'm not depressed now! :-)
Couch Exercise
Posted by Kathy (Melbourne, Australia) on 11/27/2011
Is this what they call planking? lol :-)
Rhodiola
Posted by Henry (San Francisco, California) on 05/24/2008
thanks :)
Rhodiola
Posted by Cayita (Welland, Ontario) on 07/10/2012
Actually, I don't think it is considered a mood altering herb. I have heard very good comments about it.
Rhodiola and 5-HTP
Posted by Rae (Hackensack, NJ) on 02/06/2008
★★★★★
I sent feedback about a week ago about a rash as a possible side effect from Rhodiola (500mg for depression)but I was also taking St John's Wort (900mg). I did more research and found some people have had an itchy rash in response to St. John's Wort! I tried the St. John's again and the same thing happened. Now I'm on the Rhodiola and 5 htp (50mg)and so far so good.
Rhodiola and 5-HTP
Posted by Henry (SF, California) on 05/24/2008
★★★★★
I agree, for weeks I was in a horrible depression and the next day I was better (and physically stronger). I took Gaia Herbs Adrenal Support (has Rhodiola) + straight Rhodiola.
Cold Showers
Posted by Learning (Northern, In) on 08/22/2011
I'm pretty sure she meant that if your temperature is 78 then you are dead...
Cold Showers
Posted by Sam (Tampa Fl) on 11/23/2013
No one is going to die from a cold shower or quick dip in icy water. You can die from anything you believe in. Watch this on you tube. It is traditional to dip into an ice hole in january in Russia
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQB2QBSmFW0.
Sodium Thiosulfate
Posted by G (USA) on 07/14/2007
★★★★★
Ted, i have been taking sodium thiosulfate in the form of an aquarium water conditioner, removes heavy metals and chlorine. Anyway, am I supposed to feel this good after taking it in my water/tea at the rate of about 7 - 10 drops per pint. Calls for 2 drops per gallon to condition the water, I am way over that. Anyway, within 30 minutes I feel great! Almost like an instant ant-depressant. What's your opinion, on the mode of action?
Wiggle the Toe Method
Posted by Hazel (London, England) on 07/04/2007
★★★★★
I had psychotic depression after my childs birth. I didn't sleep for days. A reflexologist told me this. You wiggle one toe, then the next one, then the next one and so on. Over and over. It works brilliantly, try it tonight!
St John's Wort
Posted by Sarah (Ottawa, Canada) on 01/13/2012
I have been taking B100 complex and Omega 3 (both three times a day) to help me being down day-to-day (depression, I guess).
I tried them separately, but only if I take them both works for me..
Tried 5-HTP for weight loss and saw it decreased my appetite considerably, improved my mood but also made me sleepy. So, I only take it once in the evening.
None of these were helping though with my aweful PMS moods. So gave ST JOHN'S WORT a try. Started taking 2 weeks before my expected period and saw improvements almost in a matter of days.
I had no side effects and now use it regularly 1 week before my period and following week to keep the bitch under control (additional to all above vitamins).
I take 2-3 weeks off and then repeat, so far I'm very happy with the results. It doesn't make me happy, just content but that is way better than being angry for no good reason.
Sam-E
Posted by Sharon (Boston, MA) on 02/04/2007
★★★★★
My husband had a habit of waking up at 2:00am in terrible anxiety every night. The rest of the night was toss and turn, toss and turn. I started him on SamE and overnight, the pattern ceased. Now he loves it and takes it every night. No more insomnia, no more anxiety, no more depression. Good stuff!!
Day Light Lamp, Dietary Suggestions
Posted by Toma (Chicago, IL) on 01/23/2007
★★★★★
Day light lamp not only helps to relieve the symptoms of SAD, but it also works great for depression. Make sure the lamp has a filter that blocks UV rays. Also, the supplement Isocort helps to fight every day stress.This diet will help your mood swings and depression a big deal: avoiding diary products, sugar, caffeine, canned foods, red meat, roasted foods, and alcohol. Doing deep breathing exercise 3 times a day helps to fight anxiety, and, also, a good remedy for panic attacks. Going to bed and waking up at the same time every day may help to relieve depression symptoms, too.
Black Tea
Posted by Michael (Adelaide, Australia) on 12/17/2006
★★★★★
L Theanine in Black Tea cured my Chronic Anxiety and Minor Depression.
I have suffered the above symptoms for a large part of the past 15 years. Have been prescribed a host of SSRI's and other drugs during this time. For the past few weeks I have been drinking a lot of black tea (6 cups per day) and the results have been amazing. The depression has lifted and i am more relaxed than i have been in years. I drink the tea straight (no sugar or milk) and let it settle well before drinking. Interestingly i used to drink a lot of green tea but did not get as good a response. I'm very encouraged by my experience of black tea and hope it continues to work.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Raquelle (Auckland, NZ) on 05/13/2008
Man this is the ultimate website! thankyou for your story. It always inspires me!
Lemon Juice
Posted by Jamie (Albuquerque, NM) on 10/19/2006
★★★★★
I didn't know lemons treat the blues, but I found out accidentally one day when I was bummed out that I cannot live without lemons.
