10 Natural Antidepressants
Depression is a serious condition that can have a negative impact on how one handles daily activities, and how one feels and thinks. It can affect school, work, and relationships.
Signs and symptoms of depression include irritability, persistent sadness, feelings of hopelessness, feelings of guilt, anhedonia, fatigue, weakness, restlessness, difficulty with sleeping, loss of appetite, and suicidal ideation. Risk factors of depression include a combination of psychological factors, environmental factors, and genetics. Depression can occur at any age but usually begins in adulthood. In younger children and adolescents, it can present as irritability compared to low mood. Depression in older adults may co-occur with heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and Parkinson’s disease. These conditions often worsen when there is concurrent depression.
Depression is usually treated with psychotherapy and medications. While there are medications available for the treatment of depression, there are also various natural antidepressants that may be beneficial for patients with depression.
Antidepressant #1: Curcumin
Curcumin refers to the bright yellow chemical that is produced by some plants such as seen in turmeric. Curcumin is used as a food flavoring, herbal supplement, food coloring, and cosmetics ingredient.
Curcumin is used in traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurvedic medicine and researchers have found evidence that it may help reduce depression. Studies found that patients who received curcumin capsules instead of a placebo had significantly greater scores when using the Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology Self Report. Curcumin also has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
