Herbs For Depression: A Suitable Alternative To Depression Pharmaceuticals?
By Alex Matis
Herbs for are often seen as a viable alternative to pharmaceutical treatment of depression. However, actual data showing an effectiveness of herbs for is rare and thus it is currently hardly possible to make a final verdict on the usefulness of herbal treatment for in general. Also, there seems to be only limited interest from western medicine to study the effects of herbs for in a clinically relevant setting. So from a patient’s perspective the question remains: What is the evidence that herbal treatment for works? By far the best studied herbal treatment for is without doubt St. John´s wort.

St. John´s Wort

St. John´s wort (Hypericum Perforatum) is the most well-known and best studied of the herbs for in use. It has been known as herbal treatment for and cure for other diseases for many centuries. In Europe, where this herbal treatment for is commonly prescribed by medical professionals, various clinical studies have demonstrated a positive effect of this best known member of the herbs for in use in cases of mild to moderate depression. However, two clinical studies in the US, one of them funded by a pharmaceutical company, have recently indicated that St. John´s wort extracts were no more effective than a placebo in major depression. Further studies with this herbal treatment for are currently conducted, but it may take years before a final verdict can be made on St. John´s wort. The exact mode of action of this herbal treatment for is not fully understood, although there is some evidence that it acts on serotonin production or -activity. Despite open questions and demonstrated limitations, St. John´s wort currently stands as the only one of the herbs for with a clinically demonstrated positive effect at least in mild cases of depression.

Further herbs for depression

Other herbs for often mentioned are Siberian Ginseng and Gingko Biloba. Extracts of each of these alleged herbs for have been in use for medicinal purposes for many years in certain parts of the world. While some circumstantial evidence exists that seems to show their potential as herbal treatment for no clinical studies have been conducted so far that prove or disprove any claims made with regards to their effectiveness as treatment. Further herbs for are marketed every now and then - all of them lacking any clinical evidence in or against their favour

In addition to the general lack of clinical data available another major problem with all herbs for is that the quality of different marketed herbal extracts may vary substantially depending on where they come from and how they were produced. Impurities and wrong preparation may reduce their effectiveness as herbal treatment for and may also lead to an increase in side effects. In this context it has to be said that the common misconception that herbs for are natural and thus do not have any side effects is outright wrong and the depressive patient should be aware of the potential risks of taking herbs for without consulting a medical professional.

Conclusion

Although the use of herbs for is widely spread, on the whole there is (maybe with the exception of St. John´s wort) no definitive evidence for the usefulness of herbal treatments for depression. Especially when compared to standard prescription drugs for herbs for usually cannot prevail as a first choice treatment option. However, when other more established treatments fail, or in particular in the case of St. John´s wort, in cases of mild depression, using herbs for may be worth a try. In any case the user should realise the limitations and not underestimate the risks of using herbs for depression.

To learn more on herbs for depression or other treatments for depression visit www.BeatDepression.org - your information source.

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