Do natural supplements that are said to relieve depression symptoms work? That’s the focus of this article, read on to learn the findings of my research, but be sure to talk to your doctor before trying any of the supplements mentioned here – to see if they may help with your depression.
As an adult, depression has been one of the most disabling things I’ve experienced, and I can say with a great deal of certainty that almost every problem I’ve had – and those problems that I still have – are linked to depression. I’ve been blessed in that my chronic depression hasn’t been severe enough that I’ve needed to seek medical help, though I often wonder if I couldn’t have saved some time in life and been in a better place faster if I had talked to my doctor about my chronic depression.
Natural Supplements With Reputations for Relieving Depression
A number of natural supplements have gained status for the way users claim they relieve depression, and given the severe side-effects of some prescription medications, it’s worth looking into the depression relief options provided by natural supplements such as CBD oil, fish oil, SAMe, and folic acid.
CBD Oil for Depression
I hesitated, at first, to write about CBD oil due to its perceived-but-incorrect association with marijuana. It comes from the cannabis plant – but – it’s a different strain of cannabis than the kind that gets you high and ‘loopy’ -that’s a totally different kind of depression relief. The strain of cannabis plant used to produce CBD oil has had the THC ‘bred’ out of it over the years and while it does provide a kind of relaxed bliss, it isn’t going to give you the munchies or make you laugh like a buffoon even if something awful happens the way the other kind of cannabis does.
Fish Oil for Depression
I’ve been using fish oil for a few weeks now, though I didn’t start it for depression. I was having so much trouble with my focus and attention deficit problems that I was desperate, but I don’t like to take prescription medicines if there’s any other way. And, I have noticed some relief of my attention problems, along with the surprise benefit of noticing some relief from my depression. (That’s saying something for me, that I got through the holidays with no bout of depression.) Another plus for fish oil, it can help support heart health, according to the label on the bottle.
SAMe for Depression
SAMe, S-adenosy-L-methionine, is a molecule that occurs naturally in the human body, and it’s been found to help depressed adults who don’t respond well to prescription depression medications. It has also been found effective in relieving osteoarthritis symptoms in patients participating in some studies. It has been noted, however, that bipolar patients experience more manic behavior when taking SAMe, so it’s advised that bipolar people avoid this natural supplement.
Folic Acid for Depression
Low levels of folic acid, also known as folate and as vitamin B-9, have been linked in studies to a number of common ailments, including depression. This vitamin is found in the dark, leafy greens that are often left out of the typical American diet, and it’s easily replaced with supplements or dietary changes. Physical issues its lack-of is associated with include depression, birth defects, heart disease, stroke and some cancers. If you check the labels of multivitmins,you may find it’s already in your daily multivitamin supplement.
Thanks for visiting Intrinsic Vicissitude and reading this post about natural supplements for depression. Questions and comments are welcome, and again, be sure to chat with your doctor before adding new supplements to your diet. Every body responds differently to new medications, so your physician’s care is always your safest starting point in relieving depression or any other ailment.
