Herbal Treatment for Depression

• Bacopa Monnieri
• Borage
• Brazilian Guarana
• Catuaba
• Cocoa
• Damiana
• Ginkgo Biloba
• Gotu Kola
• Graviola
• Green Tea
• Horny Goat Weed
• Kola Nut
• Korean Ginseng
• Ladys Slipper
• Lemon Balm
• Muirapauma
• Passion Flower
• Peppermint Leaf
• Rhodiola Root
• Schisandra Berry
• Siberian Ginseng
• St. Johns Wort
• Thyme
• Valerian Root

With depression we should look at the relationship between tryptophan and the neurotransmitter Serotonin, which mediates and controls so many of our moods and bodily functions: appetite, anxiety, depression, sleep, Selective Serotonin Re-uptake inhibitors, such drugs as Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, and Luvox.

5-HTP

It is important to ingest enough natural tryptophan, or 5-HTP, because the brain cannot take serotonin from other parts of the body. 5-HTP is a safe alternative to Serotonin-enhancing drugs, several other compounds that increase Serotonin have not fared well with depression. The first of these was tryptophan, the amino acid precursor to 5-HTP.  Our bodies manufacture 5-HTP from the amino acids we get from proteins in our diet. The 5-HTP is a precursor to Serotonin.

Unlike tryptophan, 5-HTP is a natural, herbal treatment for depression as it is not fermented or manufactured through chemical synthesis. It is a natural extract from the seeds of the Grifonia plant.

Supplements of 5-HTP  work best when taken three or more hours after your last meal, especially if the meal was heavy in protein. Drinking 5-HTP with fruit juice seems to give it a boost.