Natural Herbs for Depression / Suicdal Thoughts?

[vegan1976]

Are there natural herbs that I could find at the health food store that promote mental health and help with depression/suicidal thinking?  Going to a therapist or psychiatrist is not an option for me because it is against my healthy lifestyle (not to mention I've tried that already, including medication & talk therapy...both of which did not work & were a waste of my time).  Just wondering...

[LeftCoastChick]

There are no herbs that will make you well.  Why won't you seek out a medical professional? Seeing a Dr. will promote a a healthy lifestyle. There are hundreds of meds out there that can help, so you've not had success with some, sometimes it takes trying a few to get it right.

[vegan1976]

Not a chance.  I'm alcohol free, drug free, caffeine free, & nicotine free.  I follow a strict vegan diet & I exercise 6 days a week.  It just seems that all they do is push meds on people when all that does is mask the actual problem.  I do not trust doctors.  Taking meds and/or therapy is not an option.  Thanks anyway.

[ILADVOCATE]

  First of all some psychiatrists (including mine) will use some natural remedies (if proven in controlled studies) in addition to medication. But although there are some natural remedies that work on depression they have not found any that can replace standard medication. In Europe natural remedies are prescribed but in the U.S. they are unregulated so you don't know what you are getting. But if anything is being used against depression it must be regulated by a doctor. Regardless you said you said you had suicidal thoughts. That is something you need to speak to someone about. As to what works on depression I would not list it here because if things are of that much concern then its neccessary to speak to a psychiatrist.
  Living a healthy lifestyle is a great idea. But please don't confuse medication with illegal drugs. And not all natural remedies are healthy either. Talk therapy certainly isn't harmful. That doesn't mask the actual problem. Why not approach psychiatry with an open mind? And as for what anti-depressents are out there google "Depression Central". I believe in partnering on recovery. A person works together with their psychiatrist. I've had bad psychiatrists but the psychopharmocologist I see now doesn't control me and of course I take medication but its not given to me for personal problems, just my psychiatric disability. Personal problems are discussed. You had a bad experience. Perhaps that could change.

[angel44240]

I have tried St. John's Wort, SamE, L-Tyrosine, but I have heard that there are better remedies to try- Vitamin B Complex (which has alot of essential vitamins and minerals in it including Folic Acid and Chlorophyll), Vitamin C, Kava Kava, and Barley Grass works wonders.. I have heard it straight from the goat's mouth.. lol.. (speaking of people with also bipolar disorder as well and it's worked for them). Do a search- "natural herbs for depression"

Hope this helps!

[vegan1976]

Thanks girl !!!

[vegan1976]

You say to have an open mind regarding psychiatry, but they are the ones who closed it for me.  Too many bad experiences with meds, therapy, and psychiatry.  That is why I have to choose alternatives.

[LeftCoastChick]

There are no full clinical trial on any herbs as of yet. Herbal remedies are not governed as clincal meds. I've tried some of them when I was younger before I went on meds.
Kava Kava is a stimulant,  St. John's Wort can become toxic, but there are a couple of studies out there. SAM-e can be activating, which means, if you have a diagnosis other then Depression can throw you into hypomania. None of these natural drugs, which is what they are, have any proven efficacy for depression. I've had some bad experiences with a psychiatrist at 16yrs old, and vowed never agian, but I'm glad I did seek help eventually.I've tried all of those, plus royal bee extract, white ginseng, some homeopathic remedies with little sucess and a drained pocketbook.  I wish more folks looked at psychiatric illnesses as medical problems, we lack chemical or our chemicals are out of wack.

[vegan1976]

I have no respect for doctors.  Everytime I try to get help for my BPD, they threaten meds and hospitalization.  Or they dont want to talk about the suicidal thoughts at all.  I become too much for them, then I'm thrown into the hospital.  Its herbs or offing myself at this point...those are my options.  I won't succumb to psychiatric B.S.

[vegan1976]

Oh, you say that mental illness is medical, that your chemicals are out of whack...but do they really know that for sure?  I've done the research...these doctors have no idea what causes half of mental illness out there.  They are so quick to prescribe meds yet it is like a blind man throwing darts...hey, let's try this one & maybe it will work.  And if they do work, most likely you will gain 300 pounds in the process and live day to day in a lethargic dream like state.  No thanks.  I'd rather try what mother earth has to offer.  I trust her better.

[LeftCoastChick]

Ah, you have BPD, it explains why you feel that way a bit. I've actually lost weight since being on meds, and it's been 6 months that I'm on the right meds.  I do know that our brains are different, there are a multitude of studies to show difference between an BPD an non BPD - it's been shown on PET and CT scans.  There are tests out there to prove we are different. I don't know who you saw, but I'm on quite a few meds, and I haven't been in Lala land and my food cravings have actually dropped.  Have you been in a hypo/manic state for long periods, because getting on meds to deal with that will drop you out of it and make you feel very weird if you aren't used to having them controlled.  BP folks need meds, the rate of relapse and death is much higher in folks who aren't on a medical and medication regime.  I would certainly hope you wouldn't want to be a mortality statistic. Have you even tried meds?

The one natural med you have to stay away from absolutley is SAM-e, it's dangerous for us BPD folks.  I'm guessing you are bipolar not borderline.  

ILADVOCATE has some good points, nowadays folks work with a team, mine is my psychiatrist, my family doctor, my support group social worker.   I'm constantly in contact with them. I'm not pushed onto drugs, actually my pdoc is very conservative with medications. Not once have I felt like I was spaced out or not quite with it.
You need to open yourself up to other possibilities. Did you know that paranoia and fear of doctors is common with BPD folks?

I've got some links that can help you understand BPD, an open mind will work in your favor.

http://www.helpguide.org/mental/bipolar_disorder_diagnosis_treatment.htm

http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=about_publications_fpom

MH cannot support any non proven therapeudic methods, none of the natural "medicines' have any proven efficacy. Though, there is some good studies coming  out about Omega-3's as a supportive to the brain's need for essential fatty acids.  I was a vegan for 2 yrs, but trying to find a full balance of essential nutrients was very difficult, you end up having to take supplements to make up for what you are missing.  I worked in a health food store for 3 yrs (while I was a vegan), and we had an extensive natural and homeopathic pharmacy, even our homeopathic doctors that worked there said there wasn't anything to worked well. If you are concerned about meds masking your issues, then I would highly recommend you look into talk therapy so at least you will be able to see the signs and have a action plan on how to deal with your BPD.

I wish you much luck,
LCC

[nothappy68]

Saint John's Wort has worked for me, but only for mild depression.  It is not controlled by the FDA so you can't really know how much of the active substance is in what you purchase, so if you do decide to try it, buy from a known company. I like Swanson Vitamins. Someone mentioned that there haven't been clinical trials, which is true for the USA. This is because drug companies can't make money on herbs because they can't register a natural substance as their own. In Europe, there has been extensive testing and it is more widely accepted to use herbs. I would much rather try natural remedies before trying something manufactured. One negative thing about it is that when I stop taking the St John's Wort, I am tired, sort of like when you're used to coffee and stop drinking it. Caffeine is 'natural' but something mentioned above as something to be avoided, so not sure how different an herb is from caffeine (which is found naturally in some herbs).  Lastly, exercise is the only completely natural thing that helps depression, from the natural endorphins produced in the body when you exert yourself. The only problem there is finding the motivation when you're depressed. :-/

[ILADVOCATE]

I do see your point but any natural remedy used for clinical purposes must be monitored by a psychiatrist. First of all a person cannot self diagnose with depression (or anything else for that matter). St. John's Wort, Sam-e and rhodiola are used in Europe under clinical supervision but that's the only way they should be given (and an actual clinical psychiatrist not a naturopath or the like). But if someone with bipolar takes them they could push themselve into a manic state. And then what is the appropriate dose? Only a psychiatrist can determine that. I have taken standard medication and the natural remedies added were with my psychopharmocologist's express permission and consent. He researched the studies to check for clinical accuracy first and then authorized it. These natural remedies are only allowed because they are labelled "for general health purposes" when in reality they are for medicinal purposes. Getting a diagnosis from a psychiatrist and follow up is the only way to go with any medication. Otherwise it is just a form of self medication and you are taking a risk as only a psychiatrist can monitor the symptoms of depression (if that's the diagnosis) and when they return. You are right that they are used in Europe but they are prescriptions there so that's a whole other story. No one should go to the health food store thinking they will fix things themselves as the results can often be very dangerous.

[CinemaGirl90]

Before you make any choices on which treatments to use you mut go to your doctor and be diagnosed. You must also discuss herbal treatments with your doctor before you start taking them. Managing depression with treatments can be diffficult, and I know that quite well. I've actually found that exercise is the best form of treatment for depression, although St John's Wort, 5HTP and Valerian are fantastic for making you feel calm, relaxed and reducing stressors. Also, before you make rash decision on what to buy, talk to the clerks at the health store and ask them for adive, that's their job!
Hope this helps!
xxx

[vegan1976]

I have been diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder not bipolar (well, I was once diagnosed with bipolar but then told I was misdiagnosed).  I dunno.  It's all psychiatry B.S. to me people.  I'm just gonna exercise.  Thank you CinemaGirl for the tips!  You are so right...the drug companies can't make money off herbs.