Home Remedies for Depression

Understanding Depression!

I was reared in an African American community in which the term depression carried a very negative connotation. Depression was considered a sign of weakness. The problem is that the majority of people in the African American community did not view depression as a legitimate illness, but an emotional state. The idea was to suck it up and move on with your life. The problem is emotional strength has nothing to do with the biomechanical and chemical imbalances that result in depression. These imbalances are the result of nutrient and mineral deficiencies that lead to the consequent reduction in the production of the hormone serotonin, which is the feel good hormone. 

The medical community has responded to the spike in diagnosed depression with a plethora of different synthetic medications, which the pharmaceutical companies have been more than happy to supply. These drugs have done far more harm than good. The truth is that nature has provided all that is required to keep the body in perfect balance. Because of abuse of the land, it has become increasingly more difficult to get these vitamins, nutrients and minerals in our regular diet, so we must make a committed effort to get them through supplementation and nutritional adjustments.

This article is far from comprehensive in presenting natural alternatives for treating chemical depression, but it does provide an adequate foundation. This article is not meant to diagnose or prescribe any particular treatment for any particular case and should be treated as a reference for further investigation and discussion with a medical professional. Depression is a very serious condition that has the power to destroy. This article could be the beginning of your transformation. Remember, change starts here! ~ Dr. Rick Wallace   

Home Remedies for depression work far better (and are far safer) than harmful anti-depressant drugs. Here's why choosing natural remedies for depression over orthodox treatments will give you the best chance possible of beating this terrible condition...

Depression is a nasty disease… it really is. We like to call it “the silent destroyer” because that’s what it can do to someone who suffers from it, even if they are seeking professional help. The biggest problem with depression is the majority of society still doesn’t accept it as a real disease. Many people who simply don’t understand this condition believe that if you’re depressed then you just need to suck it up and get over it!

It’s amazing just how many small-minded people out there still think like this.

But the fact is depression is a very real disorder that affects millions of people worldwide, and unfortunately, the statistics are getting worse very quickly. 

Your Dismal Medical Treatments for Depression...

Of course the standard medical options for treating depression include some hardcore drug therapy such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI’s), along with various other “antidepressants”. But studies show that drugs such as Prozac are only effective in around 10% of users. And many users of anti-depressants report that taking these drugs causes severe mood swings or just turns them into a “dazed zombie”. What’s even worse though is the #1 side effect of anti-depressant drugs is they significantly increase the risk of suicidal tendencies!

What a horrible combination.

The other problem is if you decide you want to come off any of these drugs you will likely go through some serious withdrawal symptoms (including becoming short tempered and angry), which emotionally, can make you spiral downwards even more.

Home Remedies for Depression That Get Powerful Results...

Because you’re here looking for home remedies for depression and natural remedies, we are going to assume that either you or a loved one has already tried the “medical merry-go-round” for your depression (either that or you’re still stuck on the carousel) and you didn’t like the outcome. 

But that’s okay, because help is now on the way.

You are about to read about some of the most potent home remedies for depression and natural treatments currently available, along with some extra ways you can get the most out of these natural remedies. However, we aren’t going to sugar coat or paint a rosy picture here for you. The fact is if you really want to cure your depression for good (and not just throw a patch over the problem), you are going to have to be disciplined and put in continuous effort everyday to achieve this or you will simply be wasting a lot of time and energy and throwing good money down the drain!

Unfortunately, there’s no easy way around this.

The only way to treat this condition successfully using home remedies for depression (or any natural remedy for that matter) is by taking a Holistic approach. If you do, you will see some startling results in a very short time. So enough of the chit-chat… let’s get started. 

Home Remedies for Depression Cure #1...

You Must Rectify all Nutritional Deficiencies and Flush Deadly Toxins out of the Brain.

The medical profession say’s depression is a biochemical imbalance in the brain caused by a lack of serotonin and a genetic flaw. We say depression is a biochemical imbalance in the brain caused by toxic overload and nutritional deficiencies (which then cause a lack of serotonin).

We believe we are right on this one and here’s why…

If we start with nutritional deficiencies, it’s been clinically proven that certain nutrients affect mood and behaviour. Plenty of research has been carried out in this area and the results have been so amazing that some clinics are now actually using these natural remedies for depression to treat their patients. Here are some of the nutrients currently having the biggest impact…

L-Tyrosine: Back in 1980, an article was published in the American Journal of Psychiatry by Dr Alan Gelenberg of Harvard Medical School talking about the outstanding success he had with tyrosine in treating patients with long term depression…

He took patients who were not responding to standard therapy and administered them with dietary supplements of tyrosine. Within a few weeks, many patients were either able to reduce their intake of amphetamines to minimal levels or discontinue with the drugs altogether!

Along with a reduction in depression and anxiety levels, other benefits associated with tyrosine therapy include an improvement in mental alertness and memory retain-ability. It is also known to assist in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease, high blood pressure, low blood pressure, low thyroid function, allergies and stress (some of these are also related “side effects” of depression).

L-Tryptophan: Tryptophan is one of the strongest home remedies for depression and natural treatments there is. Known as an “emotional stabilizer”, it is widely renowned for its supreme calming effect, along with its ability to control depression and help with normal sleep patterns. In fact, L-tryptophan expert, Dr Quentin Regestein from Harvard Medical School said (after a study on L-tryptophan and moods); “We have good grounds for hope that with L-tryptophan we will have a population which is free from hypnotics” (anti-depressants).   

L-Phenylalanine: According to medical experts, this natural remedy for depression is “highly stimulating” to the nervous system and brain. It acts as a powerful pain reliever and anti-depressant and also increases mental alertness and memory functions quite significantly. Studies have actually shown phenylalanine to be over 80% effective in cases of depression!

L-Glutamine: Known as “brain fuel”, glutamine is one of only a small number of compounds capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier and participating in brain chemistry. But it doesn’t just act as an energy source for the brain, it also helps with treating depression by absorbing toxic ammonia (ammonia, along with other heavy metals, accumulate in the brain and are one of themajor causes of depression). A powerful side benefit of glutamine is it also raises your IQ level!

Chromium and Vanadium: Erratic blood sugar levels are another major cause of depression. Although cleaning up your diet will help to fix this problem, making sure you are receiving enough of the minerals chromium and vanadium will help tremendously as well.

Chromium and vanadium are two very potent natural remedies for depression because they regulate your blood sugar levels. So if it’s too high they regulate it down. If it’s too low they regulate it up.

So the bottom line here is that by controlling your blood sugar levels, you can more easily control your depression! (More information on the importance of your blood sugar levels is discussed in the “foods and diet” section of our home remedies for depression articles coming up).

Magnesium: If you had to pick the most important mineral as as far as natural treatments and home remedies for depression are concerned, magnesium would surely be it! Multiple studies have repeatedly been able to show that a magnesium deficiency in the body causes mood levels to plummet. And the fact that our soil levels of magnesium have plunged in the last 30 years (and as a result nearly everyone in the world is now severely deficient in this mineral), and at the same time, depression levels in people world-wide have escalated significantly in the last 30 years, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to work out there's a strong link?

For more information on this mineral and why it's such an important home remedy and treatment for depression, we recommend you read our exclusive interview with magnesium expert, Dr Carolyn Dean here... Dr Carolyn Dean Interview.

Other Home Remedies for Depression (Nutrients) Your Body Must Have… There are other nutrients that your body simply cannot go without, especially if you suffer from depression. These include; Vitamin D, Folic acid, Vitamin B5, B6, B12, Vitamin C, Zinc, Iron, Lithium, Co Q10, and the full spectrum of trace minerals.

Home Remedies for Depression: Best Sources of These Anti-Depressant Nutrients...

There is one common theme you willrepeatedly see coming from this website, and that is this... There are no longer enough nutrients in our food supply today! You must remember this above everything else. It’s no good recognizing that you need extra nutrients to treat your depression, then trying to get them just by eating a “balanced diet”.

You’re wasting your time!

The only way to make sure you get the nutrients your body needs is by consciously putting them in your mouth everyday with supplements. This way you are leaving nothing to chance (call it an extra insurance policy if you like).

And here are some of the best ways to do this…  

Liquid Colloidal Minerals: Colloidal minerals are the first "home remedies for depression" supplements you will need. They contain the full spectrum of minerals and trace elements our bodies require every day (we need at least 60) in a ready-made and easily absorbable supply. Because you need so many minerals and trace minerals to treat depression, colloidal mineral supplements are really the only way (and the cheapest way) to get them all. Just be aware that there are a lot of suppliers of colloidal minerals on the market today and some are dodgy, so be sure to check your sources carefully. Here are some reputable brands if you're interested... Colloidal Mineral Suppliers

"Grasses": Wheat grass and barley grass are potent home remedies for depression because of the extremely high amounts of essential nutrients and antioxidants they contain. As long as they are grown in mineral rich soils (very important) they are a rich source of many of the major minerals, as well as containing very high levels of all the essential vitamins and amino acids, including L-tyrosine, L-tryptophan, Phenylalanine and Glutamine. Cereal grasses also contain one of the most powerful antioxidants discovered so far… super oxide dismutase (SOD).

Extra Supplements: To successfully treat your depression, you are also going to need to take extra supplements which containvitamin D, B group vitamins, folic acid, vitamin C and CoQ10. Try and find an “all in one” if you can and always remember to take them with food at different times to your cereal grass and colloidal minerals (also very important). 

Magnesium: Magnesium can be poorly assimilated through oral use. One of the best way to receive the required amount of magnesium every day is with a magnesium spray. This method is highly effective and cheap. Simply spray the oil over your body 1-2 times a day and rub on like a suntan lotion. You will definitely feel a noticeable increase in positive moods and energy within a few short days. Here's how you can easily make up your own spray to use as an effective home remedy for depression... 

Boil up some distilled water (distilled water keeps longer than regular water) then add 2 cups of boiled water and 2 cups of magnesium chloride flakes to a glass bowl or pot. Mix thoroughly until the flakes are completely disolved. Leave to cool then mix again and then pour contents into a glass spray bottle or Plastic spray bottle (glass is preferable). Shake well before using then apply 8-10 spray's on the skin to various parts of the body (mainly arms, legs and torso). Leave on for at least an hour before showering. Do this at least once a day.

In addition to the magnesium spray, you can also purchase a fantastic magnesium product called Natural Calm. This supplement is really quite amazing for treating depression and anxiety (many people absolutely swear by this product for curing depression, anxiety and insomnia). This product has been around for quite some time and customer reviews are always excellent. You can find out more here (also take the time to scroll down and read some of the positive reviews).