Depression

DEPRESSION

Some Causes and some Cures

Depression is something I'm all too familiar with. However, I have discovered certain supplements that have provided a great deal of relief. Strange as it may seem, cocoa powder (as in what chocolate is made from) combined with St. John's Wort has worked wonders for me. St. John's Wort makes me feel sleepy, but cocoa seems to counteract these effects without the harsh stimulating properties of caffeine. Cocoa contains theobromine, which is a mild stimulant. Even though this compound increases heartbeat, it also acts as a vasodilator, which causes a reduction in blood pressure. Cocoa also contains potentially mood altering compounds anandamide (compound similar to THC in marijuana) and tryptophan.

One thing I should make clear is that most of the world's supply of cocoa (which comes from Nigeria) is contaminated with danerous levels of lead. One contributing factor is the use of leaded gasoline during transport. This means that there is a good chance that most (if not all) of the chocolate/cocoa available in grocery stores is laced with lead. If you like chocolate, then it's a good idea to purchase raw organic cocoa beans, nibs, or powder.

In case you are curious, I take two St. John's Wort tablets (Perika) and two teaspoons of cocoa powder in water every day. This is my cure for my depression. As each case of depression is different there is, of course, no cure-all for the treatment of depression. There are a multitude of physiological and or psychological problems that can cause depression. I would like to add here that "negative ion therapy" has not provided relief for my depression BUT it has helped to greatly reduce my natural tendency to feel anxiety.

Here is a terrific article on St. John's Wort:

http://www.sjwinfo.org/

Here is another great article on natural remedies for depression:

http://altmedicine.about.com/od/healthconditionsatod/a/Depression1.htm

I would like to add here that SAMe (as mentioned in the article) is rather expensive. Some people find relief from simply taking L-Methionine, which is much cheaper (SAMe is produced by our bodies from L-Methionine).

Here is an article on how vitamin and mineral deficiencies can relate to depression:

http://depression.about.com/cs/diet/a/vitamin.htm

If you are vegan (like me) it can be difficult to get the required daily intake of vitamin B12 through diet alone, so I take a B complex supplement every day. B-12, along with folic acid, helps facilitate the mood enhancing effects of SAMe.

For some reason, both articles failed to mention the importance of vitam D. It is estimated that more than 70% of Americans do not get enough vitamin D. This is the most underrated vitamin, and one of the most important. Research has shown that there may be a strong link between Seasonal Affective Disorder and low levels of vitamin D. I personally take a D3 supplement (400 IU) every day.

With all that being said, I feel that it is important to insert my disclaimer for the use of this website.

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