Natural antidepressants - medicinal herbs and products. Herbal remedies for sedation

Are you depressed? Do not rush to grab the pills - they can bring a short-term effect, but then the condition will only get worse.

Yuri, 34 years old: “On the advice of a doctor, he began to take, it would seem, light medicine- but noticed that as soon as he stopped taking it, he became even more aggressive. In the end, I just revised my diet and went in for sports. ”

Review your diet too. With the first signs of depression, try to enrich your diet with greens - cilantro, lettuce, basil. Excellent help to cope with depressed mood cheese, fish (especially river), shellfish, turkey meat, dairy products, cabbage, apricots, rose hips and kiwi are all means to cheer up.

Figs, bananas and pears are in no way inferior to sweets and cakes, they also supply the body with the “happiness hormone”, but you definitely won’t wait for damage to the skin, teeth and the appearance of extra pounds. Moreover, weight gain from eating sweets will again lead to depression.

St. John's wort, hawthorn, chamomile, hops, valerian are excellent raw materials for making teas and decoctions. Do not forget that the best natural antidepressants are not only foods, teas and herbal decoctions. Scientists have long proven that sex is very important for raising the mood and "fighting spirit". But it should bring frank pleasure - only then the effect will be really healing. Alas, if you have a strained relationship with a partner, and you rather tolerate each other than enjoy the minutes spent together, sex is unlikely to save the day. But if you set out to improve relations, then depression will be removed as if by hand.

Dancing or outdoor games are well taken out of the "stupor" fresh air. As a last resort, make it a rule to take daily walks - give them an hour and a half, choose new routes and try not to plan incidental things for this time. Even if you are very busy, take the time to establish peace of mind. within 30-40 minutes they contribute to the production of the hormone of happiness - endorphin, use gymnastics, swimming, running, walking to improve your mood.

Your Good friends in the fight against depression - animals. Pets feel good when the owners themselves are not their own - and often show touching care. And if there are none, it would be good to allocate time to visit the zoo, dolphinarium, stud farm. You don't have to ride horses or swim with dolphins—the best natural antidepressants often involve contemplation.

Sometimes, in order to say goodbye to a depressed mood, it is enough to allow yourself to do what you love - drawing, shopping, sculpting, weaving - everything that can occupy both hands and thoughts.

Doctors believe that depression is the result of starvation of brain cells, lack of vitamins and minerals, and metabolic failures. Before choosing the most suitable remedy, you should pay attention to general state body - it is quite possible that the reason for your condition is a lack of substances it needs or an excess of toxins.

In the fight against depression, there is also a nutrition schedule. Try to consume foods that do not carry the body "ballast" like heaviness in the stomach, especially in the evening. Great for fighting depression with lemon. You can also come up with your own method of unloading - a day on cucumbers, buckwheat, etc. If you do not get enough sleep or suffer from insomnia, oh good mood and you don't have to speak.

Listing the best natural antidepressants, experts often mention aroma oils roses, jasmine, basil, aroma baths with bergamot, orange and ylang-ylang oils. As can be seen, the choice of funds without side effects very large - it remains only to choose the most suitable of them.

All of the above does not fully apply to severe and prolonged depression. With this form of the disease, consultation and observation with a specialist psychiatrist, psychotherapist is necessary. Be attentive to your health!

When you have a bad mood, a busy day, a post-stress situation or apathy, do not rush to take medications. You can get help natural antidepressants: products and healing herbs, aromatic oils.

Our mood and emotions depend not only on external circumstances and health, but also on the function endocrine glands: hypothalamus and epiphysis. The hormones they produce immune system, emotional mood and the degree of protection of the body in stressful situations.

The substance melatonin, which is produced by the pineal gland, helps to cope with stress, during which there is an intensive production of adrenaline, but the blood sugar level decreases.

It is no coincidence that in situations where there is apathy, a breakdown, nervous tension, I want something sweet: chocolate, sweets, cakes, sweet fruits - bananas or dates. It is these foods that contain carbohydrates that stimulate the production of melatonin, which helps to relax and calm down.

Products that improve mood.

Our mood is regulated by the hormone serotonin, and we can control its level and stimulate increased production with the help of certain foods.

The most effective natural antidepressant is dark chocolate. To relieve tension, cheer up or cope with a stressful situation, just a few cubes of chocolate or a cup of fragrant cocoa, which contains phenylephylamine, the main function of which is precisely antidepressant. In addition, zinc is present in cocoa, which is indispensable for the beauty of hair and clean skin face, and substances that regulate the circulation of the brain.

Antidepressant products also include dried apricots, honey, marmalade, raspberries and strawberries, persimmons, and halva. Of the two evils: caloric content and tension or apathy, it is better to choose the least, and allow yourself, in reasonable quantities, sweet. The calories gained can be spent either in the pool, or.

If your mood long time changes like a barometer, you need to include in your menu products containing vitamins B1, B2, E and A, as well as trace elements: selenium and zinc.

Vitamin B1 - thiamine

Regulates the state of the nervous system: if it is not enough in the body, it becomes unprotected in stressful situations, and the nervous system is constantly “on the verge of collapse” and gradually begins to “loose”.

There is chronic irritability, dissatisfaction with everything: with oneself, with life, and with others, a depressive state. In addition, there are constant concerns and fears for any reason, sleep disturbances and a prolonged decline in strength, edema appears and the aging process of the body accelerates.

Largest Quantity vitamin B1 - in brewer's yeast. In the form of tablets, they are now sold in all pharmacies. But yeast is contraindicated in diseases: hypertension, diseases of the bile ducts, gallbladder and liver, obesity and a tendency to be overweight. In these cases, it is recommended to include in your menu increased amount cabbage of all kinds and green peas.

Vitamin B1 is also found in nuts and potatoes, rye bread and eggs, sunflower and pumpkin seeds. To increase the content of vitamin B1 in the body in a week, 100 g per day is enough walnuts or almonds. Their calorie content can be offset by a low-calorie diet.

Vitamin B2 - riboflavin

Another vitamin that directly affects our mood. The main function of this vitamin is skin health, but it also affects vision, the state of the brain, immunity and nervous system. Its deficiency is characterized by fatigue, frequent nervous breakdowns and irritability, low resistance to infections.

With these symptoms, and for prevention, include in your menu liver, veal, brewer's yeast, fermented milk products, milk, cottage cheese, feta cheese and cheese, wheat germ, potatoes and leeks, tomatoes, turnips, green beans, cabbage and green pea.

Vitamin E - tocopherol

Eliminates nocturnal muscle cramps, accelerates tissue renewal, in the elderly gradually disappear dark spots improves vision, the condition of muscles, skin, blood and lungs. And American scientists have found that vitamin E is a vitamin of energy, positive and joy. In their opinion, it is thanks to this vitamin that a person becomes energetic and cheerful. Vitamin E is not only an antidepressant, but also a powerful antioxidant: it regulates oxidative processes in the body.

Therefore, products containing tocopherol are part of the "star" diets popular in Hollywood. But it is not recommended to start taking vitamin E in higher doses: it should accumulate in the body gradually. And you should not stay in the sun for too long - the content of tocopherol in the tissues begins to decrease, so you should always sunbathe in moderation - for health and beauty, and not to skin problems and health.

To compensate for the deficiency of tocopherol in the body, it is necessary to include whole grain bread, unrefined cereals, any vegetable oils, young nettle leaves, mint leaves, celery greens, bran, broccoli in your daily menu. But increased content vitamin E - only in seedlings: wheat, oats, peas, soybeans, pumpkins.

Natural antidepressants are all vegetables and fruits of orange, red and yellow flowers. Most of them contain vitamin A - retinol and provitamin A - carotene: carrots, apricots, pumpkin, beans.

Vitamin A

- a vitamin of beauty and youth, health of the skin, hair and nails. Its deficiency results in disease night blindness when a person begins to see poorly in the dark.

Vitamin A is also found in the liver, yolks, fish oil, cabbage, pumpkin and sunflower seeds.

Of the trace elements, it has antidepressant properties. selenium. It is found in very small quantities in seedlings, walnuts, cashew, celery, asparagus. But with a full and varied diet, its amount that enters the body with food is enough.

Anti-stress diet.

In order to improve your emotional background, cheer up, get out of apathy and depression, exclude alcohol, strong tea and coffee from your menu: your nervous system now needs not stimulants, but products that regulate hormonal background.

For the same reason, exclude spicy, peppery, fried and fatty foods from the menu - you will reduce the load on the body. For a while, it is worth abandoning seasonings and spices: pepper, mustard, garlic.

Now you will be useful products: sour-milk and cottage cheese, feta cheese or cheese, cereals, dried fruits, eggs 2-3 per week, fish, chicken, turkey or veal meat, olive, corn or linseed vegetable oils, fish or beef liver, nuts, sprouts , vegetables.

Especially necessary: ​​raw or baked pumpkin, zucchini, carrots, green peas, cauliflower, white cabbage, broccoli, parsley and dill. And, of course, dark chocolate and cocoa, fruits and juices, brewer's yeast.

Anti-stress diet menu - you can adjust it daily.

tsp sprouted and washed grains with sprouts 1.5-3 mm long, oatmeal muesli with dried apricots, raisins and nuts, a cup of cocoa, 2 slices of toasted rye bread, banana.

Lunch:

orange, 2-3 chocolate cubes and a cup of green tea, rye or oatmeal bread.

Option 1: vegetable soup, side dish of brown rice or buckwheat, a piece of chicken or fish, a salad of tomatoes and sweet peppers with vegetable oil, Rye bread, green tea or mineral water.

Option 2: vegetable stew: cauliflower, celery greens, zucchini, 2 soft-boiled eggs, rye bun, juice and an apple.

yogurt and lean cookies, raisins, dates, nuts.

stewed asparagus, pepper, kohlrabi, celery root and greens - vegetable stew to your taste, cheese or cheese. Juice or biokefir. Before going to bed - hot milk or a cup of cocoa with milk, rosehip infusion with honey, a tablet of brewer's yeast.

For a week of anti-stress diet, you may well improve your emotional state. It is only necessary to monitor the calorie content of the menu, but also not to arrange additional stress for yourself about a limited diet.

Now the main thing for you is to fill the deficiency of the necessary antidepressant vitamins and provide good nutrition to be able to adequately perceive the situation and use the brain as much as possible to find the right decision or way out of the current situation. For this, the body needs healthy energy, which contains natural and healthy products.

They will help control appetite, adjust weight - on vegetable broth.

Soothing medicinal herbs and fees.

From medicinal herbs, having a sedative effect, will help reduce emotional stress and stress, the root and leaves of valerian, oregano, lemon balm, St. John's wort and hops.

With stress, depression, apathy, it is useful to brew tea from St. John's wort, rose hips, raspberry or strawberry leaves, oregano and mint. It is better to use a thermos: a handful of wild rose, tbsp. herbs, pour a liter of boiling water and leave for at least 2 hours. You can not filter, but add boiling water during the day. In the morning, prepare a new infusion. This soothing tea can be drunk throughout the day, 5-7 days. Then drink an infusion of wild rose, lemon balm, thyme.

An infusion of St. John's wort and valerian root will be more effective. Infusion: st.l. St. John's wort, ch.l. valerian root. Prepare and take in the same way as the previous collection.

Try brewing this soothing herbal tea instead of regular or green tea for a week - you will feel a noticeable improvement not only in your emotional state but of the whole organism as a whole.

An infusion of hop cones and mint acts as synthetic tranquilizers, but has no side effects and is safe for health. Infusion: tsp. hop cones and mint steamed with a glass of boiling water. Infuse for 30 minutes, strain and drink in 2 doses, adding a slice of lemon and tsp. honey.

In order for the sleep to be calm and refreshing, you can prepare a sachet from the collection of herbs: hop cones, lavender, oregano, lemon balm. Fill a small pillow made of cotton or linen. Such a fragrant sachet, if you live it at the head, normalizes sleep and calms nervous system It will help relieve tension in the body.

Aroma oils will help improve your mood: lavender will calm you down, ylang-ylang will relax and also reduce stress, cedar helps to cope with anxiety and fears. During the day, aromatic oils will help: orange - tones, reduces mental fatigue, spruce oil also tones and strengthens self-confidence, pine oil stimulates the brain.

Natural antidepressants: herbs, foods and aromatic oils, will definitely and effectively help you cope with bad mood, apathy and stress. Just keep confidence in yourself, your strengths and abilities. And that all bad things come to an end.

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When despondency and sadness sets in, nothing will help like antidepressants plant origin, which are not characterized by pronounced side effects. Consider a few popular herbal antidepressants.

Modern herbal antidepressants

• a treasure trove useful substances from depression is St. John's wort. Its effectiveness is due to the presence in the composition of the substance - hepericin. In the pharmacy you can find pharmaceuticals, created on the basis of St. John's wort - "Deprim", "Negrustin", "Hypericum".
• Melissa officinalis - from herbal antidepressants is one of the most popular. For the manufacture of a medicinal product from it, it is necessary to collect leaves and shoots and make their decoction. Easier to buy at the pharmacy herbal antidepressants, which include it - Nervoflux, Parsen, Novo-pasit.
• Peppermint has a calming effect. To obtain a sedative, you should prepare a decoction of its leaves.
• Motherwort five-lobed - rarely used for self-administration. It is part of herbal antidepressants along with mint, lemon balm and St. John's wort, as it has a bitter taste and an unpleasant odor.
• Valerian officinalis is used to relieve nervous excitement. It is used alone in the form of infusions or in combination with other means.
• Licorice root has a mild sedative effect. More is prescribed for the treatment of respiratory pathology and kidney disease. As part of herbal preparations, it enhances the effect of other substances.
• Hawthorn is used for depression. It enhances blood circulation and helps to accelerate the elimination of toxic substances from the body.
• Rosehips are rich in vitamin C, an antioxidant that boosts the immune system. During spring anxiety, in people prone to it, herbal antidepressants such as rose hips can relieve exacerbation.
• Hop cones are used in folk medicine for making soothing teas.
• Light herbal antidepressants are found in cocoa, coffee, bananas, oranges, grapefruit and tangerine. They increase the secretion in the body of the mediator of joy - serotonin.
• Cone-berries, juniper are excellent herbal antidepressants. At correct use they are able to get rid of many mental disorders.

Herbal antidepressants without a doctor's prescription

Some herbal antidepressants can be purchased at pharmacies without a prescription. We offer a list of them:

• Prozac - contains plant substances that help fight depression. Relieves anxiety, helps with anorexia, restores menstrual disorders relieves anxious thoughts. After it, a person becomes more adequate and resistant to the effects external factors. More information can be found in the article with.
• Maprotiline of all antidepressants of plant origin has contraindications - epilepsy, liver and kidney disease, convulsive disorders. It includes active plant extracts. Maprotiline helps with anxiety, apathy, psychomotor retardation.
• Zyban - used in emotional stress, which occurs when getting rid of nicotine and drug addiction.
• Deprim is based on herbal antidepressants derived from St. John's wort. Counts effective tool used to improve performance and improve mood.
• Leuzea extract is prescribed for overwork to increase efficiency.
• Of all herbal antidepressants, ginseng tincture has the best properties to strengthen the immune system. Gets rid of mild depression. The combination of schengen and eleutherococcus in medicine allows you to quickly remove drowsiness and increase efficiency.
• Tincture of lure is used to treat insomnia, depressive disorders.
• Novo-Passit consists of plant components (St. John's wort, valerian, hops, hawthorn, lemon balm, passion flower, black elderberry). It helps to relieve anxiety, headaches, tension. It is used to normalize the menstrual cycle in women.
• Persen - contains antidepressants of plant origin such as lemon balm, peppermint, valerian. It has a pronounced calming effect.
• Schisandra chinensis tincture is used for hysteria, treatment.

In conclusion, the above list of drugs contains natural antidepressants, but some of them have contraindications. Be careful with vegetable sedatives during pregnancy and lactation.

Attention! The effect of the use of herbal antidepressants is observed no earlier than 2 hours. If you have taken the drug, then its effect should be evaluated no earlier than after 4 hours.

depression is common mental illness in modern world. Every 20th adult on the planet suffers from it. Before moving on to cardinal measures to eliminate it, through various medications and psychological sessions, you can resort to herbal medicine. Treatment with antidepressants for plant-based no less efficient. In addition, a properly formulated diet containing necessary for the body vitamins and minerals.

According to scientific research a depressive state arises and develops due to a lack of brain cells necessary nutrition, or, to be more precise, certain elements. Without them, cellular development and functioning is incomplete. Cell tissue starves, and the load on the body increases with age. Subsequently, the general state of health worsens and progresses mental disorders different types.

Causes of depression

• Vitamin C. Its lack is provoked constant stress, bad habits. As a result, metabolism is disturbed folic acid, iron, the rate of synthesis decreases necessary for a person elements.
• Vitamin group B. In women they are lost in critical days. As a result, the transmission of the nerve impulse is destabilized, the synthesis of neurotransmitters, proteins and amino acids is disrupted.
• Magnesium. Its deficiency provokes an increase in nervous excitability. There is excessive irritability and anxiety.

Symptoms of depression

1. Sleep disturbance. Nightmares, anxiety, anxiety, especially if there are no reasons for strong feelings.
2. Somatogenic and reactive depressions associated with diseases or organic lesions.
3. Palpitations, dizziness, excessive sweating, impaired urination, feeling short of breath and other psycho-vegetative manifestations.

It is worth considering that treatment with plant-based antidepressants is not a panacea. They are considered an accompanying and restorative element, but are not able to heal severe degree diseases.

Treatment of depression with herbal medicines

1. Containing St. John's wort. These include Deprim and Gelarium. They perfectly soothe, remove the syndrome causeless anxiety, nervous tension, psycho-emotional disorder.
2. A combination of lemon balm, valerian and mint. Novo-passit and Persen. They help with insomnia, neurosis, severe emotional stress.
3. A complex of mint, lavender, hops (cones) and orange - Nefrofluk. This tea composition soothes and helps to relax.

Nutrition for depression

• Chocolate, preferably black, bitter. It releases endorphins and serotonin.
• Oatmeal in flakes and in the form of porridge, meat, bran, lentils. They support dopamine production. It is he who is responsible for satisfaction.
• seeds, nuts, sea ​​fish(fat), avocado. Saturated with Omega-3 acids.
• Eggs (protein), seaweed, lean pork, veal, chicken breast, turkey. Vitamin B contained in these products regulates the absorption of trace elements.
• Honey. Product containing beneficial acids, trace elements, chromium, iron. Natural energy booster.
• Fresh vegetables and fruits. Favorably affect the hormonal background in general and well-being.

Herbs antidepressants

• St. John's wort. It contains hepericin, flavonoids, hypertrophin. Has a sedative effect (moderate). Teas with it normalize the process of sleep. It is advised to pour one tbsp. a spoonful of grass with 200 milliliters of boiling water, then boil for 10 minutes, and then let it brew for about two hours. Drink half a glass before meals three times a day. A bath with such a decoction will also be useful.
• Peppermint. Its leaves contain many useful essential oils. It relieves nervous tension, strengthens general immunity, lowers the level of irritability and excitability, and relaxes. It is used in the form of decoctions and teas.
• Motherwort. It contains oils and a lot of phytoncides. Good sedative. Helps with emotional instability nervous exhaustion. Perfectly combined with mint, lemon balm, St. John's wort. In an independent form, it is used in alcohol tinctures.
• Hop. Cones are used. Medicines from them increase resistance to stress, normalize metabolism, regulate water, lipid and mineral metabolism.
• Valerian. Contains alkaloids, glycosides. Regulates the work of the heart muscle, sedative and tranquilizer.
• Nettle. It has more than enough flavonoids and trace elements. Removes toxins, saturates and stimulates the body. Used as Fresh Juice and as an infusion.
• Rose hip. Riboflavin, carotene, vitamins K, C, I, R. Tones up, saves from beriberi.
• Hawthorn. Quercetin, vitexin, hyperin, hyperoside. Improves blood circulation in the brain, regulates the processes of the central nervous system.
• Melissa. The leaves contain flavonoids, saponins, calcium, zinc, iron, selenium, potassium, manganese, vitamin C. Replenishes the deficiency of minerals, makes it more resilient.

Side effects of natural antidepressants

Natural antidepressants can be divided into two large groups, which includes some products and plants. Natural antidepressants are much more effective than synthesized drugs, as they have fewer contraindications and side effects, and in some cases are much cheaper than artificial analogues. The natural preparations and products that are most commonly used as antidepressants will be discussed below.

Antidepressant products can improve the mood of the patient, introduce the missing B and C vitamins, various minerals and metals into his body, and can accelerate the synthesis of certain substances in the patient's body that relieve the depressive state. They can be divided into the following groups:

1. Chocolate and various products with its use contain theobromine and phenylethylamine, which accelerate the synthesis of serotonin in the patient's body, thereby achieving a state of bliss.
2. Products containing iron are especially needed by women because of the menstrual cycle. Their deficiency leads to the development severe fatigue. The list of such foods includes spinach, red meat, lentils, wheat and oat bran. But you can not combine their use with tea containing tannin, as this leads to a decrease in the amount of iron in the body.
3. Vitamin C contains foods such as kiwi, red berries, tomatoes, lemons and oranges, spinach, green and red peppers, grapefruit (juice), rose hips, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, melon, strawberry. They help relieve fatigue, sadness.
4. For normal operation heart is very important oily fish. It is especially good to eat it 2 times in 7 days. Best suited mackerel, tuna, salmon. But you can also apply herbal products e.g. pumpkin, nuts.
5. Products with high content vitamin B6 relieve symptoms of depression such as irritability, despondency, fatigue. To do this, you need to eat potatoes, cornflakes, chicken, bananas, pork, whole grain products, fish.
6. Food, rich in carbohydrates, gives the human body energy for cells. It is good to eat quince, pasta, corn, dates. It is recommended to use wheat, beans, raisins, dried figs.
7. Foods high in magnesium and potassium relieve stress and improve mood. Irritability and fatigue disappear. To replenish magnesium and calcium, you should use foods such as legumes, nuts, cheese, milk (natural or soy), oysters and squid.

Useful material

There are some compounds that can be obtained from food that help the body fight depression. These are amino acids. Usually, to recover a person from an illness, they use:

1. Products containing tyrosine. Amino acid directly regulates mood. Stress, mental and physical overwork reduce the amount of tyrosine in human brain cells, reduce concentration, and disrupt emotional stability. To get the right amount of tyrosine, you need to eat eggs, meat, fish, poultry dishes.
2. The amino acids tryptophan and phenylalanine are needed by the brain to produce serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, which regulate physical and mental activity person. They act as natural antidepressants. To replenish tryptophan and phenylalanine, you need to eat more milk, fish, cottage cheese, peanuts, pumpkin seeds, bananas, sesame, almonds.

plant based antidepressants

To eliminate depression, many people use various herbs, since not without reason they consider their use safer than the use synthetic tablets. Herbal antidepressants are used in the form of decoctions, teas, liqueurs, etc. The following herbs appear on the lists of modern medicines:

1. St. John's wort - it contains the substance hypericin, which well eliminates the symptoms of depression. The plant is used to create drugs such as Hypericum, Deprim, etc.
2. Melissa is included in herbal antidepressants. A decoction is often made from its leaves and shoots. It is used in the manufacture of drugs such as Nervoflux, Novo-Passit, etc.
3. To calm down after stress, you can use peppermint from which they make healing decoction applying the leaves of the plant.
4. Five-lobed motherwort is rarely used separately from other herbs. Usually it is one of the components of the medicine, which contains St. John's wort and lemon balm. It's related to bitter, very bad taste motherwort.
5. Valerian is a plant used as a sedative to relieve nervous excitement. Most often used in the form of an infusion, but can also be part of any drug.
6. Licorice root itself has a weak sedative effect, but has the ability to enhance the effect of other drugs. Therefore, it is used as part of complex infusions.
7. Hawthorn can cope with depression, as it removes all toxins from the body, increases blood circulation.
8. Rosehip is a natural "warehouse" of vitamin C. It enhances human immunity well, relieves depression.
9. Hop cones are often used to make various soothing teas.
10. As mentioned above, to combat the disease in food, you can use grass such as bananas, cocoa fruits, coffee, and citrus fruits such as oranges. They contribute to the synthesis of serotonin in the patient's body and eliminate depression.

These are not all plants and foods that can be consumed during elimination depression. Above were given only the most famous and popular.