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Nutritional Magic For Anxiety, Depression, And Stress!
Step #3: St. John's Wort Works Like SSRI's—But Naturally
St. John's Wort is an herb with oil spots on the leaves that may look like holes or appear to be rust-colored. Pious country people believed these spots to be the mark of the blood of St. John the Baptist. Also, the sap of the plant is reddish colored and has been said to represent the blood of St. John the Baptist.
St. John's Wort has become popular in recent years as an herbal treatment for depression. One study, consisting of 23 randomized trials including a total of 1757 outpatients with mainly mild or moderately severe depressive disorders, was published in the British Medical Journal.
The study found that St. John's Wort (Hypericum extracts) were similarly effective as standard antidepressants. Also, there were only two (0.8%) drop outs due to side effects with hypericum and seven (3.0%) with standard antidepressant drugs. And side effects occurred in only 50 (19.8%) patients on hypericum, as opposed to 84 (52.8%) patients on standard antidepressants.26
St. John's Wort also contains an inhibitor of serotonin reuptake, which is responsible for the recycling of serotonin back into the "sending" cell. By inhibiting serotonin reuptake, more serotonin is left in the synaptic cleft between adjacent nerve cells, which increases the serotonin stimulation of the adjacent (postsynaptic, or "receiving") cell.
Toward Emotional Wellness
Nobody disputes the fact that SSRI's and other antidepressants have a place in the world. And we don't advocate anyone terminating any subscription medication and trying alternative treatments without consulting their physician beforehand.
But we do believe, and studies have proven, that there is a place for nutritionally-based supplements in the fight against depression, anxiety, all the related illnesses, and even just for those of us who often "just don't feel well." Supplements that act on serotonin levels have been proven effective in a variety of treatments:
Depression: In a series of studies dating back to the late 1960s and early 1970s, 5-HTP given to seriously depressed people was reported to produce dramatic and sudden improvements.27
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: L-Tryptophan was found to be effective in reducing the symptoms of OCD.28
Anxiety: Ten patients with anxiety were treated with 5-HTP, and significant reduction in anxiety was measured on three different scales designed to measure anxiety.29 And in a study of 20 people with panic disorders, several experienced relief after receiving 5-HTP.30
Preventing Migraine Headaches: One study showed that 5-HTP can reduce the intensity and duration of migraine headaches.31 Another study showed that 5-HTP is even more effective in preventing migraines.32
Enhancing Sleep: The action of 5-HTP and tryptophan in promoting sleep without a drugged feeling or morning hangover are similar to the hormone melatonin, which is well-known for its sleep-regulating function. This is probably due to the fact that some of the serotonin produced in the body is converted directly into melatonin. Serotonin may also promote sleep by helping the brain "tune out" unwanted stimulation. One French study found that administration of 5-HTP to "mildly insomniac" people resulted in significant improvement.33
Suppressing Appetite: According to a British obesity expert, among the most effective and safest candidates for drugs that genuinely suppress appetite are those that increase serotonin in the brain.34 Not surprisingly, one of the most common uses of SSRIs these days has been to suppress appetite with the goal of losing weight. But in one well-controlled study researchers found significant weight loss in a group treated with 5-HTP.35
Fibromyalgia Relief: Two major studies in Italy demonstrated significant improvement in patients according to six different criteria.3637
Preventing Heart Disease: One surprising benefit of minimizing depression, anxiety and stress is a correlation with a reduction in the danger of heart disease. This has been demonstrated by a host of studies, but is far too complex a subject to investigate within the scope of this article. However, the connection is well documented.
If you suffer from any sort of depression, anxiety, mood swings, obsessive behavior, trouble sleeping, migraines, difficulty losing weight, or even any sort of general malaise, you may want to consider trying nutritional supplements. However, do not attempt to replace any prescription medications without consulting your doctor first.
It's very possible that the right supplementation program will provide you with marked relief from all sorts of emotional malaise, tension, and anxiety.
Editor's Note:
The natural health solutions described in this article are available through many on-line retailers including those listed below. By clicking these links you help support the important alternative health research we provide.
Visit www.amazon.com – a great way to find competitive deals on supplements offered by many different manufacturers.
Visit www.hfn-usa.com – when commitment to quality and freshness is important, this factory direct solution is preferred by many of our readers.
This article is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always consult with a physician before embarking on a dietary supplement program.
References
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National Alliance for the Mentally Ill website: http://www.nami.org
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Prozac Defense Hits Home, Boston Globe, 12/30/2000, page B4
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U.S. National Library of Medicine website:http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus
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Prozac: Unsafe At Any Price, Arianna Huffington,http://www.ariannaonline.com
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Emergence of Antidepressant Induced Suicidality, David Healy, Primary Care Psychiatry 2000, vol. 6 No. 1
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Getting Off Antidepressants, http://pssg.org/#Antidepressants
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Prozac.org, Mother Jones Magazine, November, 1999
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National Alliance for the Mentally Ill website: http://nami.org
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5-HTP: The Natural Alternative To Prozac, by John Morgenthaler & Lane Lenard, PhD
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Poldinger W, Calanchini B, Shwarz W. A functional-dimensional approach to depression: serotonin deficiency as a target syndrome in a comparison of 5-hydroxytryptophan and fluvoxamine.Psychopathology. 1991;24:53-81
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5-HTP: The Natural Alternative To Prozac, by John Morgenthaler & Lane Lenard, PhD
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