Herbal Treatment for Depression ?

Q.Does anyone know of a herbal treatment for depression ?.

A.I looked this up in some medicinal herbs texts and found that there are different herbs for different forms of depression. These are the basic divisions I found: Stress, hypertension, PMS. One text included a non-descript form of depression where nutmeg was used (clinically) in order to induce the patient to "talk about it"- a marijuana substitute, but by no means was a treatment. A few of the herbs and vitamins all "treatments" had in common was Siberian Ginseng (which is used for GENERAL health and well-being anyway), Echinacea, Gotu Kola, Iron (for depression due to stress- People often don't eat the right foods during stress-related depression and can become anemic. Lack of energy due to physical causes results which is then compounded on the general bummed-out feeling that goes along with depression), etc. As the list goes on, the homeopathic aids become more specific to the types of stress. The whole mental depression thing is a VERY individualized thing- ENTIRELY...From causative agents of the condition all the way to reactions and responses to remedies...even the professional psychs. are in constant debate, introducing the arguement of upbringing, etc., and have had very little success with remedies because of the condition being SOOO intimatly tied to the individual. This isn't exactly herbal, but when I quit eating products made with sugar, my whole personality changed. I became more optimistic, less er, negative or overly anal about things. Of course, I'd done a lot of reading about psychology too, so everything sort of meshed together for me! But now, If I eat sugar, I can sort of see that old other person rise up inside of me and start whining. I read "Listening to Prozac" and I'm convinced that the same effects could probably be safely replicated through some sort of herbal/nutritional management. B vitamins tend to cheer me up too.

Other Questions :

Depression Medication

I was just wondering how you know that most herbal medication doesn't work? Is it from personal experience or from hearsay?I ask because I am using JSW and I have found that it has helped a lot although I am not using one of the brands you named...

Help with depression... advice anyone?

Some of you know me and know that I have SAD.. I have talked with a number of AFPers about it in the past. Well that time of year has come and I thought I would ask for the wisdom of AFP... any advice chums? I've started taking my meds.. but li...

SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION. PART II ?

Forgot to mention that I am also unable to tolerate alcohol. One drink really knocks me out.all these symptoms that you've mentioned are often experienced by people with chronic fatigue syndrome (i have it, so i know.) if you had that though, y...

Clinical Depression --various types ?

Detection and Diagnosis systematically reviews the diagnosis of depressive and other mood disorders, according to the current U.S. standard system in Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Third Edition, Revised (DSM-III-R) (Ame...

Manic Depression Symptoms?

Here's one source Maggie. There are dozens. Every source I've consulted on the net tells me the same thing so far. My texts are buried somewhere or I'd quote them to you. But just for the hell of it, I've asked 3 professionals in the field. No...