Saturday, May 3, 2008

Natural Remedies For Depression

When I asked him about the harsh antidepressant that I'd been put on, my psychiatrist told me that there was no natural remedy for depression. He said that natural remedies for depression were fiction. They were created by ruthless con artists to make money off of people at the expense of their health. I had been inclined to believe him, because he had already treated several of my relatives. He was well known in his fields as an excellent psychiatrist. Nonetheless, I couldn't quite believe that there were no natural remedies for depression. I decided to look into it myself.

It turns out that he was right and he was wrong. Perhaps antidepressant medications provided the most effective means of treating depression, however there were naturopathic remedies available. There was St. John's wort, of course, as well as 5-HTP. Both of these could act as mood enhancers, but neither of them were tightly controlled by the FDA to ensure safety, or as strong as the traditional antidepressants. Herbal remedies for depression seemed to be a dead end, however I did find out some interesting things.

Apparently, how well you eat can have a profound influence on depression. Many of the books of natural depression remedies recommended eating a good diet, low on red meat and high in omega-3 fatty acid containing fish. Apparently, getting enough fatty acid and vitamins was one of the best natural remedies for depression. It wasn't guaranteed to work all of the time, and some people need antidepressants. Nonetheless, it seemed like a safer place to start.

Of course, of all of the natural remedies for depression that I came across, the best one was meditation. This may seem strange to you, since meditation is basically just sitting around and concentrating. Don't we do that every day anyway? Meditation is different because it allows you to clear the mind. When you meditate, you learn to let go of things that are bothering you. These can include chronic worries, neurotic modes of thought, and the depression itself. Although it is one of the most difficult natural remedies for depression, it is also one of the most effective. Therapy has helped me, but meditation has helped me even more. If you are trying out natural remedies for depression, you should definitely not pass it up. It requires no drugs or supplements, it's free, and it is one of the most rewarding experiences you could have.

Stop Smoking Programs

You wake up in the morning filled with need. Your mind is distracted all day long. You crave just one cigarette to get you through the day. There is no doubt about it – quitting smoking is one of the hardest things you will ever have to do. You don’t have to do it alone though. There are many stop smoking programs that are available to help make your task just a little bit easier for you.

One of the most important things to remember if you are going to quit smoking is that you can never have enough information. In our generation, quitting smoking is encouraged by the government and society in general. It even borders on trendy. Therefore, it is not hard to find information on different ways to quit smoking. Stop smoking programs abound and success is only a matter of finding the program that is best for you. You can find a great deal of information through governmental organizations. You’ll find hints on coping techniques, dealing with cravings, curbing anxiety, and ways not to gain weight. There are also private organizations that offer information and resources that will guide you through this difficult time.

Many stop smoking programs focus on the use of a particular product. It may be a gum, a patch, or even a prescription drug. Each program has rules and guidelines for you to follow. Each program will have pros and cons. Your doctor can discuss the many options with you to make sure your progress is both safe and effective.

Another popular method used by some stop smoking programs is herbal remedies. They often come the form of a supplement but there are also herbal cigarettes with none of the addictive features of real cigarettes. Herbal remedies are often touted as miracles and many ex-smokers have had success with them. Once again, you should discuss the product with your doctor before using it. Many people are allergic to certain herbs and don’t even know it or if you have any type of health condition, some herbal remedies may not be safe for you. If you and your doctor decide that this is not the plan for you, there are many other stop smoking programs for you to consider.

Stop smoking programs can ease your transition into becoming a non-smoker. The can stop, or at least minimize, cravings, anxiety, and weight gain – all the things people fear when they are contemplating quitting smoking.