Depression is a mood disorder that greatly affects a vast majority of people all over the world.  At certain stage in your life, you probably experienced feeling the ‘blues’, hopelessness and other negative feelings.  When depression strikes, chances are, it is accompanied by anxiety.

To better understand depression and anxiety, let us define them.  Depression is characterized by extreme sadness, hopelessness and despair.  On one hand, anxiety are categorized into two; chronic anxiety and panic disorder.  If it involves a recurrent sense of foreboding, worry and mild physical symptoms, it is chronic anxiety.  While, panic disorder is a condition that features brief episodes of acute distress, mental confusion, and fear of impending death.

Anxiety and depression can be cause by numerous reasons like sickness, unresolved emotional issues such as divorce or death of a loved one, just to name a few.

Nevertheless, letting this mood disorder passed by without any intervention can be fatal.  That is why, physicians prescribed depression sufferers an antidepressant drugs and other therapies.  Unfortunately, these medications have several adverse effects that they made people think twice about taking them.  In contrast, there is herbal treatment for depression that provides the same effects as the conventional mode of treatment.

Unlike antidepressant medications, herbal treatment for depression and anxiety has fewer or if any side effects at all. Herbal treatment for depression is useful in managing depression and anxiety.  There are several herbs that are helpful in uplifting the mood of a depressed person.  Here are some of the commonly use antidepressant and anti-anxiety herbal remedies.

1. St John’s Wort can be drunk as tea or taken in as capsules.  It contains an active ingredient called hyperforin.  This herb is a potent antidepressant with lesser side effects.  Furthermore, it is beneficial for long term remedy of mild depression.
2. Passion flower is known effective cure for anxiety and depression, as well as for sleeplessness.
3. Licorice, which is famous for curing colds. But recent study showed that this herb contains 8 monoamine oxidase inhibitor, thus, making it an effective remedy for depression.
4. Gingko Biloba improves circulation of blood to the brain.  Consequently, lifting the mood of a depressed individual.
5. Siberian Ginseng helps in stabilizing some of the neurotransmitters in the brain

Other herbal cures for depression and anxiety include, Oat straw, Valerian, Kava, Catrip, Nutmeg, Sandalwood, etc.

Although herbal treatment for depression is known safe and effective remedy for depression, seeking your doctor’s advice is still essential.  Along with natural cures, family support, exercise, positive outlook in life can definitely help combat depressive episodes.