The Anti-depressant Effect Of Alternative Medicine For Depression
Alternative medicine additions to the fight against depression include St. John's wort, S-adenosylmethionine (SAME), and physical exercise. While the effectiveness and side effects of conventional and modern anti-depressants are well documented, the jury's still out on alternative medicine because of the inconclusive evidence as to their long-term effectiveness, side-effects and tolerance.
St. John's Wort
St. John's wart is a botanical supplement, also known by its Latin name Hypericum perforatum. It has been used in traditional medicine to treat a variety of ailments, but one of its most intriguing characteristic is its use as an anti-depressant. In fact, it is now legally licensed as a prescribed medication and enjoys widespread use as an antidepressant in Germany and other European countries.
Comparative reports between St. John's Wort and standard antidepressants in used have shown that St. John's Wort is at least as safe. In this respect, it can act as a weak selective conventional anti-depressant with fewer side effects. However, results remain inconclusive about its effectiveness and level of tolerance, especially when used with other anti-depressants. For example, St. John's Wort may cause cataracts in people who are exposed to bright light and sunshine, and this side effect is exacerbated further if the patient is taking other conventional of alternative antidepressants.
S-ADENOSYLMETHIONINE (SAME)
Another potential alternative anti-depressant is SAME, a molecule found naturally in all human cells. The rationale behind the use of this natural supplement in the treatment of depression is the role it plays in helping our body's metabolism of serotonin, dopamine and melatonin. These chemicals at very low levels are associated with depressed patients. Hence, an intake or supplementation of SAME levels is bound to have a therapeutic effect in the treatment of depression.
Clinical studies have shown that SAME is more efficient than placebo in the treatment of depression with a much lower incidence of side effects. Patients with higher levels of SAME show significant reduction in depressive symptoms. However, unanswered questions still remain whether SAME can have the same antidepressant effect beyond short clinical trials and also its long-term side effects.
Exercise
The benefits of physical activity as a medication in easing depression have also been established in several medical studies. It is particularly noted that people who exercise regularly run a significantly lower risk of relapsing into depression than those who simply took medication.