I have been talking about herbal remedies and sleeplessness for the last few days, I want to move to a slightly different topic, depression.
Depression can be a cause of sleeplessness, some of the traditional herbal remedies for depression also affect sleeplessness and insomnia.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, depression affects nearly 21 million Americans. there are many symptoms of depression, which may include: persistent sad , anxious feelings; hopelessness, worthlessness, helplessness; restlessness or irritability; difficulty concentrating; difficulty making decisions; insomnia or excessive sleeping; overheating or loss of appetite; thoughts of suicide; persistent pains or headaches, or digestive problems that do not respond to treatment.
Depression can range from mild to severe, and symptoms vary from person to person.
If you suffer from depression, please consult a medical professional, especially if your symptoms are severe.
There are herbal remedies which have traditionally been used to treat depression, I will discuss them in the coming days.
I want to start with just a few remarks about St. John's wort, also called Hypericum perforatum.
There were some studies reported in the press, which said that St. John's wort was not effective for treating depression. The studies this information was based on are considered flawed, according to reports on the National Institute of Health's website: "However, due to problems with the designs of these studies, they cannot be considered definitive. Overall, the scientific evidence supports the effectiveness of St. John's wort in mild-to-moderate major depression. The evidence in severe major depression remains unclear."
If you would like to read the full entry about St. John's wort, it is available at this link: NIH St Johns wort report.
I will have more to say about St. John's wort in the coming days.
The material presented in this blog is for informational use only and should in no way be used as a substitute for needed medical treatment. I am not a doctor, I do not diagnose or treat disease. If you need medical care, please consult the appropriate medical professional. And please discuss with your doctor if you are taking or planning to take any herbal preparations.
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