Natural Anti depressants

[burn_ladiesagainstfeminism]

I have recently been advised to go on anti depressants, I really don't like the prescription drugs they hand out willy nilly(hehe love that saying) to anyone whos had a bad day, so I was wondering if anyone knew of any naturall alternatives(legal alternatives)?

[ÑóẊîöʼn]

Why would you want a 'natural' alternative to a drug that is functionally exactly the same?

'natural' does not mean safer or better for you. Deadly nightshade is natural, digitalis (found in foxglove) is natural, and both will kill you.

If you really need anti-depressents (And I doubt you do) then use the proper drugs and don't let the 'natural' snake-oil sellers scam you.

[monkeydust]

The reason people prefer "natural" alternatives is because they are generally side-effect free, and they don't carry the "risks" that prescription medications do. I am not saying that SSRI antidepressants are "bad" for you, but they're often a nightmare to get on to, and an equal nightmare to get off of - you can't just go "cold turkey".

If I were you, burn, I'd go for St. John's Wort. People use it all the time in continental Europe, and there are countless studies demonstrating its efficacy in combatting mild to moderate depression, and a few suggesting it even helps with major depression.

Exercise helps as well. It can be as effective as Prozac for some.

Hope it goes well for you.

[BOZG]

Originally posted by [email protected] 16 2005, 02:42 PM
The reason people prefer "natural" alternatives is because they are generally side-effect free, and they don't carry the "risks" that prescription medications do. I am not saying that SSRI antidepressants are "bad" for you, but they're often a nightmare to get on to, and an equal nightmare to get off of - you can't just go "cold turkey".

If I were you, burn, I'd go for St. John's Wort. People use it all the time in continental Europe, and there are countless studies demonstrating its efficacy in combatting mild to moderate depression, and a few suggesting it even helps with major depression.

Exercise helps as well. It can be as effective as Prozac for some.

Hope it goes well for you.
Actually, SSRIs are more than likely bad for. I think they've even been withdrawn for minors in Britain because there's been links between SSRIs and increased risk of suicide.

[ÑóẊîöʼn]

The reason people prefer "natural" alternatives is because they are generally side-effect free, and they don't carry the "risks" that prescription medications do.

Oh really? has anybody done any long-term studies on the health effects of 'natural' drugs?

You do know the reason that artificial drugs are known to have side-effects is because of extensive experimentation? They are released for medical use because the advantages of the intended effect outweigh the disadvantages of the side-effect and the medical companies are too profit-driven to produce drugs with absolutely no side-effects.

[monkeydust]

Actually, SSRIs are more than likely bad for. I think they've even been withdrawn for minors in Britain because there's been links between SSRIs and increased risk of suicide.

There has indeed, but the casual link is very flimsy indeed.

Granted, it's generally accepted that for the first week or two your on an SSRI you're more than likely to feel worse than you did in the first place.

But, still, the issue of them "making" people commit suicide is dubious in my opinion. I think it's far more likely that some people who are already suicidal say "well...I might as well give this a try" only to find that it's not the "wonder drug" they expected and end up in final despair.



Oh really? has anybody done any long-term studies on the health effects of 'natural' drugs?

Yeah, a lot are European, but have a look in some medical journals and I'm sure you'll come up with something.

There's generally no substantial long-term serious effects that I've heard of - though perhaps you'd expect this since these natural drugs aren't as strong as their manufactured counterparts.


You do know the reason that artificial drugs are known to have side-effects is because of extensive experimentation? They are released for medical use because the advantages of the intended effect outweigh the disadvantages of the side-effect and the medical companies are too profit-driven to produce drugs with absolutely no side-effects.


I don't think they're simply too profit-driven to produce a drug with no side-effects; I think it's far more likely that it's simply impossible to produce such a drug with no side-effects.

I'm not saying that manufactured drugs are "bad", only that there arealternatives - and that's exactly what the guy who started this thread was after.

[burn_ladiesagainstfeminism]

Yeah thanks for that, I am still searching around leaving a wide bearth around the other antidepressants, I think I would trust st johns wort alot more as it most likley forms the basis of some modern medicine...am I right in saying that modern medicine stemmed from homeopathy?, also one of the reasons I don't want the SSRI's is the fact that you do have to get off them they have that much of an effect on you, I dont want to be like some middle aged woman with three kids addicted to prozac(sorry likied that analogy), so i'm going to go with Monkeydusts advice,cheers.

[monkeydust]

Good choice.

It's not a particularly relevant point, but as far as I know modern medicine did not stem from homeopathic practices.

Homeopathy's actually quite separate, being deemed an "alternative" medice, in the same vein as acupuncture or aromatherapy.

Not surprising since it consists of drinking water in order to cure your symptoms, I suppose; but some people claim it works.

Take care,
MonkeyD