Can You Beat Depression Naturally and without Drugs?

Soaring sales of Prozac and Zoloft have shown that Americans are not necessarily the happy-go-lucky, can-do optimists our national folklore would have us believe. Perhaps it's just as well – a clear-eyed view of the world, no matter how negative, helps us prepare for challenges and risks ahead.

But the stresses and strains of uncertain times take their toll and sometimes the blues take over and a bit of extra lift is necessary for us to face a less-than-rosy reality. Instead of turning to pharmaceuticals, however, with their side-effects and risk of dependency, nature has supplied its own antidepressant herbs and nutrients.

5-hydroxytryptophan, or 5-HTP, is a naturally occurring amino acid that is made in our brain from another amino acid, tryptophan, before it is converted to the neurotransmitters serotonin (the 'feel good' brain chemical that Prozac works on) and melatonin (a hormone that helps us sleep and is prescribed on its own to fight jetlag). It is already popular in the US as...

A Natural Mood Enhancer, Appetite Suppressant and Sleep Aid

What's more, it is also marketed in Europe by drug companies for major depression, which is characterized by an overwhelming low mood accompanied by low self-esteem, and by loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities.

But true to its name, 5-HTP Plus also contains a proprietary and synergistic blend of herbal extracts and nutrients that boost mood and lift spirits. This includes Siberian ginseng root, which was used since ancient times by the Chinese to increase vitality and energy. In more recent times, Siberian ginseng has been used by Soviet astronauts to cope with the rigors of life in space, and by athletes to improve sporting performance.

The herbal blend in 5-HTP Plus also includes Withania somnifera root, a.k.a. ashwangandha, Indian ginseng and winter cherry. Ashwangandha was used in ancient Indian music just as ginseng was in Chinese medicine: to improve vitality and performance and normalise bodily function. Suma root, a.k.a. Brazilian ginseng, is also added to normalize and enhance body systems, increase resistance to stress, and boost overall functioning.

Zinc has been studied in 20 patients with depression, where it improved response to antidepressant medication compared to a control group of patients who had antidepressants alone; thus it is included in 5-HTP Plus, along with vitamins B6 and C, which are also needed to make serotonin.