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A common cause of depression is lack of adequate amounts of vitamins and minerals in one’s diet. Naturopathic treatment in such cases consists of nutritional supplements, especially the B vitamins (thiamine, riboflavin, pyridoxine, folic acid, and B12), vitamin C, iron, zinc, potassium, magnesium, and selenium. These supplements can be taken in pill form or by increasing the amount of certain foods that are rich in them, foods such as whole grains, organic dairy products, nuts, seeds, fruits, and leafy green vegetables. Herbal supplements may also be helpful in relieving the symptoms of depression. Among the most popular herbs a naturopath will suggest for this purpose are chaste tree (Vitex agnus castii), coleus (Coleus forskohlii), passionflower (Passiflora incarnata), sage (Salvia officinalis), skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora), and St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum). Other non-herbal supplements are also known to affect mental and emotional moods and may be helpful in treating the symptoms of depression. Two common examples are the amino acids S-adenosyl methionine (SAMe) and 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP).

This entry was posted on Thursday, September 17th, 2009 at 5:18 am and is filed under Naturopathy. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.