In my experience in search for some support with my depression, doctors and psychiatrists didn’t offer me an alternative to antidepressants, which is quite disappointing considering that they do exist. Luckily, I never ended up taking antidepressants because it didn’t feel right for me. I don’t judge anyone who does take and need them but I think it’s a shame that we are not being told more about natural cures for depression because they are out there!

Why should you consider trying a natural alternative?

• Some studies are showing that antidepressants only work for up to 50% of users. That means, even if we do choose to take them, they may only work for half of us.

• The side effects of SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, the most commonly prescribed type of antidepressant) can be quite disruptive. They include dizziness, headaches, feeling agitated or nervous, insomnia and the list goes on.

As I found myself in lack of recommendations from professionals, I started doing my own research and ‘experiments’ with a couple of cures that I’d like to share, to offer more natural alternatives to fight depression. Despite being natural medicine, please always talk to a doctor before using any of these.

1. Natural Cure for Depression: St. John’s Wort

St. John’s Wort is a herb that has scientifically been found to have a mood-lifting effect when taken in the right dosage. This plant comes in different shapes and dosages, you can drink it as tea or you can buy tablets or capsules. In order to feel the effects of this herb, 900mg is recommended.

Similarly to antidepressants, it usually takes at least two weeks until you start feeling a mood lift and slight side effects such as nausea are possible during the first weeks. I have tried St. John’s Wort and personally, I have definitely felt an uplifting effect, the only downside is that St. John’s Wort makes your skin very sensitive to sunlight. So depending on where you live, this is a winter-only option. And even during cloudy days, make sure to wear SFP50 on your skin while you’re taking St. John’s Wort. All in all, this is an effective and relatively easy natural cure for depression.

Personal Take-Away:

In my personal experience it’s helped me quite well and I did feel a mood boost. Unfortunately, once spring came around with more sunlight I had to stop because it made my skin super sensitive.

2. Natural Cure for Depression: Cocoa with grounded quinoa

This is a bit of an odd one and very possibly you haven’t heard of it before. This tip reached me through an alternative practitioner. It may come across as an odd alternative cure for depression but upon doing some research it does make sense. Besides the common knowledge that chocolate makes you happy on a bad day, some studies do actually suggest that cocoa has antidepressant properties and dark chocolate (containing much more cocoa than other types was found to reduce the stress hormone cortisol). And cocoa isn’t the only food that can reduce depression.

Quinoa, the other ingredient of this ‘recipe’ contains quercetin ( a so-called flavanoid) that also has been shown to have anti-depressant effects.

How is this unusual mixture taken? Grind 1-2 tablespoons of quinoa, mix it with 1-2 tablespoons of cocoa. Then add a little water and… bon appétit!

Personal Take-Away:

I have tried this and felt that it helped me but after a few days I somehow couldn’t deal with the taste of it anymore so I had to stop. I am sharing it with you regardless because we are all different and it might help some of you!

3. Natural Cure for Depression: 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP)

Studies show that 5-HTP may be as effective as SSRIs (antidepressants) in the treatment of mild to moderate depression. I find this a significant fact, considering that almost nobody knows about the mere existence of 5-HTP.

What is 5-HTP? 5-HTP is a chemical that our body naturally produces in low dosage. Our body gains it from tryptophan (an amino acid) and then converts it into 5-HTP. After tryptophan is converted into 5-HTP, it is converted into the ‘happiness hormone’ serotonin. If we take 5-HTP as a dietary supplement, it can raise the serotonin levels in our brain and can therefore help with mood boost and better sleep. It actually works the same way as SSRI antidepressants! This study shows that it is equally effective to antidepressants so why not try the natural version? The dietary supplement is actually a natural one as it is sourced from the plant Griffonia, home to Africa. You can order it online.

200 to 400 mg at night are recommended for better sleep, more for depression. Since an overdose of 5-HTP can have side effects, make sure to speak to a doctor before supplementing it. Similar to Saint John’s Wort, it takes a few weeks until the positive effects kick in.

Personal Take-Away: Out of these three, 5-HTP worked the best for me. No side effects and I’ve been taking this over several months. I could definitely feel things getting a little lighter.

Final Thoughts

I think all three of these natural cures for depression are a good option to try and surely, everybody will react differently to them. If you have very sensitive or light skin, St. John’s Wort may not be your best option, if you have sensitive taste buds, not sure if the cocoa / quinoa mix is for you.

Further I believe is that it’s worth giving alternative cures for depression a try before using chemical drugs to treat your depression. If they don’t work, you can still revert to more traditional antidepressants. Finally, I’d like to add that all of these options, including SSRIs offer support with your mood and make things better, but I still highly recommend therapy alongside it to explore where this deep sadness is coming from and how to deal with it. Find some inspiration on that here.