Statistics shows that about 20 million people in the US experience depression. And it is not surprising that a lot of people time to time try natural and alternative medications to cure depression. The question is how effective are those alternatives and what are the side effects.

St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum L.) has been used as an effective anti-depressant to cure depressive conditions. This officinal herbage is an old therapeutic application initially named “arnica of the nerves”, as it was a primary therapeutic medication used to cure the nervous disorders. St. John’s wort usually works to improve mood and to normalize sleep for mild and moderate depressions. The chemical components of this popular anti-depressant should be considered thoroughly while making a decision about the expediency of its use. Those ingredients are phenylpropanes, naphtodianthrones, xanthones, flavonoids, hypericin, biflavones, terpene and sesquiterpene oils, tannins, phloroglucinols, and essential oils.

Another natural anti-depressant, SAM-e, has been a subject of multiple researches globally. It is chemical name is S-adenosylmethionine. It is a combination of methionine and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) produced in the human body. SAM-e increases the activity of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine being also used to fight mild and moderate depressive conditions. A wide range of researches also revealed that SAM-e can be compared to prescribed antidepressants used for mild and moderate depressions. People usually do not have severe side effects; however, SAM-e is a high-priced substitute comparably to other natural anti-depressant treatments.

The main distinction between those two natural anti-depressant supplements is that SAM-e is a body produced compound, while St. John’s wort is natural herbage. There is also a difference in a consumption forms; St. John’s wort is processed into caplets, where as SAM-E is typically supplied in tablets, like vitamins, being packaged in separate blisters. Some doctors consider it being more effective theoretically.

5-HydroxyTryptophan (5-HTP) is extracted from an African vegetable, the Griffonia simplicifolia seed, which contains 30% of 5–HTP. Being an amino acid 5-HTP is a neurotransmitter, which provides effects of pain relief and relaxation. A typical diet does not include 5-HTP in sizeable amounts. In the human body 5-HTP is produced from L-tryptophan, a natural amino acid presented in the majority of nutritional proteins. On the other hand, food with L-tryptophan does not radically boost the level of 5-HTP.

Being a precursor to serotonin 5-HTP improves the mood condition, nervousness and also results in weight loss. 5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) is the intermediate step between the tryptophan and serotonin, which is the most significant brain substance. Modern lifestyles and nutritional habits of the majority of people usually cause decreasing of serotonin quantities in the brain, which result in depression.

Mild and moderate depressions may be diagnosed only by a medical expert. Before taking any anti-depressants make sure to visit your doctor at least to get information about anti-depressant treatments. Your doctor should provide information if any of those natural anti-depressant medications are suitable for you.