Dr. Oz SAMe, St. John’s Wort, 5-HTP & Saffron; Dr. Oz best natural antidepressants without a prescriptionIn this segment of the Dr. Oz show today Dr. Oz and Dr.Pina Logiudice - Natural Medicine, she told Oz a research article that came out last year that did a cross study on depressant medications they actually found that it doesn’t work any better than placebo. So what are people going to do? You look at natural medicines that can work just the same if not better. There are many natural options for depression from the natural medicine world. Addressing underlying lifestyle, diet, digestive and psychological causes is very important for long-term results.
Dr. Oz SAMe: Depression
SAMe for Depression With Aging and Pain – SAMe works in days to boost your mood and help with depression, it works quick and doesn’t have drug interactionsSAMe stands for S-adenosylmethionine, and is a naturally occurring chemical in the body based on the amino acid methionine; it helps boost a number of neurotransmitters. SAMe also helps with healthy nerve conduction as well. It also has been shown to be helpful with patients who have arthritis and joint pain. SAMe tends to work quickly, often lifting mood within days rather than weeks, whereas most other supplements and drugs take longer. It has been shown to be very useful for Parkinson’s Disease patients with depression, and some studies suggest it may be most beneficial in the senior population. Other studies show it to be safe for children too, and preliminary research shows it may be safe in pregnancy, though more research is needed. Dosing for SAMe starts slowly. Usually, we recommend a dosage of 200mg twice daily, for the first day, then increase to 400mg twice daily on day three, then to 400mg three times daily on day 10, and finally to the full dose of 400mg four times daily.
Dr. Oz 5-HTP for Depression With Anxiety
5-hyrdroxytryptophan (5-HTP) is an amino acid found in low amounts in foods like turkey and bananas. 5-HTP is the molecule the body uses to make serotonin, a molecule that helps elevate mood. While many antidepressants artificially stop the production of enzymes that breakdown serotonin, 5-HTP gives the body more of the raw materials it needs to make more serotonin. 5-HTP is very good at crossing the blood brain barrier, which means it is a molecule that can get into the brain to help achieve a needed change in brain chemistry. 5-HTP is best used with someone who has both depression and anxiety. It is also an effective choice for people who have insomnia and cannot stay asleep. Finally, there is some research that suggests it has benefit with weight loss. While there are no known toxicities of 5-HTP, some people can get a little nausea when taking 5HTP, so it helps to take it with some carbohydrate, like a slice of apple, which will also help its absorption. We often dose it at 100mg twice a day, up to 200mg three times a day.
Dr. Oz St. John's Wort: Depression
St. John’s Wort for Low Level Depression: St. John’s wort is the most studied herb of all time. It’s Latin name Hypericum perforatum means “above a ghost” and the plant was originally gathered as a way to ward off evil spirits. Rigorous studies have shown St. John’s wort to be quite useful in treating depression illness. While early researchers thought St. John’s wort worked like a weak version of an antidepressant drug, current research suggests that St. John’s wort has many effects on both the brain and the body. St. John’s wort is known to help digestion, act as an antiviral, has anti-inflammatory properties, and supports thyroid function. It also gently balances the neurotransmitters GABA, norepinephrine, serotonin and dopamine.
Depression sufferers who have a long-term chronic type of depression called dysthymia often do the best with this herb. If you can get out of bed and function at a job, but are just generally still low in mood, self-esteem and zest for life, this may be a good herb for you.
You can take St. John’s wort in capsule, as a tea, or as a liquid extract, which is a concentrated form of the herb. It is usually dosed in capsule form at 900mg to 1800mg a day in divided doses. St. John’s Wort begins to work over a period of 6 weeks
Please note St. John’s wort can affect the effectiveness of other medications. Two studies show it can help the drug Plavix work better in people for whom it did not initially work. Other studies show it can lower the effects of birth control pills and immune suppressants. So, if you are taking medications, check with your doctor or pharmacist before using St. John’s wort.
Dr. Oz Saffron: Depression
Saffron is a well-known Persian spice used for its ability to help the digestive system heal. Because most neurotransmitters are made in the digestive tract, this might be the reason saffron has been shown in studies to elevate low mood. As the most expensive spice, it is high in carotenoids and B vitamins. In studies, saffron has been compared to both Prozac and Imipramine, and found to work at least as well, or better, with less side effects.
While the petal is the expensive part of the herb, you can also take capsules of the stigma part of the plant, which is less expensive, but still contains the powerful mood-enhancing ingredients. Studies use a dose of 15mg twice a day. No toxicity has been shown when taking saffron in therapeutic amounts or in cooking.
