Top Herbs for Mental Health

herbs for mental health

Last week, we discussed the toll that the Covid lockdowns took on the mental health of many Australians. Rates of anxiety and depression skyrocketed, along with prescriptions that doctors were handing out, to help people to deal with these very conditions. 

Yet, pharmaceutical drugs are not your only option, should you need some support to deal with the situations you face. 

Many of our friends and family were struggling mentally during last year’s lockdown. However, the doctor’s office was the last place they wanted to be, and anti-depressants and anti-anxiety drugs were the last thing they wanted to be taking! 

Keep reading to the end to find out what I gave them…and they couldn’t believe how quickly and effectively it worked to lift their mood and help them to soldier on through all the curve balls last year threw at them. 

One of the most well-known herbs for helping with depression, restlessness, insomnia and anxiety is St John’s Wort. Scientists aren’t entirely sure how this amazing herb works. One theory is that it increases the body’s dopamine levels, and prevents the reabsorption of serotonin in the brain. 

It is also thought that St. John’s Wort may also affect the body’s neurotransmitters and influence hormones. People who take this herb often report improved mental clarity, more stable moods and increased energy levels. And, unlike pharmaceutical anti-depressants, it doesn’t come with adverse side-effects. 

Cayenne, Ginger and Gingko are three other herbs that can improve mental health. Both of these herbs increase blood circulation to the brain and boost stamina. This increase in blood flow to the brain works in a similar way to exercise, and has the effect of boosting endorphins–the ‘feel good’ hormones. This can help to lower anxiety and stabilise moods. 

Three adaptogenic herbs (i.e. herbs that have stimulant properties which can work to counteract the effects of stress on the body) that can be effective for fighting depression and anxiety are Ginseng, Schisandra berry and Eleuthero root. 

Ginseng has neuroprotective properties; it can have an effect on the body’s neurotransmitters such as serotonin, hormones such as cortisol and receptors. Ginseng has been the topic of many scientific studies. Many of these have come to the conclusion that, “The active ingredients of ginseng may exert antidepressant effects.”(1)

Animal studies conducted on Schisandra berry show promise in combating anxiety and depression.(2) Its adaptogenic properties mean that the body is better able to cope with any increase in anxiety, and provide some protection to the immune system. 

Like Cayenne and Gingko, Eleuthero root has been shown to improve circulation to the brain(3), combat fatigue(4) and boost the body’s production of endorphins. 

The great news? Our Happy Minds formula contains all these herbs and more. This is the perfect formula to have on-hand for when you need a little help dealing with the difficulties life throws at you. 

Many people get a little down during the winter months…SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) is a real thing. We don’t get outside as much with the weather becoming more unpleasant, and there are fewer hours of light each day. Throw in lockdowns which isolate us from our loved ones and support groups, as well as threaten our job security, and it’s a recipe for disaster. 

Having a bottle of Happy Minds there might be just what you will need to to help you make it through the bleak winter! 

 

Resources:

  1. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fncel.2020.00055/full
  2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27225351/
  3. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378874111003771
  4.  Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 2008;33(23):2800–2. Determination of eleutheroside B in antifatigue fraction of Acanthopanax senticosus by HPLC. Li C, Wang XY, Hu XW, et al.

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