subject: Beat The Winter Blues: Article 5 Of 5 [print this page] Herbs and other natural supplements are an important factor in preventing a mid-winter funk, but you should use them in conjunction with the other tips:
1. Socialize. Get together with your friends as often as possible. It makes winter bearable!
2. Sleep. It is hard to have a positive outlook when you are exhausted.
3. Enjoy Nature. Revel in the beauty of the natural world around you, and draw from the energy Nature provides.
4. Laugh. The saying that "laughter is the best medicine" is true!
5. Eat Well. Keeping your body properly nourished will help keep you feeling energetic and positive.
6. Exercise. Nothing beats the blues like a healthy dose of endorphins, provided by exercise.
7. Celebrate Your Talents. Do something you love, and nurture your talents.
Here is a quick list of the vitamins and herbal supplements that I take to help with my depression symptoms.
* Vitamin B. I take a vitamin that includes B12, Folic Acid and B6. This combination has been shown to help with depression.
* Omega-3 Fatty Acids. I take a high-quality fish oil capule - the Nordic Naturals brand is a little expensive, but very good. The fatty acids in healthy oils are supposed to help with depression, but they are good for your body in a variety of ways. I also take a good flax oil supplement, and a combination of Omega 3/6/9 fatty acid. I get the Trader Joe's brand for those.
* Balance. This is a tincture that is used to help balance hormone levels. Physical and emotional issues manifest when our hormones are out of balance. This blend helps keep our physical and mental bodies in balance.
* Happy Juice. The herbs in this tincture are traditionally used to naturally raise the seratonin levels in the brain, similar to an SSRI antidepressant medication. When taken regularly, this really helps with my mood. I even give it to my kids when they are having a particularly whiney or weepy day (which helps with my mood too!).
* Super Greens. Our bodies need greens to function at our best. It is hard to eat enough roughage during the day to meet our needs. Therefore, I drink Super Greens at least once a day to give myself a boost. If you just can't drink it, there is a great blend in capsule form called Extra Greens.
* Placenta! If you have placenta capsules left over from a recent birth, feel free to take those during this time of year as well. They will give you a much-needed dose of energy and help with your mood.
I hope you found these tips for Beating the Winter Blues helpful. It may take some effort to incorporate all of them into your life, but it is well worth it. I have struggled with depression for over 10 years, and this is the first year that I have done all of these things. This has been the best winter I've had in the last decade.
Best wishes to you on your journey. Come on Spring!!
