The weather is bad, the nights are long, and the Christmas festivities are over. This is a difficult time of year to cope with.
You can maintain both physical and mental health by improving diet and increasing exercise. Herbal Medicine can provide support by helping to fight infection, minimise the effects of stress, and raise mood.
Here are some herbs that are effective in raising low mood. Numerous studies show that St John’s Wort, the so called sunshine herb, has mood-enhancing and spirit-lifting properties to help fight depression. Its antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties also make it effective in preventing colds and flu.
Saffron, from the crocus flower, has been shown to improve mood in those with mild to moderate depression. It was as effective as the conventional drugs tested but without the associated side effects.
Rhodiola is another herb that can be particularly effective in raising mood. Its anti-stress actions help to reduce depression by acting on both the brain and adrenal glands to normalise the body’s response to stress.
More and more people are interested in how inflammation causes depression. An over active immune system resulting from infection or illness can trigger inflammation throughout the body causing low mood and fatigue. Low mood often occurs when fighting a virus infection such as a cold or flu. Treatment to reduce inflammation can alleviate depression. This has been shown with turmeric whose anti-inflammatory action is beneficial in reducing anxiety and depression.
A Medical Herbalist will identify the herbs that will be most beneficial for you and prepare a mix of herbs to raise low mood, reduce the stress response, and help fight infection.
You can maintain both physical and mental health by improving diet and increasing exercise. Herbal Medicine can provide support by helping to fight infection, minimise the effects of stress, and raise mood.
Here are some herbs that are effective in raising low mood. Numerous studies show that St John’s Wort, the so called sunshine herb, has mood-enhancing and spirit-lifting properties to help fight depression. Its antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties also make it effective in preventing colds and flu.
Saffron, from the crocus flower, has been shown to improve mood in those with mild to moderate depression. It was as effective as the conventional drugs tested but without the associated side effects.
Rhodiola is another herb that can be particularly effective in raising mood. Its anti-stress actions help to reduce depression by acting on both the brain and adrenal glands to normalise the body’s response to stress.
More and more people are interested in how inflammation causes depression. An over active immune system resulting from infection or illness can trigger inflammation throughout the body causing low mood and fatigue. Low mood often occurs when fighting a virus infection such as a cold or flu. Treatment to reduce inflammation can alleviate depression. This has been shown with turmeric whose anti-inflammatory action is beneficial in reducing anxiety and depression.
A Medical Herbalist will identify the herbs that will be most beneficial for you and prepare a mix of herbs to raise low mood, reduce the stress response, and help fight infection.
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