10 Herbs to improve mood

1. St. John's-wort
Probably the best know herb to treat depression is St John’s wort. A 2008 review of 29 studies of St Johns wort found that the plant was just as effective for treating mild to moderate depression as anti depressants

2. Turmeric
Turmeric root is often ground into a powder and consumed as a spice. Turmeric has been used for centuries as an Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese Medicine treatment.

Research shows that curcumin influences many factors involved in anxiety and depression. Curcumin can help balance serotonin, dopamine, glutamate, and noradrenaline.

Lopresti AL (2017).

3. Brami - bacopa monniera
Brahmi is the Sanskrit name for the herb bacopa monniera.

The plant extracts has been used for enhancing memory and improving functions of brain, cognitive enhancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anxiolytic.

Kadali et al 2014

4. Ashwaganda
Ashwagandha has been used for centuries in Ayurveda the classical Indian system of medicine as a rejuvenator to improve physical and mental health and increase longevity.

A study in 2000 found that Ashwaganda also exhibited an antidepressant effect

Bhattacharya et al 2000

5. Garlic
Garlic is a superfood for improving health and preventing disease.

However a recent study has found that garlic also has significant antidepressant like activity as it interacts with several important neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin.

Dhingra and Kumar 2008

6. Shatavari

Shatavari is used in ayurveda to treat depression. Its an adaptogen herb that has antioxidant and anti inflammatory affects. Adaptogenic herbs are said to help your body cope with physical and emotional stress.

A study in 2009 found that Shatavari has significant antidepressant activity and this effect is probably mediated through neurotransmitters in the brain that affect mood.

Singh et al 2009

7. Holy basil or tulsi
Holy basil, also known as tulsi, is an Indian herb known for its therapeutic effects on conditions such as arthritis, digestive problems, stress and depression.

Maity et al 2000

8. Guduchi Tinospora cordifolia
Guduchi has been used for centuries in Ayurvedic medicine. The roots, stems, leaves and flowers of the plant all have their medicinal purposes. The herb has anti-inflammatory properties, and it is known to purify blood and stimulate the immune system.

It has also been researched for its anti depressant action working on the neurotransmitters that affect our mood.

Dhingra and Goyal 2008

9. Amalaki or Indian gooseberry
A 2010 study indicates the potential for use of Amalaki in the treatment of depression

Sudhakar et al 2010

10. Saffron
Saffron has been traditionally used as a calmative, antidepressant and anti-inflammatory.

All these results suggest that the low polarity parts of C. sativus corms should be considered as a new plant material for curing depression, which merit further studies regarding antidepressive-like activities of chemical compounds isolated from the two fractions and mechanism of action

Wang et al 2010

Music credit

About me
The Mental Health Herbalist is a holistic channel on Youtube, dedicated to teaching you about herbs and herbal medicine. Like Hippocrates, I believe food is medicine and can heal and prevent all sorts of illnesses.

Caution: Remember always consult with a doctor if you have an illness and consult with an herbalist if you want to go on a course of herbs. These videos are for information purposes only. If you taking medications consult with a medical doctor. If you want to take a course of herbs I recommend you talk to a herbalist. If you want more information contact me by email.

[LjubavLove]

I have been using St. Johns worth and turmeric for past 5 week. It has helped me so much with mood and pms. BIG BIG Difference.

[shortslovesmjj]

Love the way you get straight to the point. this was exactly what I was looking for

[JanineHyslop]

Isn't it amazing that nature provides so much help if we only get informed, I use turmeric for its anti inflammatory properties if i stop my knuckle starts to sting and swell possibly arthritis but it stops it completely its fantastic for inflammation. also garlic has been incredibly helpful to me for lots of issues great home remedy. Basil I know helps in clear thinking and memory Im an aromatherapist and done some diet and nutrition as part of my end in beauty therapy im very interested in treating the body and the skin from within...all the creams in the world won't give you the glow of a healthy diet and lifestyle. Thanks brilliant concise video.

[adriankraft]

Thank you for posting all those publications in one place! Definitely looking into them.

[rdkitchengarden]

Hello, I am back after being away for awhile. After reversing my type 2 diabetes I decided to write, film and publish my free ‘Reverse type 2 diabetes program’. Now I am back and enjoying watching some videos that you are producing. Have a wonderful day

[carried]

I use Turmeric & Holy Basil.. both brilliant .. thanks for all the great advice :-)

[karenv]

I am very interested in adaptogens. Thanks for your information. Glad to find this channel in general. I love learning new things like this. Newly subscribed. Have a good day!

[lil_salt]

I got into teas a few months back and although I haven't beaten my depression it has changed my life and saved me.
Daily I brew 800ml in the morning and 800ml in the afternoon.
Burdock root
Moringa
Ashwagandha root
Elderberry (dried)
Skullcap
Holy basil
Nettle
Raspberry leaf
Hibiscus
Valerian root

Sometimes I add in damiana, milk thistle, dandelion..

[KetoCarniCajun]

Thanks for the great info! Always informative and helpful.

[ricardosalazar]

Hello to everyone I been using niacin no flush and it has help also I take hemp seed oil and I’m going to add saffron, yes we can overcome this world of problems but we have to ask god for help.

[ronniemead]

You missed the most important one, 5HTP, which is cheap, easily available at Walmart or all drug stores. 5HTP by natrol is the most effective anti-depressant there is that is available without doctor's prescription.

[adriankraft]

What should be mentioned about St. John's wort:
Dear Mental Health Herbalist,
I am a medical student in Germany.
I have taken St. Johns wort extracts on several occasions (without consulting a physician) and it has helped me greatly.

About that Herr Lind/Cochrane statement, however:
"German-speaking countries where these products have a long tradition and are *often prescribed by physicians*"...that's 10 years ago.
You even said "very common" - I really don't believe that's the case.
"As a first go to approach" - that *IS mentioned as an option in the German guidelines BUT it has the lowest grade of recommendation.*
But *thumbs up for the "why not ask".*
Here is why I think so:

In Summary: the university is teaching me to NOT prescribe the herb. The official German guidelines are telling me that I can do it, but it's *as low on the list of recommendations* as it can get and it has to be done with *extreme caution of the interactions*
The herb is a CYP3A4-, CYP2C9- and CYP2C19-Inductor in the liver and it has many interactions with other substances like the contraceptives, antibiotics, antiepileptics, and antidepressants.
meaning: *these other drugs don't work well or don't work at all when on the herb*
My Profs. are really skeptical about it. Patients take the herb on their own without informing the physicians and then sometimes suffer because of the interactions.

long story:
I'm studying human medicine for 6 years now (premed and med school by the USA-format) and I just had a course on depression - I am writing a small test about it tomorrow.
(I have taken St. Johns wort extracts on several occasions and it has helped me greatly. I did this without consulting a physician. I didn't even want the depression being diagnosed - I had all symptoms needed for the diagnosis according to ICD10 and the DSM-5 - definitely a "mild" depression.
For my next depressive episode, I'm probably going to seek out psychotherapy and take the herb again. )

You will not believe the amount of skepticism the pharmacologists had for St. John's wort.
They gave us a case-patient who came in with signs of depression. The doc gave her a tricyclic antidepressant (which they wanted to bash. he should give her an SSRI). Two weeks later she came back and it didn't work out at all for her - all the negative effects, none of the antidepressive-effects. Also, her period was late (she was on the pill).
They blame it all on St. John's wort.
The herb is a CYP3A4-, CYP2C9- and CYP2C19-Inductor in the liver and it has many interactions with other substances like the contraceptives, antibiotics, antiepileptics, and antidepressants. (she was possibly pregnant and her antidepression meds didn't work because she took the herb extracts without mentioning it...)

The problem we have in Germany is that people just go to the supermarket and buy it...There are supermarkets like DM, where you can buy stuff like deodorants, creams and so on.
St. John's wort extracts are not registered as medical substances - they are not sold exclusively in the pharmacy. They are right next to the Deodorants and Nivea creams. That means people buy them and don't read the writings - *they do not get it that this is a potent drug.* They are not aware of the interactions and take the herb together with their medications and *forget to tell that to their doctors.*
Other problems are: the herb extracts are not standardized. Some years you have more of the right chemicals then other years - crop quality varies.
Half-Time is also a problem. It's about 28-36 Hours. They said you need 4x the halftime to be clean of the drug. Meaning: *if you stop taking it now and start taking other medications - you will have interactions for up to a week.*
That could be a big problem in emergencies.

We have a thing which is called the "Leitlinien" (Official guidelines)...it's written by a group of experts and it's evidence-based. Based on the studies they give you therapy options and grade them from A to Zero. "A" being totally supported by evidence and with lots of evidence of how much substance is needed for what kind of period and so on. B would be less good. And Zero would be a "you could do that".
St. John's wort is a Zero in our Leitlinien when treating light to moderate depression (first line).

the guidelines:
it's a "could be done"-Recommendation: no clinical studies with good quality exist or are not available.

[mybluelagoon]

Thank you for your videos! Can St. John's Wort be taken with Lemon Balm and Holy Basil?

[uniqueh]

Thank you for this useful video on depression! 👏

[kaassaus]

What do you recommend for extreme social anxiety?
It goes allong with depression.
And it might be tought that i got a male hormone inbalance.
Is there something for it to?

[garysimone]

Thank you for posting Question dose approx. for each ??? Tks

[suffibadshasuffi]

Dr I have depression insomnia also anxiety for long time. .Canadian dr saying me change your diet for example use it mellet.avoid wheat hypo-allergenic food eat

[avtarsinghjatt]

Sir need to showing pic of the herbal then we understand prefectly

[cookiegutierrez]

How long do you have to take them to do effect?

[areasontosmile]

Hey wasnt there a specific video you had on your channel where you made a tonic or tincture with a bunch of herbs for depression? Unless I'm mistaken its not on your channel or you deleted the video. What gives? Been trying to find it but cant.