natural vitamins for depression

babypunkprincess
babypunkprincess Posts: 109 Member
in Food and Nutrition
I am a new mom and believe I have PPD. I'm going to the doc on Tuesday but I don't want to go on antidepressants again. I have been on them before but don't like it. I do take a multivitamin but am looking for something else to take. I hear vitamin b's and/or st Johns wort are effective. .. anyone have experience with it?
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Replies

  • llaurenmarie
    llaurenmarie Posts: 1,260 Member
    I've heard, and am now trying, Vitamin D supplements help with depression. Not just the amount in a multi, they sell all kinds of levels.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    Ask your doc about bio-identical progesterone. When you're pregnant you have lots of the happy hormone. After the delivery, not so much until you start naturally ovulating again.
  • BaconSan2
    BaconSan2 Posts: 260 Member
    B12 is what I have heard all my life is good. I take them. The kind that dissolve under your tongue.
  • b3achy
    b3achy Posts: 2,157 Member
    edited July 2016
    I've found St. John's Wort can help "get me out of a funk" which is much less severe than PPD, but everyone is different. Talk to your doctor about what they recommend for natural supplements, though some doctors are more knowledgeable about supplements than others. I've found some doctors will try to dissuade you from taking herbal supplements so they can prescribe the latest drug the pharmaceutical companies are pushing; however, other doctors are quite knowledgeable about supplements and will help you craft a good alternate regiment involving quality supplements.
  • tcunbeliever
    tcunbeliever Posts: 8,219 Member
    Omega 3 - which is good for the baby's brain if you are nursing
    beta carotene + sunlight - for producing plenty of vitamin D
    B complex - mostly because several B vitamin defficiencies can cause PPD
    Milk Thistle and Rosemary - bonus if you are nursing as these also boost milk production
  • SkinnyGirlCarrie
    SkinnyGirlCarrie Posts: 259 Member
    i had a friend who swore by St John's Wort, but please keep in mind it can effect the effectiveness of birth control pills (in case you've gone on them after birth!)

    but PPD is serious so please work with your doctor and take prescription if needed. you can always ween off it later!
  • mitch16
    mitch16 Posts: 2,113 Member
    If you are nursing, please be sure to talk to your doctor about any supplements that you are taking/plan on taking...
  • Holly_Roman_Empire
    Holly_Roman_Empire Posts: 4,440 Member
    Talk to a doctor. Also, St. John's Wort can render hormonal birth control ineffective.
  • babypunkprincess
    babypunkprincess Posts: 109 Member
    MelaniaTrump wrote: »
    You don't take a multivitamin that contains b's?
    PPD is real. Don't avoid medication if you need it.

    Yes my vitamin does have vitamin b's
  • babypunkprincess
    babypunkprincess Posts: 109 Member
    SkinnyGirlCarrie wrote: »
    i had a friend who swore by St John's Wort, but please keep in mind it can effect the effectiveness of birth control pills (in case you've gone on them after birth!)

    but PPD is serious so please work with your doctor and take prescription if needed. you can always ween off it later!

    wow good to know! I'm starting birth control soon

  • babypunkprincess
    babypunkprincess Posts: 109 Member
    devil_in_a_blue_dress wrote: »
    Surely you have not tried every possible antidepressant on the market? There are SO many.

    I am all for holistic approaches, but not when it comes from advice from strangers in that internet that might compromise your safety and the safety of your children.

    It's fantastic you are seeking out help from a doctor - please listen to her/him and follow their advice. If you REALLY want to try vitamins, seek out a qualified professional who can monitor you.


    No I haven't. The one I was in in weaned off when I found out I was pregnant. It worked amazing but I want to try a natural way first.

    however if my doc thinks antidepressants are the way to go then I'll take them.
  • babypunkprincess
    babypunkprincess Posts: 109 Member
    mitch16 wrote: »
    If you are nursing, please be sure to talk to your doctor about any supplements that you are taking/plan on taking...

    I'm not nursing. So I'm safe to take whatever I need to without affecting my son
  • MelaniaTrump
    MelaniaTrump Posts: 2,694 Member
    Ask your doctor about vitamin D? Check your levels? There is a bit of research that low levels can make depression symptoms worse. https://www.vitamindcouncil.org/blog/new-research-reports-vitamin-d-status-immediately-after-birth-may-relate-to-postpartum-depression/
  • Caitlinbc
    Caitlinbc Posts: 1,914 Member
    edited July 2016
    Vitamin D, B complex and St. John's Wort help me out. Getting enough sleep, listening to music, my faith, eating well and exercise are also helpful in reducing the affects of depression.
  • TheDevastator
    TheDevastator Posts: 1,626 Member
    dominatedepression.com/supplements-for-depression/
  • elphie754
    elphie754 Posts: 7,574 Member
    edited July 2016
    mitch16 wrote: »
    If you are nursing, please be sure to talk to your doctor about any supplements that you are taking/plan on taking...

    100% this. Certain supplements can be excreted in breast milk and can be dangerous, sometimes even lethal to your child. Just saw you said you aren't nursing.

    That being said, PPD is a very serious issue that should not be taken lightly. Please do not rely on strangers suggestions for "natural" approaches. Speak to your doctor and follow their advice.
  • Michael190lbs
    Michael190lbs Posts: 1,510 Member
    Totally Natural would be start running the high is incredible and very healthy
  • enterdanger
    enterdanger Posts: 2,447 Member
    First, congrats on your baby! I agree with everyone who said talk to your doctor first. PPD is temporary so you might not even need to be on meds for too long, but the consequences of not getting the right meds for it could be incredibly high.

    Having a baby is very isolating, especially if it's your first, and if you are used to being at work. You are home for weeks with just yourself and this little creature that needs everything. Try and check in with friends and family regularly during the day. Once baby is a month old and not so susceptible to germs don't be afraid to go out and do stuff.

    I'm sorry you are having a tough time.
  • Dochis
    Dochis Posts: 1 Member
    Hi. Congrats on your baby! I've had 3 kids in the last 10 years and my emotional/ mental health has taken a toll. Motherhood can be very overwhelming, and many of us have a hard time adjusting. Take heart, it is temporary and we mothers overcome it, but it takes time. Be patient and kind to yourself.
    While PPD is complex, involving many factors, the importance of nutrition cannot be underestimated. Iron deficiency, for example, will make you more irritable, forgetful and tired. Hormonal health will also play a big role. I could go on and on. Have a physical first, and your doctor can tell you if you have any deficiencies. Try improving your diet and supplementing any dificiencies before trying antidepressants. A health diet is powerful!!
    In my case, this is what worked:

    -Probiotics - Your gut health is key. You will not absorb nutrients properly if it is not healthy. Pick a good quality, from a trusted source. Taking this alone will improve your overall health greatly. Do not rely on yogurt, it does not have a variety of strains and they have too much sugar.
    -Avoid sugar as much as you can. Sugar has a damaging effect on the nervous system.
    -B12 - your body needs it to generate energy
    -Iron - An issue after blood loss
    -Vit D - for calcium absorption
    -Ground flax seed -stabilizes hormones. I take 3 spoonfuls with berries for breakfast. PLEASE try this!

    Remember, take one day a time...I hoped this helped.




  • kak22283
    kak22283 Posts: 31 Member
    Check out 5htp!
  • BodyzLanguage
    BodyzLanguage Posts: 200 Member
    Christian music, it's a natural antidepressant. Good vibes flow through you. Try it out.
  • DancingMoosie
    DancingMoosie Posts: 8,619 Member
    Niacin, not non-flushing, start with 250s and move up to 500s up to 3x daily or more. Rhodiola rosea, maca, b complex and d3.
  • MKEgal
    MKEgal Posts: 3,250 Member
    Good for you for getting help!!! Take care of yourself.

    Here are some studies relating to vitamins, alternative therapies, and postpartum depression.
    Always look for high-quality information. Peer-reviewed professional journals, university websites,
    government websites...

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26840379
    "While 13 studies, including three [fish oil] supplementation trials, found no evidence of an association, 22 studies
    showed protective effects from healthy dietary patterns, multivitamin supplementation, fish [oil] intake, calcium,
    Vitamin D, zinc and possibly selenium."
    Published in the Journal of Maternal & Child Nutrition, Feb. 2016

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25233808
    "Our study demonstrated that lower [vitamin D] levels were associated with postpartum depression. This
    association was independent of other possible variables."
    Published in the British Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Nov. 2015

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3992885/
    Complementary and alternative medicine therapies for perinatal depression
    (free full text of article)
    "Evidence for augmentation with omega-3 fatty acids, exercise or folate with standard treatments ...
    Bright light therapy may be reasonable therapeutic options for some ...
    Acupuncture and massage may provide benefit ... but should not replace more standard therapies...
    St. John’s Wort, at a daily dosage of 300-1200mg, had an advantage over placebo and efficacy similar to tricyclic or SSRI antidepressants...
    [light therapy] initial dosing of 30 minutes beginning within ten minutes of awakening"
    Published in Best Practice & Research, Clinical Obstetrics & Gynecology, Jan. 2014

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24158923
    "There is insufficient evidence to conclude that selenium, DHA or EPA prevent postnatal depression. There is
    currently no evidence to recommend any other dietary supplement for prevention of postnatal depression."
    Cochrane Review, Oct. 2013

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3670433/
    Nutritional interventions in depression and perinatal depression
    (free full text article)
    "Nutritional status, particularly fatty acids, folate, and B12, have been shown to affect depression. Low omega-3 fatty acid status has been linked to an increased incidence of depression ...
    B-6 supplementation may be a valuable adjunctive therapy in the treatment of depression ...
    Folate, vitamin B-12, and vitamin B-6 are critical factors in ... neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine, and
    norepinephrine ...
    Depressed patients have reduced concentrations of n-3 fatty acids... n-3 fatty acids are significantly depleted in
    the red blood cell membranes of depressed patients. Depleted n-3 fatty acid levels were strongly associated with
    the severity of depression.
    Major sources of [n-3] are fish, canola oil, soybean oil, and walnuts."
    Low tryptophan can contribute to depression.
    Yale Journal of Biological Medicine, June 2013
  • MKEgal
    MKEgal Posts: 3,250 Member
    Dochis wrote:
    -Probiotics - Your gut health is key. You will not absorb nutrients properly if it is not healthy. Pick a good quality, from a trusted source. Taking this alone will improve your overall health greatly. Do not rely on yogurt, it does not have a variety of strains and they have too much sugar.
    -Avoid sugar as much as you can. Sugar has a damaging effect on the nervous system.
    -B12 - your body needs it to generate energy
    -Iron - An issue after blood loss
    -Vit D - for calcium absorption
    -Ground flax seed -stabilizes hormones. I take 3 spoonfuls with berries for breakfast. PLEASE try this!
    Can you point us to some scientific support for your ideas, please?
    Here's a good place to start: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
  • fishshark
    fishshark Posts: 1,886 Member
    B's and D change my mood like crazy. When im dealing with the blues.. like bad blues my dr does a work up and im usually heavily deficient in both of those. Im usually D deficient anyway. i now get b12 shots.. my body sucks and absorbing nutrients.. thanks Crohns disease!
  • Orphia
    Orphia Posts: 7,097 Member
    MKEgal wrote: »
    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24158923
    "There is insufficient evidence to conclude that selenium, DHA or EPA prevent postnatal depression. There is
    currently no evidence to recommend any other dietary supplement for prevention of postnatal depression."
    Cochrane Review, Oct. 2013

    Cochrane Reviews are top notch.

    "Natural" is just a buzzword that does not mean "best".
  • julie_broadhead
    julie_broadhead Posts: 178 Member
    I struggle with PPD and find therapy really helps me. I'm so sorry you have to deal with this too.

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