As the temperatures drop and the days get shorter, moods also fall as winter depression sets in. SAD, or seasonal affective disorder, is mostly experienced when autumn changes to winter, but can show up at other times of the year as well. The person affected becomes depressed, can have weight gain due to cravings for sweets and other high carbohydrate foods, and can have poor concentration and a general lack of energy. Along with spending some time outdoors everyday, using light therapy, and exercising regularly, herbs can be helpful in relieving symptoms of this disorder.
Celery is a nervine and sedative. The seeds can be used to make an herbal tea to help relieve depression symptoms.
Chamomile Flowers
Chamomile is a popular herb for relaxation. Taken as a tea, the flowers help to reduce depression and anxiety, calm and relieve nervousness, and improve digestion. Drink a cup of chamomile tea with lavender and honey before bedtime to help with insomnia.
Lavender is another popular herb used for its calming and sedative properties. The flowers can be used to make a tea and can be mixed with other herbs such as chamomile to help with insomnia. It also helps to relieve tension and depression.
Lemon balm leaves can also be used in herbal teas. This herb has calmative and sedative properties and helps to relieve depression, tension, and digestive issues.
Motherwort is a nervine and helps relieve nervousness and tension. It may also help with insomnia.
Passion Flower
Passion flower is considered a mild sedative. The flowers are used in herbal teas to help relieve insomnia, anxiety, and digestive issues.
Pennyroyal is a stimulant and mild sedative. The leaves of this herb are usually used to make an oil which is used in aromatherapy. It can help with digestive issues and tension. Pennyroyal should never be used during pregnancy as the oil can stimulate the uterus and cause contractions.
Sprigs of Fresh Rosemary
Rosemary is a nervine and can help treat depression and headaches.
Sage has sedative properties and be used in herbal teas to help relieve tension.
Skullcap is known as a nervine and sedative. When anxiety strikes, it can help to calm and relax and relieve insomnia.
St. John’s Wort is probably the most well known herb for depression. It is even approved and frequently prescribed by doctors in Germany. This perennial herb is used to relieve depression that is considered mild to moderate only.
Valerian is a sedative and nervine useful for insomnia and anxiety. Valerian should never be used more than once a day or for longer than a couple of weeks at a time.
Kava gives better results.Kava is a useful herb often recommended for its calming effects, as a remedy to anxiety and stress.It’s also used effectively to combat insomnia. Definitely worth a try.Good stuff! Thanks.