Omega-3 as Antidepressant

University of Kansas Psychology Professor and author of the book The Depression Cure: The 6-Step Program to Beat Depression without Drugs, Dr. Stephen S. Ilardi points to studies where Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to have an antidepressant effect.

Some of the studies were inconclusive, but the thing that all the successful studies had in common was using EPA.  There are several different types of Omega-3s.  The most commonly known ones are EPA and DHA.  In the studies where Omega-3s acted as effective antidepressants, the patients were taking a dose of at least 1,000 mg of EPA daily.

Omega-3 supplements are widely available today in drug stores, supermarkets, health food stores, and online.  In his lecture about Therapeutic Lifestyle Change for Depression (and it's just under 2 hours long, so don't beat yourself up if you don't get through the whole thing), Dr. Ilardi mentions the brand NOW Foods Ultra Omega 3, Fish Oil Soft-gels.  But any high quality Omega-3 fish oil with enough EPA will do.  Dr. Ilardi recommends looking for the terms "molecularly distilled" or "pharmaceutical grade" when looking for a high quality EPA fish oil.

In order to get the minimum 1,000 mg of EPA daily for the antidepressant effect, it may be necessary to take more than one capsule every day.  For example, the NOW Foods brand mentioned above only contains 500 mg of EPA per soft-gel, so you'd have to take two pills (either together or spread out like one in the morning and one at night) in order to get the recommended dose of EPA as an antidepressant.

When you think about it, the fact that fish oil is helpful for people suffering from depression is not all that surprising news.  Omega-3s have anti-inflammatory properties.  And anyone who's seen any of the PBS specials with all the brain scans by Dr. Daniel Amen knows that an inflamed brain is a sick brain.  He even has his own Omega-3 Supplement, too, called The Amen Solution Omega 3 Power.

Even the authors of The Happiness Diet recommend increasing the amount of salmon and organic eggs in your diet in order to boost your mood.  Both of these foods are rich in Omega-3s and help keep your brain healthy.

Of course, if you're already on prescription medications, talk to your doctor before adding more Omega-3s to your routine.

If you'd like more information and videos about Dr. Ilardi and his Theraputic Lifestyle Change approach to treating depression, check out this Squidoo lens.

Image:  Diane Kress Blog

Mimosa Tree Bark - Chinese Herb for Depression

Today I was researching some Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) remedies for depression, specifically herbs that might offer a side-effect free alternative to Western pharmaceutical antidepressants.

I came across this article about Albizia, or mimosa tree bark, which is also known as the "happiness herb".  I am sharing the article link here, because it contains information regarding scientific studies of the herb's effectiveness at treating depression.  It also has a brief discussion on the types of antidepressants, as well as a section on biochemical theory.  Though you may be more interested in simply finding something that works, I have always been fascinated with understanding "why" something works, too.

In the past, I've little success with finding this herb for sale online or in a store.  It's mostly because it's labeled under so many different names, and some different spellings.  And sometimes if you search online for "mimosa tree bark"  the results you get are for the whole dried herb in a bag or a bottle of powder with no idea how to take it or what dose to try since none of the label is in English.

The easiest preparations I've found are in the form of liquid herbal extracts.  Amazon sells Planetary Formulas Albizzia Calm Liquid, 4-Ounce Bottle (yes, notice the spelling is with two Z's for this product).   You can place drops of it under your tongue, or, as I prefer, simply place the drops in your drink instead.   Then there's no messy powders or weighing or trying to figure out how to prepare the dried herb or worry that you're taking a consistent dose.

If 4 ounces is more than you are willing to commit to when you're first trying it, Herb Pharm offers Albizia Extract 1 Ounces, too.  It's the same herb, just a smaller bottle and a different manufacturer.  Herb Pharm also offers a 4 ounce bottle, too.  I've also seen Herb Pharm Extracts for sale at my local Whole Foods, store as well as my local independently owned health food store, too, if I need to pick it up at a store, rather than buy it exclusively online, I've got that option, too.

Image:  Hummingbird drinking nectar from a Mimosa Tree blossom by Bill Heller.

Suicide warning signs

Untreated depression can result in suicide attempts.  In fact, untreated depression is the NUMBER ONE cause of suicide.  Successful suicide is permanent and extreme, and very difficult for the friends, family and loved ones who are left behind to heal, wondering if they could have prevented it.

Image: Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Today when I was out shopping, the Karen Brooks Hope Center was collecting donations and handing out a flyer with the 35 warning signs of suicide.  They are the people behind the suicide hotline 1-800-SUICIDE.  If you are depressed and feel like life isn't worth living, reach out and talk with someone!  Their hopeline is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year (or as in this leap year 366 days!)

And now, because I think it is important to share, here are the 35 warning signs of suicide.  Many of these overlap with the signs of depression.

The important thing to remember is:  Help is available.  If you have a friend of a loved one who is displaying these signs, then the hopeline at 1-800-SUICIDE can help you, too! 

Suicide warning signs

• Appearing depressed or sad most of the time.
• Feeling hopeless.
• Expressing hopelessness.
• Withdrawing from family and friends.
• Sleeping too much, or too little.
• Feeling tired most of the time.
• Gaining or losing a significant amount of weight.
• Making statements such as:
  "I can't go on any longer, I hate this life."
  "Everyone would be better off without me."
  "Life is not worth living anymore"
  "I want to die."
• Any mention of suicide.
• Writing notes or poems about suicide or death.
• Losing interest in most activities.
• Giving away prized possessions.
• Writing a will.
• No sense of humor.
• Facing a perceived humiliating situation.
• Facing a perceived failure.
• Feeling excessive guilt or shame.
• Acting irrationally.
• Being preoccupied with death or dying.
• Behaving recklessly.
• Irritability.
• Frequent complaining about headaches, stomachaches, etc.
• Neglecting personal appearance.
• A dramatic change in personal appearance.
• A dramatic change in personality.
• Performing poorly in work or school.
• Abusing alcohol or drugs.
• Inability to concentrate.

Who this blog is for

I am assuming that you already know what depression is and what the symptoms are.

Furthermore, I am also assuming that you or someone close to you has already received a diagnosis of depression, or suspects that you (or they) do in fact have depression.

I also feel that you've made your way to this blog because you are researching treatment for depression.

Image: Master isolated images / FreeDigitalPhotos.net


I, myself, suffer from depression, and have for years.  I have been treated in the past with the help of antidepressants and therapy.  I haven't always sought treatment when I needed it, mostly because of the cost and because I felt like somehow admitting that I needed help made me weak.  Of course that's total BS.  I'm grateful now that I have the means to seek treatment, though I find that I am impatient in that results are rarely quick to be seen or felt.

I am also very frustrated about my limited access to care.  I, like many others, had to wait over a month just to get an initial consultation with a trained professional psychiatrist.   When you're depressed, it takes a long enough time to simply pick up the phone to make the appointment, so being told that you have to continue to feel miserable while you wait even longer can be devastating to some people. 

And even after I have established a relationship with a psychiatrist, I am lucky to be able to get 15 minutes of his time every six weeks.  So I arm myself with research, so that when I do have my time with the doctor, I make those minutes count.

Although there are a lot of what could be called "authority websites" out there, like the CDC, the Mayo Clinic, even WebMD and Wikipedia, I often find that the information I need is never available all in one place.  I frequently need to visit multiple sites and synthesize the information so that it makes sense to me and I can even hope to apply it to my own situation.

So, since I am conducting the research anyway, and it doesn't take that much more effort on my part to blog about it, I thought that there are likely a lot of other people like me out there, sitting in front of their keyboards and computer screens, looking for treatment for their depression.

I am by no means cured.  And I accept that I may never be.  Even though I've tried a number of different medications with very little success so far, there may be one that will work.  It may also turn out that I have the type of treatment resistant depression for which medicine is no help.  But for now, looking into internet resources for depression and information about depression keeps me motivated.  When there's not much I'm excited about in life, I've got to hang on to the few things that keep me going.

So I hope that the information on this blog is helpful to you.  I am not a health professional or a doctor.  I'm simply a lay person who suffers from depression and still hopes (most days) that eventually things will get better.  If there is a topic you would like me to cover on this blog in a post, then please leave a comment and I'll take the suggestions for future content.

Thanks and feel better!

-Colleen Belle

List of SSRIs

SSRIs are a type of antidepressant known as selective serotnin reuptake inhibitors.  A list of SSRIs organized by brand name (with generic names in parentheses) is included below.

Celexa (citalopram)
Cipralex (escitalopram)
Faverin (fluvoxamine)
Lexapro (escitalopram)
Lustral (sertraline)
Luvox (fluvoxamine)
Paxil (paroxetine)
Pexeva (paroxetine)
Prozac (fluoxetine)
Repiflux (fluoxetine)
Sarafem (fluoxetine)
Selfemra (fluoxetine)
Seroxa (paroxetine)
Zoloft (sertraline)

Treatment for Depression

Treatment for depression usually involves prescriptions for antidepressant drugs along with talk therapy. An antidepressant or combination of different antidepressant drugs, given under the care of a physician or psychiatrist are only part of the treatment for depression.

Cognitive behavioral therapy or CBT is a popular talking therapy that many psychotherapists use as a treatment for depression. Traditional psychotheraputic methods as well as general counseling are also forms of talk therapy which, in addition to medications, can be effective treatment for depression.

Finding a counselor or psychiatrist with whom the patient is able to build a rapport is extremely important. Those suffering from depression often find it difficult to seek help for their condition (in fact, not wanting to do anything or care for oneself are symptoms of depression). Once a patient does make an effort to get treatment for depression, their having a doctor with whom they are able to make a connection, and who they feel are invested in their welfare, is essential.

Image: Ambro / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

When depressed patients have a good relationship with their doctors and counselors, they are more likely to continue their treatment for depression. However, since many people who suffer from depression find that the condition negatively effects their ability to form and maintain relationships with others, making a connection with a doctors and counselors is not always easy.

Being able to gain access to treatment for depression is also another problem which many patients face. As therapy sessions may not be covered by insurance, or patients who need treatment may not have insurance, therapy may not be within financial reach for some of the patients who need it the most. Even those who are able to afford sessions with counselors or psychiatrists may have to wait months just to be seen for an appointment as the need for treatment for depression is so great, that there are usually many more patients than there are health care professionals to see them.

It's a sad situation which only helps to perpetuate the symptoms of depression and feelings of hopelessness. Those who are dealing with a condition which makes it difficult, if not impossible to even get out of bed some days cannot help but feel more discouraged if when they do eventually make the effort to seek treatment for depression find that they have to wait before they are able to get access to the resources that can help them feel better.

Family practitioners are able to prescribe antidepressants to their patients, too, so it may be an easier alternative to seek an appointment with a family doctor and at least start a course on an antidepressant while waiting to get in with a psychiatrist. For patients who are not suffering from major depression, seeking treatment for their depression from their family doctor may be all they need. However, those who suffer from clinical depression would likely benefit from a combination of therapy and medication from counselors and psychiatrists.

Unfortunately, there is no magic cure for depression. And treatment for depression is often long and only partially effective, if at all. However, the depression will only linger if treatment is not sought. Treatment of depression can be helpful when patients make the effort to find health care professionals who are trained in treating depression.

Drug free ways to treat depression

Although not widely published, some studies show that up to 60% of patients who are prescribed antidepressants do not see any improvement in their depression symptoms.  In fact, some patients experience increased instances of suicidal thoughts once they start taking antidepressant drugs.  More and more, many patients are exploring alternative methods of treatment, including herbal supplements, EFT tapping, meditation, nutrition and exercise.

Since therapy and antidepressant medications can be expensive, and can sometimes require years of treatment with no guarantee of success, many patients suffering from depression become frustrated.

If you are dealing with depression and are open to getting help which does not require drugs, consider purchasing Depression Help Fast. It's a series of videos and eBook with all natural remedies and strategies to help lift your mood and make you feel better.

Don't be trapped by feelings of depression any longer than you have to.  You deserve to be happy.  And having tried a number of different drugs and therapies with no results doesn't mean that you'll never feel better. Depression Help Fast is a collection of a number of different ways to treat depression symptoms.  Some may seem unconventional (or common sense) ways to make you feel better, like listening to happy music, dancing, and laughing (laughter is the best medicine, after all!)

Depression Help Fast has multiple, proven, solutions to lessen or eliminate the symptoms of depression you may be experiencing.  But don't take my word for it - check out the Depression Help Fast Website now!  Quit suffering and start living!