Depression is a major disability in the world. Since its causes are not known yet, it is incurable. It can only be treated. It means that the signs of depression can only be kept in controlled. Medicines used to treat depression are called Antidepressants. They are powerful chemical substances which interact with the natural chemicals present in the brain called the hormones. Hormones regulate our moods and emotions and are believed to play a major role in depression. In this way, Antidepressants treat depression.
But even doctors cannot say for sure, how these chemicals can affect in other ways. Every antidepressants has one side effect or another. This is the reason why doctors are curious about the traditional herbs which can treat depression without any side effects. This article tries to gain further insight on this topic.

Knowledge Gained from Research on this Topic: A research study was conducted on this topic in the year 2004 in Tehran, Iran. According to the researchers from the Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Saffron flower has the potential to cure mild to moderate depression. All over the world, most of the depression patients come under this category. From the study it was revealed that Saffron flower works similar to an antidepressant called Imipramine. This antidepressant makes the patient manic or hypomanic as its side effect.
In the research study, capsules prepared from Saffron flower were given to mild to moderate depression patients for 6 weeks. At the end of the study, it was learnt that the effectiveness of Saffron flower in treating depression is same as the antidepressant Imipramine, but without any side effects.

Herbs for Depression: Depression is can affect our life in several ways. It influences our food habits, sleep order, work, personal, professional and social life. Sometimes disturbances or failures in these aspects of life can also point towards depression. In this way, there is a two way relation between depression and its side effects. Herbs treat either the depression or its side effects. In either of the ways it turns out to be beneficial for the (mild-moderate) depression patient. Some of these herbs are:

• Basil
• Balm
• Ginkgo Biloba
• Licorice
• St. John’s Wort
• Clove
• Damiana
• Ginger
• Siberian Ginseng
• Rosemary
• Yohimbine
• Hyme
• Sage
• Borage
• Kava kava
• Oat straw
• Black Hellebore
• Pursiane
• Fo-ti-tieng
• Passion Flower ( Passiflora incarnate)
• Valerian Root (Valeriana officinalis)
• Skull cap (Scutilaria Lateriflora)