Before I discuss my favourite herbs for promoting mental health, I feel like it’s important to define exactly what this term means.
Our emotional, psychological, and social well-being are all parts of our mental health. It influences our thoughts, emotions, and behaviours. Additionally, it influences how we respond to stress, interact with others, and make decisions. Every period of life, from childhood and adolescence to maturity, is vital for mental health.
If you have mental health issues, they may have an impact on your thinking, mood, and behaviour over the course of your life. There are numerous elements that affect mental health issues such as how many meaningful social relationships you have, biological factors, environmental factors such as diet and this list goes on and on.
The two biggest issues that present themselves as mental health struggles are depression and anxiety. Depression being feelings of hopelessness and meaningless, and anxiety being feelings of worry and tension.
The following three herbs are in my view, the most widely researched natural medicines for depression and anxiety, however it is important to source high quality herbs as inexpensive ones often contain herbicides and toxins which will do more harm than good.
Saffron
Saffron is nicknamed the sunshine spice. This is not just due to its distinct color but also because it may help brighten your mood. In a review of five studies, saffron supplements were significantly more effective than placebos at treating symptoms of mild-to-moderate depression. Other studies found that taking 30 mg of saffron daily was just as effective as Fluoxetine, Imipramine, and Citalopram — conventional treatments for depression. Additionally, fewer people experienced side effects from saffron than from other treatments. Both the saffron petals and thread-like stigma appear to be effective against mild-to-moderate depression
Sage
In healthy adults, sage was shown to improve memory in low doses. Higher doses also elevated mood and increased alertness, calmness and contentedness. In both younger and older adults, sage appears to improve memory and brain function, which could be an explanation as to how it alleviates depression and anxiety.
