Natural Supplements for Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder, or manic-depressive disorder, is a condition characterized by manic highs and depressive lows. Many times the prescribed medications for bipolar disorder can carry such disturbing side effects that you wonder if they are worth taking. There are natural supplements available that can provide some relief from the symptoms of bipolar disorder without the side effects of pharmaceuticals. As always, you should consult a doctor before ending treatment through medication and before beginning a supplement regimen.
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Fatty Acids
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Omega-3s and omega-6s are the two main groups of essential fatty acids. Omega 3s can be found in green leafy vegetables, fish oil and other seafood from cold waters. Omega 6s, while important for immune response and blood clotting, are bad in excess. Keeping a healthy balance of omega-6s to omega-3s regulates your mood, sharpens your memory and helps with concentration and learning. If you are not a seafood lover, you can take flaxseed oil or hemp oil to get a good dose of omega-3s. Cod liver oil is not a substitution for this, as it has high levels of vitamin A and vitamin D and can be toxic in very high doses.
Amino Acids
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Tryptophan is an amino acid that helps relieve depression, stress, anxiety, mania and insomnia. 5-HTP, or 5-hydroxytryptophan, is converted into serotonin. According to Healing Depression and Bipolar Disorder without Drugs, it has been proven that 5-HTP can be as effective as pharmaceuticals like Paxil and Zoloft. 5-HTP is the "secret" ingredient in Prozac that makes the drug so effective.
Mehionine helps lower histamine levels, which keeps mania and anxiety at bay. It helps the brain make SAMe (S-adenoxyl-methionine), which is needed for several processes including keeping serotonin and dopamine at their optimum levels.
Phenylalanine is converted and eventually used to create dopamine and norepinephrine, which helps you stay alert and keeps your appetite suppressed. L-phenylalanine is a supplement useful for stabilizing your mood. Amino acids are in all foods with protein, like animal meats, beans, nuts and seeds.
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Selenium
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Selenium lessens anxiety and depression, and it can make you feel less tired. Selenium deficiencies can make you anxious, hostile and confused. It also neutralizes free radicals and helps to remove toxins that can upset brain functions from your body. Brazil nuts are an excellent source of selenium, although you don't need an extraordinary amount. Take 70 micrograms of selenium daily.
Iodine and Potassium
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Iodine is important enough to your health that the government made its addition to table salt mandatory. Depression, low energy and weight gain are signs of low iodine. 150 micrograms a day is the recommended amount.
Potassium helps regulate the balance of water in your body, oxygen flow to your brain and glucose conversion. It helps to keep mood swings down and is depleted from your body when you drink too much alcohol, coffee or sugar. Eat a banana for some instant potassium.
B Vitamins
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B vitamins can help stave off depression and do wonders for mood regulation. They can aid in lowering the intensity of mood swings, headaches, irritability and anxiety as well). Taking a B-complex supplement is the best way to get all of the B vitamins your body requires.
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References
- Healing Depression and Bipolar Disorder Without Drugs: Inspiring Stories of Restoring Mental Health through Natural Therapies; Gracelyn Guyol; 2006
- The Prozac Alternative: Natural Relief from Depression; Ran Knishinsky; 1998
- The Wisdom of Depression: A Guide to Understanding and Curing Depression using Natural Medicine; Jonathan Zuess, M.D.; 1999
