Looking for natural alternatives to Prozac? Continue reading this article and discover the most effective Prozac alternatives with zero side effects, all-natural.
Prozac is one of the most popular drugs prescribed for depression, and as facts show, it doesn’t work, because if it did work, we would be less depressed today, which is clearly not the case. People are actually more depressed today than they were back in the 80s when pharmaceutical companies started pushing the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors drugs (SSRIs) such as Prozac. Before we get to the natural alternatives to Prozac, a few words on Prozac.
In This Article You Will Find:
Why Prozac Doesn’t Work
Prozac doesn’t work, it’s just a lifetime subscription for you and a great source of income for major pharmaceutical companies. It disrupts the serotonin balance in the brain, by forcing serotonin to be reabsorbed into the synaptic cells, in a failed attempt to artificially recycle it and keep us happy for longer. Needless to say, this is an intrusive method, based on a false hypothesis that depression is a chemical imbalance in the brain.
This is why Prozac has so many side effects, suicidal thoughts being one of them, ironically. It was supposed to do the opposite, but nobody seems to see the elephant in the room. Want some more proof that Prozac doesn’t work? That proof is you reading this article here.
Luckily there are natural alternatives to Prozac that can actually make a difference. But the most important part, these natural alternatives to Prozac don’t make you drug dependent and don’t come with side effects. They just help you raise your vibration and see life from a wider perspective so you can help yourself. Let’s get to them.
5 Natural Alternatives to Prozac
1. 5-HTP
(Griffonia simplicifolia)
5-hydroxytryptophan or 5-HTP is an amino acid precursor of serotonin, extracted from the seeds of Griffonia simplicifolia, and is probably one of the best natural alternatives to Prozac. This natural extract naturally contains vitamins C and B6, important cofactors in the bioprocess of converting 5-HTP into serotonin. It is successfully used in endogenous depression caused by chemical imbalances in the brain and is known to induce calm, self-confidence, relaxation, and improve sleep quality.
2. Rhodiola Rosea
Rhodiola is an adaptogenic herb used in Russian and Chinese medicine, which means it helps the body adapt and overcome stress and low moods. A study published at the end of 2019 concluded that Rhodiola Rosea supplementation may alleviate symptoms of mild to moderate depression and mild anxiety, while it may also enhance mood. More so, they also concluded that the herb is safe, the adverse effects are rare and mild, and high doses do not cause significant adverse effects. Rhodiola is one of the best natural alternatives to Prozac, no doubt about it.
3. Gingko Biloba
A 1993 German study on several patients with chronic depression showed that after eight weeks of treatment with 80 mg Gingko Biloba extract (2 tablets of 40 mg), 3 times a day, the patients had a significant improvement in their mental state. Found that half of the people who did not respond to antidepressants who were then given Ginkgo Biloba showed a 50% drop in their Hamilton Depression scale scores. They were more toned, more optimistic, more alert, and more aware than those in the control group.
Gingko Biloba is most effective in chronic depression (not seasonal depression) and should not be associated with synthetic psychotropic drugs (“Prozac”, “Zoloft”, “Paxil”, etc.) because it can lead to severe cardiovascular and neurological side effects. Needless to say, Gingko Biloba is one of the best natural alternatives to Prozac.
4. St. John’s Wort Extract
This simple herbal extract is one of the best natural alternatives to Prozac. A recent study compared St. John’s wort extract with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as Prozac. The result showed the same efficacy in treating mild-to-moderate depression, only that St John’s wort is safer than SSRIs. You can use St. John’s wort extract, or enjoy 3 cups of freshly brewed St. John’s wort tea a day to enjoy the healing properties of this amazing herb.
5. Royal Jelly
Royal is not just a superfood, is a natural medicine, one of the oldest ever used in parts of Central and Eastern Europe. But the best part about royal jelly is that has the property to inhibit prostaglandins. These are active lipid compounds that are responsible for releasing inflammatory proteins in the body and causing headaches. A Japanese study showed that royal jelly improves stress-induced depression-like behavior by regulating adrenal steroidogenesis, partly due to the unique unsaturated fatty acids it contains. But there are more studies attesting to the anti-depressant effect of royal jelly. This is why royal jelly, alone or with honey, is one of the best natural alternatives to Prozac.
Diet and Depression
In addition to the natural alternatives to Prozac above, diet is key in overcoming depression. Serotonin is the hormone of good mood, but its precursor is tryptophan. Foods rich in tryptophan have proven to help boost a positive mindset and alleviate depression. These foods are:
- fish (cod and herring)
- seafood
- beans (lentils, soybeans, beans)
- bean husks
- oats
- raw nuts
However, in addition to tryptophan, it is important to have complex carbs such as whole bread, wheat germ, rice, and fresh fruit, which stimulate insulin production and which, in turn, facilitate the passage of tryptophan from the blood into the brain.
- Spices with proven anti-depressant action: garlic, turmeric, cinnamon, saffron, coriander, fennel, oregano, rosemary, and black pepper.
- Herbs that fight depression: dong quai, astragalus, water hyssop, cannabis, gotu kola, black colosh, schizandra berries, Siberian ginseng, licorice, hibiscus, passionflower, hops, chamomile, lemon balm, sweet basil.
In addition to diet and the natural alternatives to Prozac above mentioned, supplementing with magnesium and Vitamin B complex can help tremendously. Magnesium & B6 support the proper functioning of the nervous system and help to reduce fatigue caused by prolonged stress.
Very Important!
Avoid sugar, soda drinks, processed foods, and junk foods, because they ruin your gut health, and support depression. The gut is the second brain, and when you have poor gut health, you are more prone to depression. I also recommend a parasite detox protocol, because a poor diet creates the perfect environment for parasites, and this explains the sugary and junk food cravings.
More importantly, stay away from alcohol. Aside from being a neurotoxin, alcohol lowers your vibration and tunes your frequency to that of negative entities. And no, one glass of red wine a day is not healthy, not even one gram of alcohol is good for you when you’re coming out of depression. Instead, drink as much pure water (filtered, spring, or distilled) and fresh cold-pressed juices and get as much fresh air and physical exercise as you can.
The Truth About Depression
To put it simply, depression is the lowest vibrational state caused by feeling unloved. Love is the highest human vibration, and fear is the lowest. We all vibrate on this scale between love and fear all the time. Where we vibrate on this scale determines how we feel and how we interpret the circumstances in our life. Lowering your frequency can be caused by two things independently or together: a poor diet (poor gut health) and a negative mindset that is poisoning the body. In other words, the things you put in your body and the things you put in your mind.
But the biggest secret that nobody is going to tell you, is that you can get out of feeling depressed when you DECIDE to change your personal vibration from fear to love.
To do this, you need to make a decision first, totally aware of your choice. Nobody heals anyone, everyone heals themselves when they decide to be healthy. After this decision is made, start by feeding your body and mind more loving energy, that is healthy food and positive thoughts. There are no shortcuts and magical pills because the purpose of depression is to become your true self.
Depression is not actually bad. It gives you the opportunity to see what your false beliefs about yourself are and change them.
It’s a valuable time of growth if you see it like this. But unfortunately, we’ve all been misled to put a negative label on depression and then run and hide. When you understand that it’s here to serve you, and only you decide when to stop experimenting with it, you’re healed. Life is a game in which you choose your character. Make the best choice for yourself, right here and now.
Read Also: 10 Home Remedies for Depression that Actually Work
We hope that the natural alternatives to Prozac above, supplements, and recommendations will actually make a difference in your life. Change the way you see things, and the things around you will change. Share so more people in need can find these natural alternatives to Prozac and improve their lives. Love you all. Stay healthy, naturally!
4 comments
PLease define this statement furthe
“Gingko Biloba is most effective in chronic depression (not seasonal depression) and should not be associated with synthetic psychotropic drugs (“Prozac”, “Zoloft”, “Paxil”, etc.) because it can lead to severe cardiovascular and neurological side-effects. Needless to say, Gingko Biloba is one of the best natural alternatives to Prozac.”
What leads to the severe side effects? Gignko bilboa or the drugs?
Hi Linda! Let’s put it like this. Gingko Biloba alone does not have side-effects when taken in the recommended doses. Prozac, Zoloft and Paxil have known side-effect even when taken alone. When taking Gingko Biloba together with any of these three synthetic drugs, you can experience the side-effects mentioned in the article. The idea is to not take Gingko Biloba when you follow a treatment with any of these three drugs. Much health!
Can I take any of these supplements together or should I just chose one and use that one ? I have John’s wart but was thinking about adding the gingko and 5-htp. I have been struggling with the loss of my sister and Prozac seems to be helping my mom quite a bit. She went be able to function without it but I was never a fan of prescription drugs.
Hi Denisa, I cannot say for sure if these supplements go together, it’s best to consult a naturopath or herbalist. But what you can do is take them together for 1-2 days and if you don’t have any negative effects, you can continue taking them. Usually herbal products have little to no negative interactions with each other, but better to be safe. Let us know if these alternatives to Prozac have helped you and/or your mom. Much health!