Treating mood swings naturally
Sometimes your mood is like a roller coaster.Do you also know the emotional chaos triggered by alternating highs and lows? You are not alone in this.
Many know the feeling of exhaustion, tiredness and listlessness. For some, it's the foggy winter days that beat on the mind; for others, its personal triggers that cause a feeling of emptiness or sadness. However, if the mood gets off track for a longer period of time, the body and soul need support to get back into balance. Here you can find out which natural mood enhancers can be a real help for mood swings and mild depression.
Mood swings
Moods are determined by external and endogenous influences. In most cases, a combination of many factors is responsible for negative moods. There are various possible causes for mood swings and mild depression: hormonal changes, e.g. during pregnancy or the menopause, new phases of life or medication, to name just a few triggers. And sometimes there is no discernible reason for the bad mood.
Depression or mood swing?
The transition from a mood swing to a mild depression is often not clearly demarcated. In depression, it is hardly possible for those affected to react to sadness, joy or other stimuli. Self-isolation, feelings of guilt, anxiety, feelings of pressure in the chest or profound exhaustion can be symptoms. Depression always belongs in medical treatment. In the case of mood swings, on the other hand, much can already be achieved with natural mood enhancers and expert counselling. It is particularly important to recognize the need to actively change the situation. The earlier this happens, the more effective natural alternatives can be.
Natural alternatives for mood swings
The best-known plant today for the treatment of mood disorders and mild depression is St. John's wort. Although St. John's wort has significantly fewer side effects than chemical antidepressants, this plant extract cannot be taken completely without hesitation. For example, St. John's wort can lead to sun sensitivity reactions and interactions with other medications (e.g. the contraceptive pill).
Saffron and lemon balm are currently less well known for the treatment of mood swings. However, there are already representative studies that prove a positive effect of the plant substances contained in them on the mood - and this with good tolerability.
Saffron - a natural mood enhancer
The noble and expensive spice saffron is obtained from the red stigmas of the Crocus sativus flower. It is expensive mainly because about 150,000 to 200,000 blossoms are needed for one kilogram. The mood-lifting effect of saffron is probably due to the crocine it contains.
Saffron has a bitter-tart-pungent taste, which - unlike the typical fragrance - is not noticeable in normal doses. It contains carotenoids, especially crocin, so that dishes flavored with saffron turn an intense golden yellow. It also contains the bitter substance saffron bitters, from which the aldehyde safranal, which is responsible for the saffron aroma, is partly formed during drying.
Saffron must be stored protected from light and moisture in tightly closing metal or glass containers, as the spice quickly fades in the light and the essential oil evaporates relatively easily.
How does saffron affect the mind?
Saffron extract regulates the release of the stress hormone cortisol in the body. It also has a favourable effect on the happiness hormones serotonin and dopamine and thus has a positive influence on mood.
The well-tolerated saffron extract has an effect comparable to that of antidepressants, which are used in classical therapy. This makes the herbal mood enhancer an excellent alternative. Ideally, you should take 14 mg saffron extract in the morning and 14 mg in the evening.
How can you recognise good quality saffron?
Not all saffron is the same. There are many fakes. The saffron powder in particular is often stretched with curcuma. Genuine saffron must meet various quality standards. The extracts should be obtained from a clearly defined plant subspecies and from controlled cultivation through standardized procedures. The efficacy of the extracts used should be proven, as results cannot be transferred from one extract to another.
Lemon balm - much more than a popular tea herb
Lemon balm has many positive effects. Paracelsus said about it: "Of all things that the earth produces, lemon balm is the best herb for the heart; enjoyed internally, it makes one cheerful and exhilarates the heart. It renews all the powers of the body."
Melissa extract has a calming effect and an influence on mental performance and stress tolerance. Inner restlessness, poor sleep quality and concentration problems are a key issue, especially in the case of mood swings.
Melissa increases mental performance (attention, memory), but also has a calming effect and improves sleep quality, which was scientifically confirmed in a study with the Melissa extract Bluenesse®. Daily doses of 600 mg of melissa extract, divided into two doses, make sense. A time interval of at least 4 hours should be observed between the intakes, as otherwise the cortisol level drops sharply, which could possibly lead to drowsiness.
The mood-lifting effect of micronutrients
The positive effect of micronutrients in connection with a mood swing or mild depression is usually underestimated.
Many micronutrients are involved in the formation of messenger substances in the brain (neurotransmitters) such as dopamine, noradrenaline, melatonin and serotonin. If the supply of vitamins, minerals and trace elements is insufficient, this can promote the occurrence of mood swings or depression.
The accompanying supplementation of micronutrients for mood swings and other mental illnesses should therefore not be neglected. Many scientific studies have shown that the best possible supply of micronutrients such as vitamin D3, B vitamins and zinc, but also omega-3 fatty acids, is very important in mental illness. Listen to your body and to your inner feeling. There is also a saying that insight is the first step to recovery. There are excellent natural alternatives to support the mind in case of mood swings and mild depression.
