Happy Mind

Description

Ingredients: St. John’s Wort tops, Gingko leaf, White American Ginseng, Oat top, Schizandra berry, Eleuthero root, Wood Betony herb, Ginger root, Habanero fruit.

50ml

Who Needs It?

In America, it is estimated that there are 3 million people living with depression.[i] That’s 1 in 5 women and 1 in 8 men.[ii]

Disturbingly, America ranks number 2 in the world for anti-depressant usage.[iii] Our usage of them has doubled in the last decade. Yet our increasing rates of depression indicate that anti-depressants do not work effectively. This is in line with studies which have demonstrated that there is little difference between their effectiveness and that of a placebo.[iv]

One of the most problematic anti-depressant drugs is a category known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs. They work by stopping the reuptake (i.e. movement back into the nerve endings) of serotonin—an important neurotransmitter. This leaves more of this chemical available in the brain, which is said to improve mood.

SSRIs have been linked with the following health problems:

• Mania
• Bipolar disorder
• Autism Spectrum Disorder in children whose mothers took the drugs during pregnancy (this may be because serotonin is involved in foetal brain development.)
• Low birth weight, foetal death, birth defects, premature birth, and neonatal seizures in babies whose mothers took the drugs during pregnancy
• Lower bone density, and, therefore, fractures
• Thickening of the arteries, and higher chance of heart attack and stroke
• Ironically, suicidal thoughts and violent behavior

It is important to realise that are alternatives to treating depression. Cognitive behavioural therapy is one such way. If you are wanting to stop taking SSRIs, however, you must wean from them gradually, under the guidance of a health care provider. Sometimes this can take a year or more. Stopping suddenly can have a host of health effects, including severe psychological and physical problems.

Some natural ways of addressing depression are:

• Reducing—or eliminating—sugars and processed foods
• Increasing probiotics such as kombucha, kefir or fermented vegetables.
• Ensuring adequate levels of vitamins D and B12
• Exercising regularly
• Getting adequate sleep
• Making use of medicinal herbs.

This last point is where I can help you.

Overall levels of health can affect our mental health. What we put in our bodies can affect our mental health. It makes sense—if we are not nourishing our bodies, how can our brains function properly?

Many people have noticed a dramatic increase in their mental health even after doing a simple Colon Detox and changing their diet.

There are also some herbs which are renowned for their traditional use as a mood enhancer. I have included many of these herbs in my Depression Formula.

How it works:

• JOHN’S WORT: has been used for thousands of years for depression, anxiety and nervousness. Some studies are leading to the conclusion that the herb may work by preventing the brain’s neurons from reabsorbing serotonin, along with norepinephrine and dopamine— all ‘feel good’ neurotransmitters. However, unlike SSRI drugs, St. John’s Wort does not lead to unpleasant side-effects. It has been the subject of many different studies. One of these has demonstrated that is was more effective than a placebo, and with fewer side effects than SSRIs.[v] It can take up to 6 weeks for the positive effects of St. John’s Wort to be felt, as it works more gently and broadly than anti-depressant drugs—this is perhaps why there are no known side effects of taking this herb.
• GINGKO: interesting, this plant was one of the only plants to survive the nuclear bomb dropped on Hiroshima during World War II, continuing to thrive with no signs of deformities. Gingko Biloba has been used to improve brain functioning. In particular, it is said to improve memory, concentration, mental alertness, and mood disorders. It helps to bring oxygen to the brain.
• WHITE AMERICAN GINSENG: is an adaptogenic herb—i.e. a herb that helps people to better endure stress. It is thought to affect the regulation and production of hormones. The benefits of White American Ginseng, according to the Journal of Herbs, Spices & Medicinal Plants, are anti-stress, anti-fatigue and anti-aging effects; improved mental and physical performance and lower levels of inflammation.[vi]
• OAT: is high in a range of nutrients, and has been used for years for maintaining a healthy nervous system. It has also been commonly used for problems such as depression, nervous exhaustion and mental afflictions. Oats give a strong energy boost, can help relaxation and problems associated with insomnia.
• SCHIZANDRA BERRY: is, like Ginseng, an adaptogen herb. It has therefore been used to increase the body’s ability to fight diseases, anxiety, stress, lethargy, weakness, insomnia, irritability and concentration.
• ELEUTHERO ROOT: is also an adapogenic herb, which helps the body in times of physical and mental stress. It has commonly been used as an overall herbal tonic, with similar effects to those of ginseng. Eleuthero has been widely used by students undertaking exams, as it is said to promote mental resilience and memory.
• WOOD BETONY: is classified as a nervine herb, and was used as a popular ‘cure-all’ throughout the Middle Ages. It has sedative effects, and has been used for nervous tension and ‘frayed nerves’, excitement, emotional tension, hysteria and irritability, as well as insomnia.
• GINGER: helps with circulation to the extremities of the body, including the all-important brain. This can help with mental clarity and in clearing blockages in the body.
• HABANERO: like ginger, improves bodily circulation. This is why, when we take strong cayenne, our faces turn a red colour. Better circulation can help with breaking down blockages in the body that can lead to illness, and improving the sharpness of the mind.

How to Take it:

The suggested dose is 2 droppers-full (60 drops) 4 times a day in 60ml of water. As well as exercise for up to an hour 5 days a week.

Add the powerful Brain Formula to increase healing to the brain.

Do our 30 day detox if you are clinically depressed for the most dramatic results.

References:

[i] American Bureau of Statistics. (2008). National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing: Summary of Results, 2007. Cat. no. (4326.0). Canberra: ABS.

[ii] American Bureau of Statistics. (2008). National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing: Summary of Results, 2007. Cat. no. (4326.0). Canberra: ABS.

[iii] http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-22/australia-second-in-world-in-anti-depressant-prescriptions/5110084

[iv] PLOS Medicine February 26, 2008

[v] Linde et al. British Medical Journal, 1996

[vi] Journal of Herbs, Spices & Medicinal Plants. 1998, Vol. 6, No. 2:87-91.