Effective Home Remedies for Bipolar Disorder

[harsta]

Bipolar disorder or manic depression is a type of mental illness which causes frequent mood swings in a person. Within a short period, the person may experience extreme high and extreme low moods. This disorder affects the energy, thinking power and behavior of a person. The person can experience mania in one extreme and can experience depression on the other extreme. The cycles of bipolar disorder can last for days, weeks or months in certain people. Both men and women are equally affected by this mental problem. If untreated, the condition can get complicated and can even lead to suicidal tendencies.

Causes Of Bipolar Disorder

There are multiple causes for this disorder. Some people are genetically predisposed to this disorder. In some people physical changes in the brain causes the disorder. Imbalance of neurotransmitters, abnormal thyroid function and increased level of cortisone hormone are some of the factors that can cause bipolar disorder. Environmental as well as psychological factors are involved in the development of bipolar disorder. The external factors or triggers can set off mood swings or can make the symptoms worse. Some of the triggers which can cause new episodes of mania or depression are:

Stress- Stressful life events which are good or bad can trigger this disorder. Loosing a loved one or getting married, getting fired can cause stress and the disorder.

Substance Abuse- Use of cocaine and amphetamines triggers mania and the use of alcohol and tranquilizers trigger depression.

Medication- Medications such as antidepressant drugs, certain cold medicine, corticosteroids, thyroid medication and caffeine can trigger bipolar disorder

Seasonal Changes- The episodes of mania and depression in bipolar disorder often has a seasonal pattern. Manic episodes are common in summer and depression episodes are common in winter and spring.

Sleep Deprivation- Loosing even a few hours of sleep can trigger manic episodes.

Symptoms Of Bipolar Disorder

The expression of the diseases is very different in different people. The symptoms also vary in people with reference to severity, frequency etc. There are four different mood episodes found in people with bipolar disorder. They are mania, hypomania, depression and mixed episodes the symptoms of each mood episode have unique symptoms.

Symptoms Of Mania

• Feeling highly optimistic or extremely irritable

• Unrealistic belief in one’s ability or powers

• Talking very rapidly

• Thoughts jumping quickly from one idea to another

• Impulsiveness and impaired judgment

• Delusions and hallucinations

Signs Of Bipolar Depression

Common Symptoms of bipolar depression are

• Feeling sad or hopeless

• Irritability

• Physical and mental sluggishness

• Concentration and memory problems

• Sleep problems

• Thought of death or suicide

Symptoms Of Mixed Episode

A mixed episode of bipolar disorder has the symptoms of both manic and depression. The common signs of mixed episodes are:

• Depression along with agitation

• Anxiety

• Distractibility

• Racing thoughts

If you notice the symptoms of bipolar depression in yourself or in someone else, it is necessary to get the long term treatment. Doctors will be able to prescribe the necessary medications for the problem. Those who are interested in natural methods to treat the problem can opt for home remedies for bipolar disorder.

Home Remedies for Bipolar Disorder:

The following are the home remedies that you can try out to naturally treat bipolar disorder.

1. Gingko Biloba

Gingko Biloba is an extract of the gingko tree and is an herb that will help in boosting your memory. It will help in improving the blood flow to your brain and will help in improving the memory function of the brain. It is also an antioxidant by nature. It is a very effective herb that is used in the treatment of bipolar disorders as well as other mental problems and disorders.

• You can use this herb to fight depression symptoms and to enhance the mood.

• You need to consume this herb regularly for a minimum of 8 to 12 weeks to see positive and effective changes in your mood.

2. Fish Oil

Fish oil is found to be very effective in treating bipolar disorder and will help in preventing the frequent mood swings. Fish oil is rich in omega 3 fatty acids which is very effective in treating bipolar disorder problems. It is advisable that people suffering from bipolar disorder consume fish oil everyday to overcome depression and frequent mood swings.

• Regular consumption of fish like salmon, herring, tuna, trout and mackerel that are rich in omega 3 fatty acids will help in treating bipolar disorders to a great extent.

• It will also help in decreasing the occurrence of frenzied episodes.

• If you do not like the smell of fish or do not eat fish, then you can substitute it with over the counter fish oil supplements.

3. Passion Flower

Passionflower is a very effective home remedy that you can think of when it comes to bipolar disorder. The herb will offer a soothing effect to the nerves which will help in providing the right balance of the neurotransmitters in the brain. This herb has to be taken every day without fail to get relief from anxiety and depression.

• Passionflower will help in reducing the effect of insomnia that is caused due to agitated and depression phases.

• It has got sedative and tranquilizing properties that will provide relief from the excitement that you will face during a manic bipolar disorder stage.

4. Valerian Root

Another natural herb that you can use as a home remedy to treat bipolar disorder is Valerian root. It has strong sedative properties that will help in providing good sleep to people suffering from sleep disorder problems. It is an ideal option for people who have strong and frequent headaches. It is known to be very effective in treating bipolar disorder as well as mental problems.

• Valerian root is a natural herb that you can buy easily in the market in the form of a tablet or capsule or herbal tea or liquid extract.

• It will help in effectively reducing anxiety, stress, nervous tensions, restlessness as well as mild to moderate mood swings in people.

5. Licorice

Licorice is another natural herb that you can use to treat bipolar disorder problems effectively. It is one of the few natural herbs that can be used to treat a lot of symptoms associated with bipolar disorder. It will help in increasing the production of active hormones that is present in the brain. Consuming licorice herbal tea every day will help in treating bipolar disorder problems.

• Take a teaspoon of licorice powder and add it in a cup of water.

• Boil this water for about ten minutes.

• Strain the solution and drink the licorice tea. Drink this tea every day to treat depression caused due to bipolar disorder.

6. Flaxseed Oil

Flaxseed oil is rich in alpha-linolenic acid that is a kind of omega 3 fatty acids that will help in reducing the symptoms of bipolar disorder to a great extent. It has been researched that flaxseed oil is effective in treating depression caused by bipolar disorder. Flaxseed oil has been found to be very effective in boosting the effects of conventional treatments for bipolar disorder. It works well when used along with conventional medications and will help you in easing bipolar disorder problems.

7. Gotu Kola

Gotu Kola is a natural herb that has been found to be very effective in treating depression and anxiety in a lot of people. It is important for you to not take this herb when you are taking diabetes medicines or cholesterol lowering drugs. So, it is advisable that you consult with your doctor or physician before starting to use the herb to treat bipolar disorder.

• Taking Gotu Kola regularly will help in proving relief from various bipolar disorder related symptoms especially depression and anxiety.

8. Black Snakeroot

Black snakeroot or Black Chosh is a type of natural herb that will work as a nervous system depressant and can help in treating bipolar disorder. The herb also has sedative properties that will help to get rid of a few bipolar disorder symptoms.

• Black snakeroot herb has to be used along with squaw root to get effective results and to lessen the symptoms of bipolar disorder.

• It is important for you to not use the herb for longer duration as it can cause liver damage.

9. St. John’s Wort

If you are suffering from mild depression problems due to bipolar disorder, then you need to think of taking the St. John’s Wort herb. It is also a very effective antidepressant. It is important for you to consult your physician or your doctor before taking this herb as it has certain side effects when you take it along with some medications and antidepressants.

• St. John’s Wort is also known to trigger mania and other complications in people suffering from bipolar disorder and hence must only be taken after consulting with a doctor.

10. Ginseng

Another important natural herb that will help in improving the functions of the brain is the Ginseng. It is a very good herb that will help in improving concentration power, duration of the attention as well as the memory level of bipolar disorder patients.

• Ginseng is very effective in treating depression due to bipolar disorder and it is also found to be effective in treating people suffering from lethargy and fatigue due to bipolar disorder.

• It is advisable that you take Ginseng herb after consultation with your doctor.

11. Foods To Avoid

It is very important for you to stay away from eating certain foods that can easily trigger bipolar disorder.

• Foods rich in fat have to be avoided as it will trigger insomnia and irritability in people with bipolar disorder problems.

• It is important to avoid alcohol as it is a depressant.

• Make sure that caffeine foods are avoided as it will reduce the sleep.

• Sugar also has to be avoided as it can sometimes become a depressant.

• Red meat also has been found to cause irritability in bipolar disorder persons and hence must be completely avoided.

12. Lithium

Lithium is found to be a very effective home remedy for bipolar disorder and is suggested by medical community widely. The manic behavior in bipolar disorder persons was found to be less in people living in areas where the water had higher quantities of natural lithium levels.

13. L-Tyrosine

L-tyrosine is a non essential amino acid that has been found to be very effective in treating bipolar disorder symptoms. It is important for the patients suffering from bipolar disorder to increase amino acids in their body and this can be easily achieved by taking L-tyrosine supplements. Some of the foods that are rich in L-tyrosine are:

• Fish

• Wheat

• Oats

• Meat

• Dairy products

Are you or someone in your family suffering from mild to moderate bipolar disorder problems? Do you want to know if there are natural ways by which you will be able to reduce the symptoms of bipolar disorder? Then, you will need to try out some of the above mentioned natural home

[kumarms]

dear sir

kindly provide details how to get some of ur medicine discussed above.you can mail me at least mobile no and add to contact for purchsing with purity.i am mood swinger and diabitic,bp,insomania,low esteem feelings.

[Mohit1570 in reply to kumarms]

Siberian ginseng and omega 3 is very effective for me i am not using allopathic medicine last 3 year.... You can contact me at xxxxxxxx,xxxxxxxx

[Samira_w]

I am a 28 yr old female I am manic depressive, bipolar, PSTD, and syncopic (I hear voices) my anger has been getting worse harder to face everyday I need help pills don't help I am a self medicator I smoke cannabis. I can't function I have started to have panic attacks more often than ever before I am become more afraid and more angry as I get older The most recent med. I was given was Remeron 30 MG onlinepharmacyreviews.org/i... at night it only helped for about 3 weeks then I was back where I started I just want to be normal I feel like such an outsider even with my own friends more and more what can I do?

[cc120 in reply to Samira_w]

Doesn't cannabis lead to paranoia?

[MamaBug23 in reply to cc120]

CC120 - in my experience with cannabis- if it is in it's unalterated form- it does not cause paranoia. Only herbs mixed with some chemicals will. I say so because I had experienced it. Hope this helps.

[MamaBug23 in reply to Samira_w]

Hello, I hope this reply finds you well since your post was from 2yrs ago. I want to share that I have a friend with PTSD as well. Although he does not smoke marijuana that I know of but I do, our group of friends takes him to go outing in nature, go swimming on lakes, fishing, canoeing, camping and such to distract him. He now does carving from wood, a new hobby that keeps him occupied. For some reason- he makes plates out of wood. He does work as well, not sure if you do but try.

I want to suggest if you may, try painting. I am actually suicidal due to depression but I do my best to refrain myself in doing it. My outlets are smoking weed then gardening, I now have a 4yo "Back to Eden" garden - it's a method of gardening that I follow. Look it up in youtube when you get a chance. Gardening helps me release my frustrations and anger by pulling weeds and digging, transplanting and cutting plants (like forming it to bonsais). I also do Calligraphy, I just started actually, but when it get's really difficult and I have no one to talk to while crying, I write to myself in an old way of writing or write to my family how much they mean to me. Hope you find your outlet and not hurt yourself and others. I always keep in mind that my depression is not an excuse to hurt others or myself. Take care.

[Mohit1570 in reply to Samira_w]

Use siberian ginseng and omega3

[Mohit1570]

I have same problem bipolar disorder, i was diagnosed in 2010 , in starting i was on medication then i stop allopathic medicine and taking omega 3 , siberian ginseng, multivitamins, fiber, by nutrilite ( a brand which is 80 year old ) if anyone from India specially from delhi can contact me at xxxxxxxx,xxxxxxxx

[Adrew]

Just a warning to everyone. I had a very bad reaction to St. John's Worts. Uncontrollable crying almost immediately after taking it. Nothing had happened. Probably depends on the person but I had a terrible reaction to it. Made me extremely emotional. Was horrible. Valerian worked for some time. Think I need to switch to something else. Perhaps higher dosage. Will try some of the things on the list. Been getting worse. Feel I cannot function normally. I am undiagnosed but don't want to be put on meds. Hate side effects. This is my last effort. If I have to I will go to a doctor and take medication. Rather try to do something natural.

Didn't have any negative reaction to Valerian. When I didn't take it I noticed I had a much harder time was usually more sad. Seems to not be working as well for me lately. Been very depressive, angry. Hoping one of these in the list will work. Affected my life and work for a long time. So grateful I have been at a flexible place.