First of all, thank you for your attention to naturopathy. However, I must emphasize that although herbal medicines and natural remedies may help relieve mild depressive symptoms in some cases, they**cannot replace**antidepressant drugs prescribed by doctors, especially for patients with moderate to severe depression. Depression is a complex mental illness that requires professional medical intervention and personalized treatment options. ### Common herbs and natural remedies The following are some herbal medicines and natural remedies that are considered to help relieve mild depressive symptoms, but please be sure to consult a doctor or a professional Chinese medicine practitioner before using them.： 1. **St. John's Wort (St. John's Wort）**： -**Effect**: St. John's Wort is often used to treat mild to moderate depression in Europe and the United States. -**Precautions**: It may interact with a variety of drugs, especially antidepressants, contraceptives, and anticoagulants. Therefore, it must be used under the guidance of a doctor. 2. **Hypericum perforatum (Hypericum perforatum)**： -**Effect**: Similar to St. John's Wort, it is commonly used to relieve mild depression. -**Precautions**: It is also necessary to pay attention to drug interactions. 3. **Passion Flower (Passion Flower)**： -**Effect**: Helps relieve anxiety and mild depression, promotes relaxation and sleep. -**Precautions**: It is usually used as an adjuvant therapy and cannot replace antidepressants. 4. **Ginkgo Biloba (Ginkgo Biloba)**： -**Function**: Helps to improve emotional and cognitive function. -**Precautions**: Long-term use requires caution, which may cause the risk of bleeding. 5. **Saffron (Saffron)**： -**Effect**: Some studies have shown that saffron extract may help relieve mild depressive symptoms. -**Precautions**: Caution is required in dosage and method of use. Excessive use may lead to poisoning. ### Recipe and usage recommendations These herbs are usually in the form of teas, capsules, extracts, or tinctures. The following is a simple herbal tea recipe for reference： **Mood-soothing tea**： -1 teaspoon dried St. John's wort -1 teaspoon dried passion flower -1 teaspoon dried lemon balm -1 cup boiling water **Practice**： 1. Put the herbs in a teapot or cup. 2. Pour in boiling water, cover with a lid, and soak for 10-15 minutes. 3. Drink after filtration, 1-2 times a day. ### Place of purchase These herbs can be purchased at the following places： -**Chinese medicine shops**: Many traditional Chinese medicine shops offer these herbs. -**Health food stores**: Some health food stores or natural health products stores may sell extracts or capsules of these herbs. -**Online store**: Many reliable online retailers offer these products, but please make sure to choose a reputable brand and supplier. ### Important reminder 1. **Consult a doctor**: Before using any herbal medicine, be sure to consult a doctor or a professional Chinese medicine practitioner, especially if you are taking other medicines or suffering from other diseases. 2. **Individual differences**: Everyone's physical condition is different, and the effects and side effects of herbal medicines may vary from person to person. 3. **Cannot replace professional treatment**: Herbal medicines cannot replace antidepressant drugs or psychotherapy, especially for patients with moderate to severe depression. ### Other suggestions In addition to herbal medicines, the following methods can also help relieve symptoms of depression： -**Regular exercise**: Exercise can promote the release of endorphins by the brain and improve mood. -**Healthy diet**: A balanced diet helps maintain physical health and mental balance. -**Psychotherapy**: Psychotherapy methods such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) have a significant effect on depression. Hope this information is helpful to you. If you or someone around you is experiencing depression, be sure to seek professional medical help. You are not alone, help and support are within reach.