Antidepressant

Herbs with an antidepressant action help to alleviate the symptoms of depression and low mood often by influencing neurotransmitters involved in mood regulation such as serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine. The mechanisms of action vary between inhibition of neurotransmitter uptake or degradation resulting in increased availability in the brain.

They may also enhance neuroplasticity and reduce neuroinflammation through additional antioxidant actions or stimulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF).

Additional actions of antidepressant herbs also include hormonal regulation, for example the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis to balance stress hormone levels.

Examples include vervain (Verbena officinalis), damiana (Turnera diffusa), St John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) and oats (Avena sativa).