The pharmacy is full of empty promises. The shelves are crammed full of hard-to-pronounce drugs that barely deliver on their most basic claims. And most come with big risks, too.
But one drug class, in particular, stands head and shoulders above the rest when it comes to failure. And that’s antidepressants.
They not only don’t work very well in many cases. For countless people… including millions of Americans struggling with serious depression… they don’t work at all.
Some of today’s most widely used antidepressant drugs barely beat placebos in recent studies. Yet supposed experts insist on prescribing them anyway.
But new research reveals another option. Scientists say this all-natural add-on therapy can help antidepressant drugs finally deliver on the promise of depression relief.
But if you ask me, we should consider whether this same solution might still do the trick without the drugs in the picture.
My guess is yes. After all, this isn’t the first time we’ve seen a clear connection between our guts and brains.
A new belly-up approach to depression
The new study takes a closer look at what’s known as the gut-brain axis. It’s been a standard part of natural medicine for ages now.
Conventional medicine used to dismiss it as hokum. But not anymore.
Studies continue to confirm the link between our bellies and our brains. The research shows that the microbes in the digestive tract can directly influence and even help regulate mood, memory, and more.
And the new study shows how supporting the gut part of the axis can directly impact the brain in depression patients.
Within just four weeks (faster than most antidepressants take to have any impact), high-dose probiotics led to significant improvements for people battling depression.
In fact, 55 percent of patients given probiotics with antidepressants went into remission. Just 40 percent of those given the placebo with antidepressants did the same.
Since everyone in the study was also given an antidepressant, it’s hard to say how much impact the probiotics alone would have had. But there’s little doubt they would have had a positive and measurable influence.
Boost mood without more meds
The team behind the study is warning people who are fighting depression not to simply ditch their antidepressants in favor of probiotics. And I agree, of course.
You should never stop or start medication on your own. Instead, work with your doctor to wean off of any drug.
But if you’re on antidepressants and not getting the results you’re looking for, it may be time to ask your doc about trying something different. And probiotics may be able to play a real role.
If you have depression and aren’t on medications yet, ask about a non-drug approach first. And once again, probiotics might be a good option.
Plus, you may find those good bacteria are even more effective when combined with other natural therapies. For example, one study earlier this year found that high-dose fish oil can also lead to dramatic improvements, with:
- 3 grams of EPA per day cut depression symptoms by 64 percent
- 4 grams of DHA per day reduced those symptoms by 71 percent
In addition, studies have found that in some cases, curcumin – a compound found in the spice turmeric – can work about as well as prescription antidepressants, but without the side effects.
And then be sure to make THIS depression battling move that I shared with readers earlier this year.
For the best results, speak with a doctor who practices naturopathic or integrative medicine. But whatever you do, don’t let depression go ignored.
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