It is common to feel sad or moody from time to time. Quite lightly, many people referred to that as being “depressed”. However, depression is a serious condition which goes much further than feeling blue from time to time.
Depression is a severe condition which affects the neurotransmitters in the brain. It can last months or even weeks. And it will impact both our psychological and physical health. Nowadays, many people are wondering if it is helpful to use kratom for depression.
Kratom can help you relieve depression, but it will not cure it. Does this mean that kratom is useless in treating depression? Not in the least! As we will show you in this article, antidepressants will not cure depression either, they will just cover the symptoms. This is exactly what kratom can do for you. But with a great difference: unlike antidepressants, kratom will not damage your health.
What Causes Depression?
It is difficult to point out all the exact causes of depression. There are several factors considered to be relevant in the development of depression. And it is commonly considered that depression is the combination of several of these factors.
The factors usually associated with depression are:
- Alcohol or drug use
- Low self-esteem
- Long diseases or serious medical conditions
- Long periods of stress
- Certain events which have extended in time (abuse, long-term unemployment…)
- Genetics. If you have a history of depression in your family, you will have more chances of suffering it yourself.
Also, some single events (such as the loss of a loved one, ending a relationship…) can trigger depression in people who are already suffering some of the other factors. But depression is also associated with biochemistry, to an unbalance of the chemicals found in our brain or in our hormones. Furthermore, it has been found that people suffering from depression usually possess a smaller hippocampus. The hippocampus is the area of the brain responsible for storing memories.
Symptoms of Depression
Common symptoms of depression include:
- A continuous feeling of sadness
- Loss of energy
- Loss of focus
- Difficulty in concentration
- Loss of memory
- Lack of interest in activities that used to be satisfying before
- Sleeping disorder (from insomnia to sleeping too much)
- Eating disorders
- Feeling of being useless or worthless
- Thoughts of suicide
Traditional Medications for Depression
During the 19th and early 20th century, there were different ways to treat depression: horse riding, water immersion, electroshock and even lobotomy. It was not until the 1950s and 1960s that the research on the brain led to the appearance of the first antidepressants.
Nowadays, the most common antidepressants are Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) and Serotonin and Noradrenalin Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs). They prevent serotonin from being absorbed by our blood after it has fulfilled its “mission” of connecting signals between nerves. Mind that our body does not create new serotonin, but reuses it. And more
important: antidepressants do not cure depression. They only provide a temporary relief. And for many people they don’t even work. This happens because increasing the levels of serotonin doesn’t deal with the root of the problem. It just masks the symptoms.
How Can Kratom Help Me With Depression?
Using kratom for depression can be very helpful. Kratom properties will:
- Boost your mood and energy
- Improve attention and memory
- Help you relax
- Relieve pain
When dealing with depression, kratom can help you mitigate the symptoms. And this will produce relief, even if only temporary. Because kratom cannot really cure depression, do not take it every day.
Which Kratom Strains are Better for Depression?
The effects of kratom will vary depending on the strain you are using. For instance, red kratom varieties (such as Red Thai, Bali kratom or Red Kali) will provide you with more relaxing effects. Users report that these strains are the most analgesic types of kratom.
On the other hand, green and white strains will boost up your mood and your energy.
Read this article to learn more about the different kratom strains and their effects.
Kratom Dosage for Depression
The dose of kratom needed to be effective can vary depending on the user. Due to that, it is wise to start off with small to moderate doses. For depression, this dose would be between 2.5 and 5 grams. In any case, you should avoid doses higher than 8 grams.
Also, some users report that a combination of kratom with St. John’s Wort (hypericum) is a more effective blend to cope with the symptoms of depression. St. John’s Wort is a natural remedy for depression, very common in Europe. However, not all the studies published about this herb agree on its efficacy in treating depression. In fact, according to some studies, the use of St. John’s Wort could counteract with other medications. So, we don’t recommend the use of kratom together wih St. John’s Wort.
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