Most people tend to suffer from depression due to various reasons, be it personal problems, family matters or work issues. Depression can be deteriorating to the health and can also be one of the causes for several health disorders like heart attacks, stroke and damage to the brain. Though there are many medications and drugs to treat this debilitating disorder, they can also cause a few side effects. Hence, researchers have discovered some herbs, which can be used to relieve depression in a natural way. These herbal supplements for depression have proven to be quite effective when it comes to treat depression and its symptoms. Dealing with anxiety and depression becomes much easier with the help of these natural supplements for depression as there is no fear of any major ill effects. Herbal Supplements for Depression and Anxiety It is always better to treat health disorders the natural way, so that unnecessary side effects and complications can be kept at bay. Even physicians advice the use of natural supplements for an effective and safe treatment of health issues. Mentioned here are some herbs that are used to alleviate the symptoms of anxiety and depression. St. John's Wort St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum L) is an age-old remedy to treat depression and is considered to be excellent at that. This herbal remedy can be used in the form of powder, pills and liquid, which is made from the leaves and flowers of this plant. Some individuals also take this medicinal supplement in the form of tea. There have been numerous researches conducted to check if St. John's wort can be used as an anti depression supplement and researchers have found it to be effective. It functions same as a clinical anti-depressant, but the only difference is that St. John's wort is a natural product with little side effects. St. John's wort also provides relief from insomnia and anxiety. Lemon Balm Another herbal supplement for depression is lemon balm (Melissa officinalis), which belongs to the mint family. The leaves of the plant are used to treat various health disorders. It is used to treat anxiety symptoms as it has a soothing effect on the nerves. Lemon balm, which is also known to induce sleep, can be used in its natural form or in combination with other herbs. A regular intake of this herbal supplement is also known to relieve sleep disorders like sleep apnea and insomnia. It also provides relief from other symptoms of depression like irritability, mood swings and frustration. This herbal supplement must be taken only under expert guidance or it can increase the effect of sedatives like barbiturates. Ginkgo Ginkgo biloba, or simply ginkgo, is considered to be one of the excellent and effective herbal supplements for anxiety. The leaves of this tree are used to prepare the supplements and are available in powdered form. The leaf extracts are considered to contain nootropic properties, which act a mood and memory enhancer and also treat vertigo. This anxiety cure is also a great stress buster. Individuals who are on anticoagulants must avoid taking this herb as it is known to induce excessive bleeding. Kava Kava Kava or Piper methysticum belongs to the pepper family and is an antianxiety herb. The root of this shrub has many medicinal properties and is available in tablets, capsules, liquid extract and tea. Kava kava contains a component called kavalactones which have analgesic properties and has a fantastic effect of calming the agitated nerves. This is also one of the best herbal remedies for anxiety which also treats insomnia and other sleep related disorders. Other herbal supplements include chamomile, valerian root and hops etc. However, these natural remedies for depression should be taken under the guidance of a physician or else you may suffer from drug interactions and other side effects. Though these supplements are effective and help relieve depression, it is always better to practice yoga and meditation to control and relax the mind, which can help to keep these disorders at bay and help you lead a healthy, stress-free life. Take care!