Natural remedies?

[catholicapmom]

Ok, I think I have a slight case of PPD. I took the quiz and scored a 58. I don't want to go to a doctor because I really, really, REALLY don't want to go on meds. I have many concerns about them, one being would I have to stop co-sleeping? I've know you're not supposed to have baby in bed with you if you're on medications, so would they pose a problem? What about natural remedies? Is St. John's Wort ok to take while nursing?

[JesseMomme]

I'm on meds now, but I've gone through PPD three times before and here are the more natural things that helped me in the past.

Rescue Remedy. A lot of the crunchy wahm stores may have it. www.peanutbutterkisses.com is one that i know of from the top of my head. I suffered depression plus severe anxiety and the RR helped the most with the anxiety.

I'm not positive of St J's Wort while breastfeeding but I did drink st john's wort tea as a mood elevator for a bout a month after having my fourth baby recommended by a friend's midwife.

I know personally I need to eat more fish, add flax seed oil to my diet, or think about getting a daily B vitamin (because frankly I dont' want to be on zoloft forever!)

I hope that helps. I know there are a lot of wise mamas here with a lot of natural remedy experience.

[rainbowmoon]

flax seed oil and vitamin B helped me immensley also just plain old sleep and eating well helped too.

[catholicapmom]

Originally Posted by rainbowmoon

flax seed oil and vitamin B helped me immensley also just plain old sleep and eating well helped too.

I have some flax seeds that I grind up, but I haven't been using it lately. Maybe that's why I'm noticing this later than some women? I just haven't been able to find any good recipes using flax. It's disgusting on my cereal and in my juice and I don't have time to make muffins. I was putting them in a breakfast smoothie, but that got old, yk? Do you think I can take Vit. B in addition to my pre-natal that I'm still taking? I don't want to OD. :LOL Sleep--well, do any of us get enough?

[rainbowmoon]

seriously making the time for sleep made my PPD so much better. I think that was one of the number 1 things for me.

you shouldn't be able to OD on vitB from what I understand as it's water soluble.

[aira]

OK so I'm having seriously good results with hypnotherapy. I'll post about it one of these days soon... Not like "take a pill, feel better". It's more like, "eases you along the bumpy road of healing" - if that makes any sense... I'm really against (for me) using meds outside of therapy. I would only take them as a tool to turn my brain back on so that I could get issues out instead of supressing them. So still not really "easy". Hypnotherapy has done the same for me so far - but better, easier and faster. I'll post more about my experience when I have a chance...

Also, St. JW, which has been very effective for me in the past for *mild* depression, did not work at all this time. I did score an 88 on that test though, as I recall... I also don't think it's OK for BFing, according to my good friend, the geneticist. She told me not to take it then.

[MsMoMpls]

Omega 3 fish oil supplements are safe and natural. I don't think St Johns Wort is considered safe for nursing.

[beanma]

omega 3s, and yes you can OD on B. i have a friend who did. thought it was MS for awhile.

[catholicapmom]

thanks everyone! I think I'll try to eat more flax and exercise. See if that works. Not that I have time to exercise. I spend most of my day dealing with Bethany, who's HN.