5 Herbal Remedies for Postpartum Depression

Natural Remedies for Postpartum Anxiety & Depression
Written By Tara J. Gregorio

Louise Hay's book “Heal Your Body” states depression is: “Anger you don’t feel you have the right to have. Hopelessness.”

Her mantra helps align you and your thoughts. Repeat this mantra: “ I now go beyond other people’s fears and limitations. I create my life.”

Does this resonate with you?

Now that you're a mother - “What do you want to change in your life?”

I struggled with postpartum depression for over two years after having twins, and during this time, I found writing helped me express what I couldn’t say out loud.

In this post, we’ll discuss the five herbal remedies that can help you shift or “breakthrough” depression, plus four proven remedies to relieve depression so you can go beyond your fear of the past and your unwritten future.

“Additionally, depression, insomnia, and anxiety go hand in hand. So we need to heal all three to feel like ourselves again. ”
— Tara Gregorio

5 Natural Herbs for Postpartum Depression

Known as the #1 antidepressant herbal remedy, St. John’s Wort has helped many women. But it also has many other benefits.

#1 St. John’s Wort- Hypericum perforatum

  • Historically, it was used for:

  • The nervous system, anxiety, and nervousness - hysteria 

  • Nerve pain and nerve damage

Modern Day Use:

  • mild to moderate depression with a sour disposition or sour stomach

  • chronic pelvic pain, PMS & insomnia

  • too much estrogen, a.k.a.“estrogen dominance”, as it helps clear the liver

  • no joy in life

Breastfeeding Safety:

  • L2/L3 Safer/Moderately Safe {The complete German Commission E monographs}

    • Lactation and medication expert Hale states that St. John’s Wort is safe while breastfeeding. ² 

Good for if you’re feeling…

  • like you can cry easily {even if it’s the week before your period}

  • You’re having negative or intrusive thoughts

  • need more liver support


  • Dose:

  • A standard adult dose is 300 mg 2-3 times/day, of a product standardized to 0.3% hypericin while breastfeeding or 2-4% hyperforin

  • Or 20-30 drops of a tincture 2-3x day.

Contraindication:

  • As it enhances liver detoxification, avoid using birth control pills, SSRIs, warfarin, digoxin, protease inhibitors, chemotherapy, and organ transplant antirejection medicine when taking St. John’s Wort. Consider working with an herbalist if you’re taking these medications.

Pro tip:

  • Use it in a blended tincture formula first and see how you respond.  Use for short periods and watch for any skin changes. 

  • This is the number one herb to interfere with SSRIs, so please work with an herbalist and doctor if you’re trying to come off your medications and use herbal medicine instead.

#2 Ashwagandha - Withania somnifera

Historically used for:

  • The Ayurvedic medical system used it for premature aging. Dubbed the “Indian ginseng.”

  • It’s known to give you the strength and stamina of a stallion.

  • Traditionally, it was made as a decoction with the root. 

Modern uses:

  • Used as an adaptogen to relieve stress

  • Mild sedative, pain reliever, anti-inflammatory 

  • Slow, restorative builder of strength 

  • It’s now found in powders, coffee, and supplements

  • It’s bitter, warm & dry - so if you are feeling dry, you may want to skip this botanical

Breastfeeding Safety:

  • L1, safe with the German Commission E. 

Good for if you’re feeling…

  • I’m tired and wired 

  • I can’t fall asleep

  • I’m in pain 

  • I’m nervous & anxious

  • I have chronic pain 

Contraindications

  • You may want to avoid it if you’re sensitive to nightshade plants or tend to be more Pitta body in Ayurvedic medicine {thin and tend to run hot}

  • Dosing: Tincture 20-30 drops OR as a powder form; follow the directions on the packaging

#3 Motherwort - Leonurus cardiaca

  • Leonurus cardiaca- Known as “The heart of a lion.”

Historically Used for:

  • Postpartum depression, anxiety with palpitations, and stress

Modern uses:

  • Heart palpitations, uterine tonic, hyperthyroidism, and as a bitter to stimulate the liver. As it is bitter, clients say it causes digestive issues. Look for a blended formula to ease this complaint.

Good for all female complaints: 

  • cramps

  • PMS

  • peri-menopause

  • menopause

  • insomnia

Breastfeeding Safety:

  • L1/L2 by The German Commission E - Safest

Contraindications:

  • Not to be used during pregnancy 

Dosing:

  • Take it individually during a panic attack and/or heart palpitations; even in the middle of the night

  • Take in a blended tincture with a total of 20-30 drops 2-3x days with anxiety and/or depression 

#4 Mimosa - Albizia julibrissin

Historically used for:

  • In Chinese medicine, this botanical is known as “collective happiness bark.”

  • Used for disturbed sleep, irritability, anger, and depression

Modern-day uses:

  • Master herbalist, David Winston,n suggests using Hawthorne berries and rose petals for grief and broken hearts. It helps you move quickly from sadness, tears, and pain to emotional balance. 

     

Breastfeeding Safety:

  • Master herbalist, David Winston, says it has a 2 1/2 rating and Safety Class 1 with Botanical Safety Handbook - safe

Contraindications:

  • Do not use it during pregnancy. 

  • Caution with antidepressants

Dosing:

  • As a tincture: 20-30 drops; 2-3x day or in a blended tincture

#5 Holy Basil- Ocimum tenuiflorum {also known as Tulsi}

Historically used for:

  • Sacred to the Hindu god Vishnu, prayer beads are made from the plant’s stem

  • Classified as a Rasayana, an herb that nourishes a person’s growth to perfect health 

  • Known to balance the chakras

  • Used as an expectorant as well

Modern uses:

  • Antioxidant, stress-reducing, and radio-protective 

  • Lowers blood sugar, prevents ulcers, and inhibits allergies 

  • Relieves “brain fog.”

“In the book “Adaptogens”, Master Herbalist David Winston uses Holy Basil for “stagnant depression”.  When you’re unable to move on from trauma. Combine Holy basil, damiana, rosemary, and lavender to heal depression. ”
— Tara Gregorio

Breastfeeding Safety:

  • Safety Class 1, Interaction Class A with Botanical Safety Handbook

Contraindications

  • Not to be used by pregnant women or if you’re trying to get pregnant as it may have anti-fertility effects

Dosing:

Tincture 20-30 drops OR daily as a cup of tea 

6 Natural Treatments For Postpartum Depression

#1 Exercise

  • As a new mom, you may notice you’ve stopped moving and sweating. It’s so important that you begin to sweat again to move the toxins out and to boost endorphins. The proven postpartum depression treatment includes daily exercise to relieve your symptoms.

  • If you’re too tired to exercise, consider sweating and bright light therapy to help release toxins and gain energy.

  • Mild/Moderate depression

    • Exercise: 2-3x week for 20-30 min to reduce depression.

  • Major depression

    • Exercise: 3-5x week

    • 45-60 min at 60-85% capacity

#2 Bright Light Therapy

  • An illumination of 10,000 lux for 30-40 min is the most common dosage to relieve depression.

  • Light therapy in the morning is best. Here are three companies to look into. Additionally, heading outside to go in nature daily; especially @ 9:00 am, and gazing into the sun has been known to alleviate depression.

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#3 Therapy

There are so many types of therapy to try. Yes, it’s time-consuming and expensive, but when you find the right therapist - BOOM, your life can change.

Here are some therapies I’ve explored over the years, and watch the video below on how EMDR transformed my mental health.

  • EMDR - Eye movement desensitization 

  • Art therapy

  • DNS- Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization

  • Primal Trust 

  • Brain retraining


#4 Vitamins for postpartum depression

  • Moms with depression tend to be low in Vitamin D, Zinc, and Methylated B vitamins {folate, not folic acid}

  • If you seek out a natural doctor, they may suggest a high dose of methyfolate (1-4mg) and suggest you skip folic acid <<read that again.

  • Additionally, high doses of Vitamin D3 for a short amount of time may be needed. Have your Vitamin D levels checked, then consider…

    • Take up to 10,000 iu daily, then retest 3 months later and continue with a lower dose until you’ve reached a steady amount.

  • Moms with depression also tend to have the MTHFR gene.

  • If you do have one of the SNPs affecting your health, you’ll want to change your vitamin to L-Methylfolate and skip folic acid.

  • Read more about it here: https://www.taragregorio.com/blog/postpartum-recovery-how-the-mthfr-gene-affects-your-health

  • Learn more about postpartum vitamins in this post:

#5 Daily probiotic

  • The gut-brain axis is the specific pathway that involves the neural, endocrine, and immune systems. 

  • It has been hypothesized that restoring your gut flora can relieve anxiety, alleviate depression, reduce inflammatory cytokines, and reduce HPA axis overstimulation. 

  • Basically, you heal your gut, you’ll heal your mood.

    • Look for probiotics that contain Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species; to reduce the stress response.

    • Struggling with anxiety and depression?

      • Bifidobacterium infants and B. long are found to be beneficial in reducing depression, irritability, and anxiety.

  • Dosing: 1-2 capsules a day with a minimum of 10 billion CFUs daily 

#6 Omega 3

Omega-3–3 fatty acids are EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), these are found in fatty fish and have been shown to reduce inflammation and depression, protect the nervous system, and boost your mind and mood.

  • When used with anxiety medications, it can help your medication work more effectively.

    • DHA has to be combined with EPA for full effects.

    • Fish oil is the best source, although vegetarian DHA is still available

Food Sources for Omega-3s

  • Fish {wild salmon and sardines}

  • Walnuts

  • grass-fed beef

  • pasture-raised eggs

If you don’t eat fish, algae-based vegetarian Omega-3 sources are available.

Dose: 

  • 200-400mg DHA for prevention of depression, up to 800-1000mg may soon be recommended

  • 1,000 EPA for treatment of depression 

  • Rejuvenation Science Labs has a vegan DHA and EPA supplement,

  • Dosing: Ask your doctor about taking 1-2 capsules/day {1500 mg/day}

Conclusion

Healing is possible. When you combine diet, supplements, herbal medicine, amino acids, and nervous system regulation, your body can heal. Additionally, don’t forget to ask for help.

Often, we are ashamed or embarrassed to tell others we’re struggling. The first step for healing is to ask for help.

Repeat this mantra daily:“ I now go beyond other people’s fears and limitations. I create my life.”

Start writing down..

xo

Tara

P.S. Have questions? Ask below or schedule a free call, I’d love to help.

Resources

Tara J. Gregorio

I’m an expert on postpartum recovery and herbs for women’s health - I love teaching others how to use herbal and homeopathic remedies, so they feel confident they will work fast enough.

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