Mood swings are a common problem. Approximately one in four people in the United States experience mood disorders, such as depression, anxiety or another disorder that causes mood swings at some point their lifetime. More than 28 million Americans take a prescription medication for anxiety or depression.
Women are three times more likely to seek treatment for anxiety or depression than men. There is research to suggest this difference may be the result of hormonal changes in women. Nearly one third of women in the United States will experience serious depression at some point. There are specific times in life involving significant hormone changes that put women more at risk for depression, such as premenstrual, postpartum and at menopause. In fact, during the perimenopause period, it is common for women to experience mood swings and depression.
In the early 1970s, Dr. Katharina Dalton identified a physiological basis for premenstrual syndrome, which demonstrated a link between changes in hormone balance and mood. As far back as the mid 19th century, a link between mood changes and hormonal changes has been noted, although researchers continue to search for an underlying biochemical basis for this change.
A growing number of people are seeking help for depression that does not involve pharmaceuticals. Natural medicine and herbs may provide significant benefits for people suffering with depression or another mood disorder. A natural approach to treatment involves bringing the body back in to balance by identifying and correcting deficiencies in nutrition, improving circulation to the brain and boosting the levels of chemicals and substances in the body that have been shown to improve mood. These include serotonin, epinephrine, dopamine and norepinephrine.