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Alternative Treatments for Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder causes people to experience drastic mood swings, from happiness to irritation to sadness. Although traditional treatments for bipolar disorder are available, some people do not respond well to those methods and opt for alternative treatments such as vitamins and herbal supplements for bipolar disorder.

Alternative Treatments for Bipolar Disorder
The problem with traditional treatments for bipolar disorder, such as lithium, valproic acid and other "mood stabilizers," is that many patients report that the medications make them feel lethargic, cloudy headed or otherwise altered. Herbs and natural medicines, such as vitamin supplements, St. John's Wort, 5-HTP (5-Hydroxytryptophan) and inositol, may be just as effective in treating bipolar disorder as traditional treatments but without the side effects.

Vitamin Supplements
Many people believe that vitamin supplements help treat bipolar disorder by regulating moods. However, before you consider taking a steady diet of vitamin supplements in order to treat your bipolar disorder, you should make sure that you will not be taking dangerously high dosages.

Several beneficial vitamins can be found in a good multivitamin, including:

• B6 
• B-12
• calcium
• Folic acid
• L-Tryosine
• Magnesium
• Manganese
• Methionine
• Zinc.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Nutritional supplements such as Omega-3 fatty acids can also help treat bipolar disorder. Fish oil, for example, contains EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), both of which are essential for optimum health and brain functioning. They can also be found in a number of foods, including wheat germ, sardines, tuna, walnuts and soybeans.

Omega-3 fatty acids also occur naturally in the body, researchers are studying them to determine their effectiveness in treating depression and bipolar disorder. Studies have shown that these acids can improve heart health, immune function and a variety of other conditions. It should be noted that some people report mild gastrointestinal discomfort as a common side effect.

St. John's Wort
St. John's Wort is an herbal treatment that may help treat depression. It is unknown how the compounds found in St. John's Wort work in the body, but they might prevent nerve cells in the brain from reabsorbing the brain chemical serotonin. In some cases of severe depression, however, St. John's Wort has been shown to have little to no effect. Possible side effects include:

• diarrhea
• dizziness
• dry mouth
• fatigue 
• increased sensitivity to light
• nausea.

St. John's Wort can also interact with birth control pills and other medications. You should consult a doctor before taking St. John's Wort to make sure that it won't interfere with any of your medications.

5-HTP
The body uses 5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) to make serotonin, a neurotransmitter that affects mood, appetite and sleep. 5-HTP is not present in the human diet, but the body naturally produces it from L-tryptophan, a natural amino acid found in most dietary proteins. Supplemental 5-HTP is derived from the seeds of Griffonia simplicfolia, a West African medicinal plant. Side effects include gastrointestinal pain, headache, sleepiness, muscle pain and/or anxiety.

Inositol
Inositol, part of the vitamin B complex, is required for proper formation of cell membranes. It may be effective in calming nerves and has been studied as a potential treatment for depression. Intestinal bacteria convert plant fibers into inositol, but inositol can also be found in nuts, beans, wheat, wheat bran, cantaloupe and oranges. It should be used in combination with vitamins, especially folic acid, vitamin E and vitamin C.

Vitamin treatments and herbal supplements for bipolar disorder can be effective. However, these alternative treatments, although sometimes preferable to traditional treatments for bipolar disorder, have their own drawbacks. It is best to consult your doctor before using these treatments.