Wholistic approach to managing mild depression
Date
02 Sep 2024
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Table of Contents
What is depression?
Depression is a mental health disorder characterised by an array of symptoms, including low mood, reduced drive to engage in daily activities, reduced pleasure and interest from activities one previously found pleasurable, sleep and appetite disturbances, low self-worth and suicidal ideation.
Key Highlights
- Curcumin has demonstrated antidepressant efficacy equivalent to fluoxetine in initial trials.
- Chronic inflammation and oxidative stress are key pathophysiological processes addressed by curcumin in depression.
- Curcumin enhances mood by modulating neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine, and glutamate.
- Clinical benefits of curcumin are observed after 4–8 weeks of consistent supplementation.
- Its neuroprotective properties include restoring blood-brain barrier integrity and promoting neurotrophic factors.
- A dose of 250–500 mg twice daily is recommended for depression, with potential adjustments for greater effects.