The fact of the matter is that postpartum depression is an extremely serious condition. Postpartum depression can be dangerous and troublesome for both the woman who is experiencing it and for her family. Postpartum depression that is severe can be especially dangerous if it is not treated. If left untreated, or if it is not treated properly, a woman that experiences postpartum depression can develop postpartum psychosis, or other conditions that are even more dangerous to the mother and to her family.

Unfortunately, research hasn’t conclusively proven what causes postpartum depression. There are some experts that believe postpartum depression is related to the shifting levels of hormones such as progesterone and estrogen that takes place in a woman’s body during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Other research suggests that the hormones produced by the thyroid also drop after birth, and that these drops can also cause the symptoms of depression. In spite of all of this, it may not always be possible to attach a single, simple cause to post partum depression. In some cases, postpartum depression is a combination of physical as well as situational issues. For this reason, treatment for postpartum depression needs to fit with the cause of the postpartum depression.

Postpartum depression should not be treated solely with alternative treatments. The fact of the matter is that postpartum depression is a serious illness, and like any other serious illness postpartum depression requires medical attention. This is not to say that alternative treatments for postpartum depression cannot aid the process, but rather they should not be used solely, and without medical advice. Postpartum depression is treatable. The most successful type of treatment for postpartum depression will be some combination of antidepressant medication as well as therapy.

Still, there are some alternative treatments for postpartum depression that can add to and help out, when used alongside other treatments. For example, the herb St. John’s wort has long been used to treat depression. There are herbal teas that may contain things like St. John’s wort that are especially designed to help the woman with postpartum depression. Using these sorts of alternative treatments alongside of a clinical treatment, such as medications and/or therapy, can definitely help the recovery process. Again, a woman should never rely solely on alternative treatments for postpartum depression.

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