
Powerful Spice Fights Depression as Well as Prozac
Dear Living Well Daily Reader,
Remember Prozac?
You know, Big Pharma’s wildly popular and overprescribed antidepressant darling of the ’90s?
Well, if you’re one of the millions who took it, then you may not remember much.
Personally, I spent a year in a Prozac-induced fog. And to this day, I still have trouble recalling certain events that happened — important ones, too, like the birth of my godchild.
I honestly don’t know what was worse, the deep depression I was experiencing or the drowsiness, confusion, lack of concentration and exhaustion that came along with taking Prozac.
After about a year of walking around in a zombie-like state, I finally weaned myself off it and regained my emotions, memory and alertness.
Don’t get me wrong. Depression is a serious condition and should be treated like one. You can’t just stop taking antidepressants because you feel better without them. Most of these medications require medical supervision to taper off of.
But you should know that there’s a powerful natural solution that research shows could help Prozac work better. And even more amazing — it’s just as effective as Prozac when taken alone. (Just without the brain-numbing side effects.)
Beat the Blues Naturally
It’s called curcumin.
It’s the active ingredient in the spice turmeric and has been a key player in natural health for thousands of years.
More recently, it’s been touted by health researchers for its anti-inflammatory and brain-protective properties in many studies.
And now it’s proving to be a potent antidepressant.
A study published in the journal Phytotherapy Research involved 60 people diagnosed with major depressive disorder by a commonly used scale randomly split into three groups of 20.
The first group took 20 mg of Prozac with 1 g of curcumin. The second group took only 20 mg of Prozac. The final group took 1 g of curcumin alone.
At the end of the six-week trial, the patients were then given the assessment again.
The folks who took the Prozac and curcumin saw the most significant improvement in their depressive symptoms. However, it wasn’t statistically significant when compared with the results of the other groups.
But what the researchers found next was astounding…
You see, once all the data were gathered, the scientists found that curcumin can fight depression just as well as Prozac!
The scientists went on to explain, “This study provides first clinical evidence that curcumin may be used as an effective and safe modality for treatment in patients with major depressive disorder.”
It’s important to note, though, that curcumin is not suggested for folks who are experiencing suicidal thoughts and other psychotic symptoms along with their depression.
Strong Evidence, No Side Effects
Curcumin is considered to be very safe in doses up to 12 g a day. The participants in the study were getting only 1 g — a tiny fraction of the possible daily dose of curcumin.
Just imagine how amazing the results might have been if they were given a larger dose!
Not to mention, curcumin has brain-protective powers, which may help improve your brain functions and ward off the age-related memory issues like dementia and Alzheimer’s.
But here’s the best part — unlike Prozac and other antidepressants, curcumin was well tolerated by all participants, which means they experienced little or no side effects. This is great news for folks who have suffered from the draining side effects of standard antidepressants.
While more research is needed, this study has shown that curcumin could one day be the all-natural breakthrough the antidepressant market needs. I sure wish this research was available when I battled depression.
These days, I skip the Prozac. Instead, I add turmeric to at least one meal a day and supplement with curcumin capsules. But I can’t stress enough — depression is a serious condition. You need to check with you doctor before starting, stopping or changing any antidepressant or supplement regimen.
If you’re going to take curcumin supplements, be sure that the brand you select uses “optimized” or “free” curcumin. This type is easiest for your body to absorb and has the greatest impact on your health.
Live well,
Natalie Moore
Managing editor, Living Well Daily
Ed. Note: Please send your feedback: nmoore@lfb.org – and click here to like us on Facebook.
Sources
[1] Efficacy and safety of curcumin in major depressive disorder: a randomized controlled trial.
[3] Hooked on Pharmaceuticals: Prescription Drug Abuse in America
[4] Curcumin

Written By Natalie Moore
Natalie Moore is a dedicated health researcher with a passion for finding healthy, natural, and science-based solutions. After a decade of direct healthcare experience in western and natural medicine, she was involved in public health research before joining Living Well Daily.
View More Free Articles
“Canary in the Coal Mine” Test Sniffs Out Brain Issues Early
One of the most common questions I get is how to tell if you’re starting to experience cognitive decline. I get it—losing your memory is scary, especially when it sneaks up on you. But here’s some exciting news that might put your mind at ease. A fascinating new study suggests that your nose might be...
BEAT Stubborn Leg Swelling Without Dangerous Diuretics
“I need help with edema.” —Swollen Hi Swollen, When patients complain of edema—fluid retention that causes feet, ankles, and legs to swell—I explain that, while conventional medicine immediately prescribes diuretic drugs, nature offers us effective solutions we can try first. I’ll share those in just a moment, but first, let’s take a quick look at...
Mental Health Linked to 30% FASTER Aging [6-Step FIX]
Your mind and body are more connected than you might realize—and a groundbreaking new study proves just how profound that connection really is. In fact, it’s this mind-body link that helps explain why battling depression can put you on the fast track to physical decline. Depression is the most common mental health condition worldwide. We’ve...
The Air You Breathe Is Silently Stealing Your Memory
You already know that air pollution damages your lungs. Chances are you’ve heard it can also harm your heart. And I bet you won’t be surprised when I tell you it claims millions of lives annually. But now, alarming new research suggests polluted air might also damage your brain. This study found that long-term exposure...
Get Intermittent Fasting Benefits Without Going Hungry
Intermittent fasting, which involves cycling between eating and fasting periods, is effective. There’s plenty of evidence for that. It’s not just weight loss, either. Intermittent fasting has significant benefits for metabolic health. However, many people find fasting difficult to stick to—and others can’t do it at all due to medical issues—so they miss out on...
Just Diagnosed with Hypertension? —6 Things to Do Next
You’ve been diagnosed with high blood pressure—now what? First, take a breath. You’re not alone—over 30 percent of adults worldwide have hypertension. That makes it one of the most common health issues… and a top cause of preventable deaths. The good news is that, unlike some conditions that can leave you feeling helpless, high blood...
Brain Games Are USELESS—Do These 5 Things Instead
I’ve seen a lot of lists lately claiming to have the secrets that keep your brain from turning into mush as you age. They typically advise activities such as doing crosswords, learning Spanish, or taking up the accordion. Challenging your mind with new learning experiences is definitely a great way to keep your brain engaged...
This $5 Fix REVERSES Cellular Aging in Just 6 Months
You take your vitamins, eat your vegetables, and feel healthy—so your nutrition is covered… right? Well, new research suggests that even health-conscious older adults may be missing crucial nutrients that keep their cells functioning like those of younger people. The trouble is that as we age, our bodies become less efficient at absorbing nutrients from...
Mailbag: Doctors Get Bone Health WRONG—Here's What Really Works
“Thank you so much for answering this. With millions of women who are seniors over 70 facing a diagnosis of osteoporosis, this is my question. What can we do naturally to help improve our bone density, especially in the spine lumber 1 and 2? Also, how do we help improve bone density in the femur...
Critical Brain Nutrient Missing In 9 Out of 10 American Diets
You’ve probably heard plenty about brain-boosting omega-3s, antioxidants, and B vitamins. But there’s another nutrient that’s just as critical for your cognitive health. However, it’s been flying under the radar… until now. Mounting evidence suggests this overlooked compound could be key to protecting your brain and enhancing memory. It may even reduce your risk of...