In these days of miracle medication for nearly any psychological complaint, the botanical alternatives are getting a lot of attention. There have been happiness remedies around for millennia, of course; as with most botanical treatments, the knowledge is ancient.
But perhaps people are more depressed now than ever, or perhaps there are more depressed people. Whatever the reason, I seem to hear more and more people talking about ways to rise above the doldrums of depression.
The natural antidepressants are currently health-food store best sellers. In this and the next column, we'll have a look at some of the so-called happiness herbs, and at some nondrug approaches to cheering yourself up.