Health Last Updated: 30 November 2025 - 10:52 AM

I think I've finally found a natural combination of herbs that works very well for general antidepressant, energy and motivation boosting properties.

Mucuna Pruriens

Source of L-DOPA (generally 3%-6% of Mucuna seeds powder) which is a direct precursor to dopamine. Mucuna also seems to contain synergistic compounds that make it more effective than pharmaceutical L-DOPA/Cardidopa. Mucuna also contains serotonin precursor 5-HTP, although at lower concentration but studies show Mucuna is also capable to increase serotonin levels too. Finally, this herb also contains two components of the mitochondrial electron transport chain: coenzyme Q10 and nicotine adenine dinucleotide (NADH).

Effects: Improvement of mood and increase in motivation, a general sense of being alive and increase in libido

Dosage: 5 grams of Mucuna seeds powder on empty stomach

Catuaba

A Brazilian herb that releases and inhibits the re-uptake of both dopamine and serotonin.

Effects: Strong antidepressant effect, smooth stimulant energetic feeling, increase in desire and being more in touch with your emotions

Dosage: 6 grams of Catuaba bark powder

Guarana or other caffeine source

Stacks really well with the forementioned herbs as caffeine is an effective and safe natural stimulant. I find guarana superior caffeine source as the caffeine is bonded to catechins which make it time-release and guarana also seems to show pro-cognitive effects even when caffeine is removed. But any caffeine source like coffee, tea, yerba mate should work so it's a matter of preference.

Effects: Wakefulness, energy and activating properties

Dosage: I would aim for around 200 mg of caffeine from a natural source (should be about 4 grams of Guarana for example)

As a stack

So there we go, three effective and rather cheap components to this herbal stack that I find superior to pharmaceutical antidepressants and the stimulant properties are on par with low dose Amphetamine with much less noradrenergic edginess. The dosages I mentioned are based on general guidelines and my own experiments, start with about half the dosage to see how you react and increase from there if needed. Do not combine with pharmaceutical drugs if you don't know what you're doing and stay safe. 

My anecdote

Personally I've taken this stack for a week now and the effects are very nice, it pretty much removes my anhedonia both on the anticipatory and the consummatory sides, puts me on an upbeat mood and libido through the roof. No tolerance yet but it may start building with daily use. I supplement some magnesium which may prevent tolerance a bit through NMDA-antagonism and I speculate that Cat's Claw could go well with this stack as it is a herbal NMDA-antagonist and possibly MAOB-inhibitor.

Thoughts of this stack, possible additions, anecdotes?