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Alternative medicine
By Mayo Clinic staffYou may be interested in trying to relieve depression symptoms with complementary or alternative medicine strategies. These include nutritional and dietary supplements and mind-body techniques.
Keep in mind that nutritional and dietary products aren't regulated. The Food and Drug Administration doesn't test them for safety, purity or effectiveness. You can't always be sure of what you're getting and if it's safe. Also, be aware that herbal and dietary supplements can interfere with the way certain prescription medications work or cause dangerous interactions that can harm your health. Talk to your doctors and other health care providers before taking any herbal or dietary supplements.
While some researchers are studying the effectiveness of complementary and alternative medicine, the jury's still out. Make certain you understand possible risks as well as benefits before pursuing them. Complementary and alternative treatments generally aren't a good substitute for traditional medical care.
Nutritional and dietary supplements
Here's a look at some nutritional supplements commonly used for depression:
- St. John's wort. Known scientifically as Hypericum perforatum, this is an herb that's been used for centuries to treat a variety of ills, including depression. It's not approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat depression in the United States. Rather, it's classified as a dietary supplement. However, it's a popular depression treatment in Europe. Some studies show it may be helpful if you have mild or moderate depression.
- SAM-e. Pronounced "sammy," this is a synthetic form of a chemical that occurs naturally in the body. The name is short for S-adenosyl-methionine. It's not approved by the FDA to treat depression in the United States. Rather, it's classified as a dietary supplement. However, it's used in Europe as a prescription drug to treat depression.
- Omega-3 fatty acids. These are polyunsaturated fats found mostly in seafood. Good sources of omega-3s include fatty, cold-water fish, such as salmon, mackerel and herring. Flaxseed, flax oil and walnuts also contain omega-3 fatty acids, and small amounts are found in soybean and canola oils.
Mind-body connections
The connection between mind and body has been studied for centuries. And with depression, some people experience physical symptoms even more than mood-related symptoms. For instance, they may experience frequent fatigue, headache, backache, or vague aches and pains.
Mind-body techniques are thought to strengthen the communication between your mind and your body. Complementary and alternative medicine practitioners believe these two systems must be in harmony for you to stay healthy or to heal.
Mind-body techniques used to improve depression symptoms include:
- Acupuncture
- Yoga
- Meditation
- Guided imagery
- Massage therapy
As with dietary supplements, take care in using these techniques. Although they may pose less of a risk, relying solely on these to treat depression may not be effective enough. If you try mind-body techniques first to treat your depression but your symptoms worsen or don't improve, be sure to consult your health care providers.
