I have written a handful of posts on here about alternative treatments for depression. One large category of these are supplements and herbal treatments. In general, very little experimental research has supported vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, and a nutritious diet to help with depression. However, a study reported on by CNN has different results.

A number of nutrients, including polyunsaturated fatty acids, St. John’s Wort and several B vitamins, have the potential to influence mood by increasing the absorption of chemical messengers in the brain, Dr. Dianne Volker of the University of Sydney in Chippendale and Jade Ng of Goodman Fielder Commercian in North Ryde, New South Wales note in the journal Nutrition and Dietetics.

Just like a lot of the other less mainstream approaches, many of these things can be worth a shot (as long as you are cleared by a physician) or could be used in conjunction with another treatment. The bottom line is that doing anything to start to alleviate depression is a step in the right direction.

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    Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 29 Nov 2006
    Published on PsychCentral.com. All rights reserved.