Natural Remedies for Depression | Holistic Treatments & Supplements

Fish Oil

Posted by Calista (Penang, Malaysia) on 01/03/2009
★★★★★

Fish Oil (Omega 3 Fish Oil) REALLY helps with depression. I have been battling severe clinical depression for over 2 years now. Though I'm emotionally & mentally better, I had problems with irregular sleep pattern, excessive sleepiness and lack of energy. I read that Omega 3 can help, so I tried taking it. After just 3 days on 3000mg a day (taken on breakfast, lunch, dinner), for the first time in years I noticed I slept less during the day and slept better at night. It's been weeks now and I continue taking 1000-3000mg a day, and I keep feeling better. I now wake up feeling more refreshed and motivated to do things. I have the energy to actually do them. My naps are short, or sometimes I can go without one. I feel sleepy after a certain time (at night) and can actually sleep throughout the night and wake up ONLY when it's morning. It has regulated my sleep cycle! I can't remember the last time I feel this great! It's amazing such improvement can be achieved with just a simple thing like Fish Oil. Do try it. There can be no harm, only good.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Gr8ful Gal in Cleveland (Cleveland, Ohio) on 12/07/2008
★★★★★

I just want to thank Earth Clinic for such helpful health advice. I was already using ACV. (*1/2 cup in the morning). But I noticed my depression worsening I was thinking of going to a therapist. When one night I was internet surfing and found this site. I also kept having migraine headaches. (of course) no doctor, or medicines helped. I ran across the oil pulling remedies. So, I tried it. The results are great!!!! The oil pulling (first thing in the morning) *1/2 a cup its the BEST THING I could have done. Its healthy for me and has no negative side effects. My depression has gone away!!! I sleep better, I am not restless, my mood swings have diminished. I have so much energy its ridiculous!!! I can feel and see the difference. I have also tried the BSS (Baking Soda Scrub) I add honey and a little water until it thickens to my liken. (I have oily/combo skin). I used ACV as a toner,(diluted with water on a cotton ball). VCO (Virgin Coconut Oil) as a moisturizer. (very thin amount) My face glowed. I only do it 3x a week. It is so great to have all these resources at hand. And they are so inexpensive. Thank You so much!!! Earth Clinic.

EC: More about oil pulling here.

Fish Oil

Posted by Shanon (San Antonio, Texas) on 11/29/2008
★★★★★

Fishoil helped my depression. I was about to consider Zoloft when I ran into an article about the benefits of fishoil. I started taking 3-4 grams I divided doses and in less than 5 weeks I felt better! Then, I started sleeping before 11 pm and found out that I functioned better and my thoughts were more positive. Everyone used to tell me that in order to cure depression you had to think positive...fishoil taught me how to do so! it's been four months and I only get depressed during my period. I'm working on that...any suggestions?

Cold Showers

Posted by Annie (Portland, Or) on 03/06/2013

Yikes! Tell your friend to lighten up on the jokes. A true friend will totally understand.

Shino's Remedies for Depression

Posted by Shino (Auckland, New Zealand) on 09/13/2008
★★★★★

hi, i have suffered chronic depression twice, and this second time ive been doing natural therapies. thought i would share what has helped me on this site, as i got some of this stuff through japanese sites that people may not have access to and some of it has been crucial to my recovery!

my depression got so bad i couldnt get out of bed, talk or even eat by myself. being only 27 i pushed myself with work despite feeling terrible for 8 months and this is what happened. i didnt want to take medications, which are still so unreliable, my dad found a site whose plan we followed. main points are:

1. eliminate all forms of stress, as much as possible, including work, study, jobs, housework, cooking...get others to do these for you. also important, avoid all reading, violent movies and programmes, the news, and all games, which cause the adrenals to go.

2. do what you want every day (not what you think you should do, or be doing) - if you just want to sleep, do that and tell others to support you, you need to realise that this is okay and important for recovery.

3. just get someone to make sure you`re eating well (greens to make up half the meal, then quarter protein and quarter carbs. keep to organics and whole foods which means less toxins for your body to have to waste energy on). Drink at least 1.5 litres of good water a day - this helps all your organs function properly and flush out baddies. Avoid smoking, caffeine, alcohol and sugar, which all cause strong mood imbalances.

4. take the following supplements 3 times a day: phosphatydilserine (solgar is gd brand) - this will elevate your mood within 30 mins - you can take this as you need it. soy protein powder (NOT whey. soy releases energy slowly and helps your blood sugar balance) i also found this elevated my mood and brain function each time within about 30 minutes. omega 3, B vitamins (tresos B is good, as is the V2000 by solgar). St Johns Wort - or any of the above can be taken in conjunction with antidepressants safely.

If you have pretty severe depression like i did, then you know that you`re so sensitive to anything that counselling or therapy is a nightmare. In this case the plan above is great because you get better purely by addressing the nutritional balance in your body first. i did it for about 3 months before i felt up to seeing a counsellor. the four points above are all equally important - basically the aim is to eliminate emotional, physical stress as well as any cause of stress on your organs (which i now realise is THE crucial thing with depression and anxiety which doctors and therapists tend to overlook or minimise the importance of), and give your body everything it needs to produce the right balance of mood hormones again. Just note, that as you get better you will find that you level of energy increases - and this can be a fragile time because this can mean that if you`re still having suicidal thoughts you now have the physical energy to carry it out. make sure people around are aware of this so that they can be there for you during this time until your thoughts catch up and balance out too.

These are additional supplements which my naturopath helped me with later - i am not sure if they are all compatible with antidepressants though so please check. 5 HTP has chilled me out a lot, helped ease my insomnia and overeating. adrenal gland tonic (herbal health stores can make them up for you) including things like withania, liquorice, shatavari, wood betony, has helped me as long-term stress in constant fight/flight mode has worn out my glands (hair loss is one indication of this, which i had). bach flower essences, taking epsom salt baths with lavendar, meditation, walking in nature - even taking a short walk in the sun, yoga, are also things that i got into when i was ready.

the rest are really more to address emotional and spiritual needs (which, in depression and anxiety is important) - network spinal analysis and reiki can provide temporary relief at an energetic level, and if you like these i have found that a good spiritual healer can be 10 times better than seeing a therapist as they are way more holistic in finding out what`s wrong, and really care. also EFT technique (free on the website). also an online community called anxietytribe.com and depressiontribe.com helped me connect with others who had the same thing. was especially helpful when i was too down to see any friends or family.

hope this helps...i am still not 100%, but this plan has been amazing. the supplement plan i wrote about is effective for those with medium and mild depression too, and from the hundreds of feedback i read on the site, it has helped so many people.

Walking

Posted by Heather (San Diego, Ca) on 03/07/2013
★★★★★

Yea. Even the shrinks know that walking is a better cure for depression than antidepressants. It's the first thing any shrink will tell you to do.

Trouble is, depressed people often don't feel like walking.

Force yourself to walk, but if the idea really sucks to you, and makes you miserable thinking about it, try to put a (fake if necessary) smile on face and start counting your blessings - finding things to be grateful about, instead of focusing on the fact that you don't want to take a walk.

I try to notice things while walking -- birds, what the road construction crews are working on, what is making a particular noise, children, trees. This gets me out of my head and away from my troubles, and also prevents me from getting too bored while walking.

Walking daily increases health and happiness, and helps a person to sleep better.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Tawnya (Ogden, Utah) on 11/23/2005
★★★★★

I have been using ACV for about 2 years. It was around the time I was told that I had cancer. I had suffered a long time with depression, headaches, and 2 premature babies. When I started taking ACV, within weeks I could feel a difference in the way I felt. My headaches were gone, and 5 months later my cancer was in remission. I believe ACV has made a large impact in my life. I now give it to my children and husband, and we are very healthy and happy.

5-HTP

Posted by Charlotte (Richboro, PA)
★★★★★

My 6 year old grandson was diagnosed with "Select Mutism" 2 years ago and rather than put him on "Prozac", my daughter did some research and learned about 5HTP and chose to try it first. He started on 50mg every night. His psychologist saw the same results with the 5HTP as children on prescribed drugs. It's been a miracle for him. I have since then also taken it since our family seems to have anxiety problems and ADD runs in the family and it has helped very much with these problems. I usually take 100mg to 200mg daily depending on my stress levels at the time. We are so grateful our little grandson did not have to take Prozac or a similar drug. I would highly recommend it as a first choice to try at least.

Chlorophyll

Posted by Karl (Thibodaux, LA)
★★★★★

I have found chlorophyll to be very helpful in improving mood. I started by taking 60 mg in the morning. I actually found the effect of taking pure chlorophyll to be quite strong, so I switched to taking chlorella, which naturally contains chlorophyll. I take a portion of the suggested dose per day.

Vitamin D

Posted by Madeleine (US) on 10/12/2022
★★★★★

Having a lack of Vit d diagnosis changed my life. I was thinking about ending it because of the lethargy and pain. Everyone should take this simple vitamin 🍀

A simple solution to big problems.

Palo Santo Essential Oil

Posted by looms (hawaii) on 08/10/2021

i got a little carved box made from palo sainto, when in Mexico once and used to open it every day, just to smell it! I kept all my wishes written down in it. it really does have a healing smell!

St John's Wort

Posted by Paracelsus (Orlando, Fl) on 09/16/2020 46 posts
★★★★★

If you suffer from the occasional blues or even extended depression, St. John's wort is the herb for you. There have even been scientific studies that show St. John's wort to be as effective if not more effective than Prozac.

My wife and I have been using it whenever needed for years. Always great results. As with all herbal remedies, you probably want to pay attention to the quality and the place or origin. Personally I avoid everything from China. If you can get something locally, I think that is much preferred.

Ginger

Posted by BECKIE (OR) on 02/11/2025
★★★★★

That is great. I have putting in a teaspoon of ginger in my fruit smoothie for years and I have been in a great place. I just feel happy.

Gratitude Practice

Posted by Veronicah S. (Switzerland) on 11/22/2019
★★★★★

Practice gratitude, self love and self compassion and watch your whole world transform. I was utterly depressed until I learnt the power of gratitude. Gratitude changes the way we view life and ourselves. Difficult situations that were once intolerable and seemingly unchangeable, transform. The moment we feel gratitude, the situation begins to lighten, and then we can see the opportunities to create change. We feel better about ourselves and our ability to positively affect our environment and our world. Depression lifts, conflict turns to harmony, and stress releases to peace. When gratitude becomes a way of life, success, happiness, and health become the norm. Make it a habit of thanking everything along your path. I am thankful for my cat, I am thankful for my perfect health ( even though the reality is different). Be thankful to the people or situations that you don't like. It is one way to cut the cord and free yourself.

Otherwise they remain in your life through negative emotions. Be thankful thankful thankful thankful. Remember, being positive for ten minutes and compaining the rest of the day will not work. You have a job to do, cultivating gratitude until it becomes the default program . You mean I can be healthy by just repeating "I AM HEALTHY"? yes. You mean I can be happy by just repeating "I AM HAPPY"? yes. You mean I can be ...............by just repeating "I AM ............" ? yes.

Well, I did not know that either, now i know. It has worked for me. Earth clinic was my to go site when I was searching to cure depression, thyroid issues, hypoglaecemia etc. Unfortunately I did not find relief from the many good suppliments and herbs. I had to return here and say something as a part of my gratitude. Practicing gratitude to everything and all , being careful about what I was feeding my mind and practicing self compassion when I caught myself thinking or saying negative stuff transformed my life. Reading about the brain neuroprasticity and learning how to reprogram the subconcious mind was my first help. Abraham Hicks book "The law of attraction" transformed my life. Louise hay book "You can heal your life" and many other books are resources that will get you from here to there. You are not helpless, YOU ARE YOUR OWN RESQUE. It has to come through you to you.

Brain Zap Recovery Supplements

Posted by Marco (Farmers Branch) on 07/04/2022
★★★★★

For brain zaps I highly recommend cold showers, or at least, a cold shower just for the head (which you should be able to withstand better). For my brain zaps, it reduced them by at least 70%.

St John's Wort

Posted by Art (California ) on 01/16/2018 2440 posts

St. John's wort is very good, but it does have some fairly well known side effects, one of which is that it can cause hypersensitivity to sun exposure which is referred to as photodermatitis, so being aware of that may go a long way in preventing potential problems if you spend much time in the sun. Hives and other rashes is another common one, which again if you are aware of can go a long way in preventing complications.

https://www.umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/st-johns-wort

Art

Lowering Homocysteine and Copper Levels

Posted by Jillery (Rawlly, Nc) on 06/15/2016 84 posts
★★★★★

High Homocysteine and high copper = depression

After reading the book Nutrient Power by Wm Walsh and meeting with a holistic psychiatrist I was able to lower my homocysteine level from 11.9 to 8.5 and my copper from 150 to 115, resulting in improved mood and no anxiety. I was taking TMG 3000 mg and zinc 80 mg per day. I got my blood levels done thru www.lifeextention.com at a decent cost (about $125.00 for homocysteine, copper, copper protein, and zinc). It took about 2.5 months and I did go thru a detox for about 3 weeks. Now I balancing my overall supplements with my Lic. Accupuncture doc who also has training in the Walsh application. More info can be found on www.walshinstitute.com and also www.samanthagilbert.com. I would suggest getting the book thru Amazon and reading it. It is hard reading but understandable. You can find a list of practictioners thru the book also. The levels of the three components need to be in balance and it important to work with a medical professional. Samantha Gilbert provides online assistance.

Lowering Homocysteine and Copper Levels

Posted by Timh (Ky) on 06/16/2016 2042 posts

Glad to see you have found a real cure and shared it with others as depression is quite common and conventional treatment option are limited and come with negative side -effects.

I would like to note that I find it unusual that Molybdenum was not recommended to reduce the Copper, and Vit-B-6 was not recommended to reduce homocysteine as well as a metabolic enhancer of Zinc. And also why B-12 & Folic Acid was not recommended along with the TMG as methyl donors in reducing homocysteine, or simply taking SAM-e as the ultimate methyl donor as well as a great mood booster.

Seems most folks have their own angle and pinpoint problems & solutions from their reference points, maybe it's most profitable for themselves this way, I don't know; but in many cases and especially extreme cases of disease, one's best approach is as broad and holistic as possible (which you have done with a your approach here).

B12

Posted by Alicia319 (Seattle, Wa) on 10/28/2014
★★★★☆

I have been taking the carbomazapine for depression and anxiety for 9 years. The doctors arent sure if I am bi polar or not the therapist both have said no. I have suffered with major depression for many years over 35 now. I decided to try b12 500 mg it is working great with my medication 250 mg at bedroom and the b12 in the am. they wanted to change my med but I don't want to. Why is the b12 working so well? I feel so much better, I am allergic to many anti depressants.

Azithromyacin

Posted by Anon (US) on 09/04/2014
★★★★★

I've had depression since grade school. Some years ago I got a virus or something and was given three big azithromyacin pills to take, one a day for three days. The depression went completely away for three days. I had a ton of energy, I felt happy, cheerful, outgoing, I could think clearly and remember much better. Much more relaxed and optimistic. Like everything was fixed.

The third day I took some psyllium fiber and it all came creeping back.

L-Tyrosine

Posted by Timh (KY) on 07/18/2014 2042 posts
★★★★★

For immediate relief of mild depression, take the amino L-Tyrosine plus the herb St Johnswort. The supplement SAMe is also good for mild depression and also boosts detox systems.

Niacin

Posted by Jo (New York) on 02/13/2014
★★★★★

My daughter suffered from depression and I found a doctor who advocated niacin we tried it, she was 20 and found that the flushing was painful and then she switched to non flushing Niacin. Now still on Niacin at 21, we have come to realize she must not go a day with out it and we have even increased the dose, she is vitamin B dependant! We have also noticed a remarkable difference when she adds Omega 3's it helps her even more and she notice a loss in weight. She might be bi polar, it runs in the family, but NIACIN has been a MIRACLE and EVERYONE should try it!!!!!!