What are some natural techniques that can alleviate symptoms of depression?
Researcher Rachael Frost has shed light on a recent study aiming to address the confusion consumers face when choosing products for treating depressive symptoms. The study reviewed over 200 clinical trials investigating 64 over-the-counter (OTC) herbal or dietary products for depressive symptoms in adults aged 18 to 60.
The review found that St. John's Wort and saffron often outperformed placebo, and sometimes matched antidepressants in effectiveness for depressive symptoms. Other products, such as omega-3 fatty acids, probiotics, and vitamin D, also showed potential benefits, although the evidence is somewhat mixed.
Key findings include:
- Strongest evidence and most studied products: St John’s Wort and saffron have demonstrated antidepressant effects in multiple trials, sometimes matching the effectiveness of prescription drugs, especially for patients without comorbidities.
- Products with mixed or insufficient evidence: Supplements such as melatonin, magnesium, curcumin, cinnamon, echium, vitamin C, and vitamin D combined with calcium show contradictory or inconsistent results regarding their antidepressant effects.
- Safety considerations: About 85% of trials reporting safety data found no major concerns for these OTC products; however, some omega-3 supplementation trials reported safety issues, and many studies lacked sufficient safety details overall.
- Research gaps and recommendations: Larger sample sizes, replication of promising trials, optimization of herbal preparations and dosages, and studies exploring OTC products as adjuncts to psychological therapies are needed.
The study used a scoping approach to map the studies, considering factors such as trial size, participant criteria, blinding, comparators, and safety outcomes. The review highlighted that more research is needed to understand optimal dosages and product quality for over-the-counter products for depressive symptoms.
Chamomile, lavender, lemon balm, and echium are commonly consumed products with an emerging evidence base, and the study recommended further research on them for depressive symptoms. Ginseng, gingko, lime flowers, orange blossom, and peppermint are other commonly used herbal medicines for depressive symptoms, but no studies have evaluated these products.
In summary, OTC herbal and dietary supplements like St John’s Wort, saffron, omega-3s, probiotics, and vitamin D show encouraging evidence for treating depressive symptoms in adults, with some comparable to prescription antidepressants. Nonetheless, the field requires more rigorous, large-scale clinical trials to clarify efficacy, safety, and best practices for use either alone or combined with conventional treatments.
- Further research is needed on common health-and-wellness supplements like chamomile, lavender, lemon balm, and echium, as they have an emerging evidence base for their potential role in mental-health treatments, specifically for depressive symptoms.
- Nutrition plays a significant role in maintaining mental health, and products such as omega-3 fatty acids, probiotics, and vitamin D have shown potential benefits for treating depressive symptoms, although the evidence is somewhat mixed, and more rigorous studies are needed to clarify efficacy and best practices for their use.
