- With Mayo Clinic psychiatrist
Daniel K. Hall-Flavin, M.D.
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Daniel K. Hall-Flavin, M.D.
Daniel K. Hall-Flavin, M.D.
Dr. Daniel Hall-Flavin, board certified in general psychiatry and addiction psychiatry, is a St. Louis native looking to the Internet as a way to help people improve their health and be more active participants in their own health care by learning from Mayo Clinic's experts.
Dr. Hall-Flavin served on the faculties of Cornell University Medical College, New York Medical College and The George Washington University Medical School before joining the Mayo Clinic staff in 1996. He has special interests in adult psychiatry, addiction psychiatry, pharmacogenetics and personalized medicine. He served as medical director of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence from 1986 to 1999, and is currently involved in translational medicine research involving the introduction of pharmacogenetic technology into the daily practice of community psychiatry.
"With the advent of pharmacogenetics and related fields and the advances in translational medicine, informed collaborative relationships between knowledgeable, capable health professionals and informed, proactive individuals and their families are more vital than ever," he said.
"I'm optimistic that our Internet health education activities will contribute to ever-improving health outcomes for all who participate and apply what is learned."
Definition (1)
- 'Clinical depression': What does that mean?
Risk factors (1)
- Junk food blues: Are depression and diet related?
Causes (4)
- Caffeine and depression: Is there a link?
- Vitamin B-12 and depression: Are they related?
- Marijuana and depression: What's the link?
- see all in Causes
Complications (2)
- Depression and anxiety: Can I have both?
- Tinnitus causes: Could my antidepressant be the culprit?
Treatments and drugs (9)
- Mild depression: Are antidepressants effective?
- After a flood, are food and medicine safe to use?
- Antidepressants and alcohol: What is the concern?
- see all in Treatments and drugs
Alternative medicine (3)
- Fish oil supplements: Can they treat depression?
- Natural remedies for depression: Are they effective?
- Do the benefits of vitamin C include improved mood?
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Question
Natural remedies for depression: Are they effective?
I've heard natural remedies for depression such as St. John's wort can work as well as antidepressants. Is that true?
Answer
from Daniel K. Hall-Flavin, M.D.
Natural remedies for depression aren't a replacement for medical diagnosis and treatment. But, for some people certain herbs and supplements do seem to work well. More studies are needed to determine which natural remedies for depression are most likely to help and what side effects they might cause. Here are four natural remedies that show promise:
- 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. However, it's a popular depression treatment in Europe. It may be helpful if you have mild or moderate depression. However, it should be used with caution — St. John's wort can interfere with a number of medications, including antidepressants, HIV/AIDS medications and drugs to prevent organ rejection after an organ transplant.
- SAMe. This dietary supplement is a synthetic form of a chemical that occurs naturally in the body. The name SAMe (pronounced sam-EE) is short for S-adenosylmethionine. Like St. John's wort, SAMe isn't approved by the FDA to treat depression in the United States — but it's used in Europe as a prescription drug to treat depression.
- Omega-3 fatty acids. These oils are found in cold-water fish and in some nuts and plants. They are being studied as a possible treatment for depression and as a mood stabilizer in people with bipolar disorder. Omega-3 oils also appear to have a number of other health benefits.
- Saffron. Saffron extract might improve symptoms of depression, but more study is still needed to see whether it helps.
In the past, the quality of many dietary supplements on the U.S. market was often questionable. With the increased oversight by the Food and Drug Administration, this concern is gradually diminishing. But it's still best do some research before starting any dietary supplement. Make sure you're purchasing your supplements from a reputable company, and know exactly what they contain.
Also keep in mind that some herbal and dietary supplements can cause potentially dangerous interactions with other medications. To be safe, talk to your doctor before taking a supplement for your depression.
Next questionDo the benefits of vitamin C include improved mood?
- van der Watt G, et al. Complementary and alternative medicine in the treatment of anxiety and depression. Current Opinion in Psychiatry. 2008;2:37.
- Mischoulon D. Update and critique of natural remedies as antidepressant treatments. Obstetrics & Gynecology Clinics of North America. 2009;36:789.
- Wahner-Roedler D. Treating 20 common conditions. In: Bauer B. Mayo Clinic Book of Alternative Medicine. 2nd ed. New York, N.Y.: Time Inc.; 2010:167.
- Bauer BA (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. April 13, 2010.
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