Are Alternative Therapies Effective Against Depression

If you are thinking about alternative therapies to fight depression, you need to be discriminating. Following is a summary of study results from five different alternative therapies in the treatment of depression.
Acupuncture – The needles placed at certain point in the body are believed to enhance the flow of energy and relieve emotional problems. A 1995 study found that three quarters of depressed women having acupuncture said they felt “significantly” better after eight weeks.

Herbal Remedies – If taken correctly, herbal compounds taken as teas, tinctures, or pills have been said to alleviate many conditions including depression. Few herbs have been studied as antidepressants, but Saint John’s Wort seemed to work against moderate depression with few side effects in a German study.

Exercise – It lessens anxiety and other negative emotions for hours, or if done regularly, for days and weeks. According to a 1970’s study of men who reported moderate depression, those who took up exercise were 12 times less likely than non-exercisers to remain depressed two years later.

Meditation – The “relaxation response” of meditation is said to decrease pain and reduce anxiety and depression. Based on dozens of studies, doctors have been urged to accept meditation as an effective treatment for chronic pain, anxiety, and panic attacks.

Nutrition – Some alternative practitioners recommend a fast to purge “toxins” from the body; types of food are then gradually re-introduced to track how patients respond. There is no reliable scientific literature on the psychological value of abstaining from food.
SOURCE: HEALTH - JAN / FEB 1997 PP 72-78