St. John’s wort is a herb which has been used from ancient times to treat sadness, worry, nervousness and poor sleep of a person. Clinical tests show that St. John’s wort shows better results on patients when compared to placebo. The herb works effectively in fighting mild and moderate depression, but is ineffective to cure major depression. It is available at various health food stores, drug stores and online shops too. It takes about 4 to 6 weeks for it to show its full effects.

There are two types of fatty acids: Omega-6 and Omega-3. Omega-3 fatty acids are the good fat that we need for normal functioning of the brain. The human body is incapable of producing omega-3 fatty acids on its own, so it must be obtained from outside source as a part of the diet. Studies have concluded that depression is inversely proportional to the intake of omega-3 fatty acids. It is because of the same reason that in countries such as Japan, where fish consumption is high, the depression is 10 times lower than in North America.

SAM-e (pronounced as ‘sammy’) is a chemical that’s found naturally in the human body, which increases the level of neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine. Scientific trails have shown that SAM-e is more effective in curing depression than placebo. In North America, SAM-e is available as a food supplement which can be purchased from various food stores, drug stores or online. Though an expensive supplement, SAM-e is very popular for effectively curing depression.

Folic acid (also known as folate) is a B vitamin which is mainly found in various green leafy vegetables. Increase in intake of folic acid can cure depression easily. Apart from taking it through diet, folic acid is also available as a dietary supplement.

5-HTP (short for 5-hydroxytryptophan) is produced naturally in the body which helps in producing the neurotransmitter serotonin. Taking 5-HTP in supplement form can also boost the body’s serotonin levels but many experts feel that there is no adequate evidence to determine the safety of 5-HTP.

Having a disciplinary control over the diet can also cure depression to some extend. Some precautions which can be taken include reducing the intake of sweets as they temporarily make you feel good but later your mood worsens. Also avoiding caffeine and alcohol helps us as alcohol relaxes us while caffeine boosts energy, but both of them work for a short period of time. If we continue taking caffeine or alcohol, it will result in addiction.

Regular exercise is the best and most inexpensive way to improve the mood as well as maintain a good health. When we exercise, various mood-elevating chemicals are produced in the brain which decrease the stress hormones. A brisk walk outside early in the morning can work as a great remedy for depression.

Tests have shown that getting enough sunlight also works as an effective method for seasonal mood changes. Exposure to light in the morning helps the body’s sleep/wake cycle to work properly. It also leads to the production of neurotransmitter serotonin.

Apart from the various medicinal remedies, there are other natural remedies too which can help you tackle the depression. These remedies include activities that can elevate your mood and contribute towards the production of neurotransmitter serotonin which cures the depression. Activities which work as a remedies include flower remedies which can uplift your mood instantly and decrease depression; yoga enhances the production of mood-elevating chemicals in the brain; by pressing various points on the body, the production of antidepressants can be enhanced that can cure the depression.