6 Best Herbs and Supplements for Depression

6 Herbs and Supplements for Depression


The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a number medications for the treatment of depression. If you live with depression but opt not to take one of these medications, you still have other options. Some people look to herbs and natural remedies to find relief from their symptoms.

Many of these remedies have been used medicinally for centuries as folk and alternative treatments. Today, many herbs are marketed as mood boosters for people who experience chronic feelings of sadness or hopelessness.

Studies have attempted to track the benefits of herbs for treating depression. Here are several herbs that may help lift your mood when you experience mild to moderate depression.



St. John’s wort is a plant that’s native to Europe, western Asia, and northern Africa. Europeans commonly take St. John’s wort as a way to treat depression, but the FDA hasn’t approved the herb to treat this condition.

Taking St. John’s wort has been linked with increasing the amount of serotonin in the body. Serotonin is a feel-good chemical in the brain that people with depression are often low in. Several antidepressants work by increasing the amount of serotonin in the brain.

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH)Trusted Source, St. John’s wort may help milder forms of depression, although its effects haven’t been conclusively proven either way. A 2008 review of 29 studies on St. John’s wort found that the plant was just as effective for treating mild to moderate depression as antidepressants, yet resulted in fewer side effects. On the other hand, the NIH’s National Center for Complementary and Integrative HealthTrusted Source sponsored two separate studies that found it wasn’t better than a placebo for treating depression.

It’s important to note that St. John’s wort is known for interacting with lots of medications. This is especially true for blood thinners, birth control pills, and chemotherapy medications. Always check with your doctor before taking this herb.

Shop online for St. John’s wort supplements.



Omega-3 fatty acids are a healthy type of fat found in fish such as salmon, trout, and sardines. They’re available in supplement form and are sometimes called fish oil capsules. According to the Mayo Clinic, researchers have found that people who have low levels of two brain chemicals found in fish oil supplements may be at an increased risk of depression. It’s ideal to get a higher ratio of DHA to EPA, which are both types of omega-3 fatty acids.

In addition to taking fish oil supplements to get omega-3 fatty acids, you can also increase the amount of fish you eat. Eating fish three times a week can increase your omega-3 fatty acids without the aid of supplements.

Keep in mind that some fish can have high levels of mercury. These include swordfish, tilefish, king mackerel, and shark. Avoid these in favor of fish with lower levels of mercury, such as light canned tuna, salmon, freshwater trout, and sardines.

Shop online for omega-3 supplements.



Saffron is a spice derived from a dried portion of a crocus, a flower in the iris family. According to a study in Alternative Medicine ReviewTrusted Source, taking saffron stigma (the end of the carpel, or rod-like stem, in the flower) has been shown to be effective in treating mild to moderate depression.

Shop online for saffron.


SAM-e is short for S-adenosylmethionine. This supplement is designed to act like a synthetic form of the body’s natural mood-boosting chemicals. According to the Mayo Clinic, SAM-e is regarded as a supplement in the United States — the FDA doesn’t consider it a medication.

You shouldn’t take SAM-e along with antidepressants. You should also be aware that SAM-e can cause health effects such as upset stomach and constipation if you take too much.

Shop online for SAM-e supplements.


There may be a linkTrusted Source between low levels of folic acid (the synthetic form of folate) and depression. Taking 500 micrograms of folic acid has been linked with improving the effectiveness of other antidepressant medications.

One way to increase your folate levels is to consume folate-rich foods daily. These include beans, lentils, fortified cereals, dark leafy greens, sunflower seeds, and avocados.

Shop online for folate supplements.



Zinc is a nutrient linked with mental functions such as learning and behavior. Low levels of blood zinc are associated with depression, according to an analysis in Biological Psychiatry.

According to Nutrition NeuroscienceTrusted Source, taking a 25-milligram zinc supplement daily for 12 weeks can help reduce depression symptoms. Taking zinc supplements can also increase the amount of available omega-3 fatty acids in the body.

Shop online for zinc supplements.



Health food stores may market herbs and supplements as being able to treat depression. However, according to a review published in BJPsych Advances, several of these treatments haven’t been shown to be effective in treating depression. These include the following herbs:

  • Crataegus oxyacantha (hawthorn)
  • Eschscholzia californica (California poppy)
  • Ginkgo biloba
  • Lavandula angustifolia (lavender)
  • Matricaria recutita (chamomile)
  • Melissa officinalis (lemon balm)
  • Passiflora incarnate (maypop, or purple passionflower)
  • Piper methysticum (kava)
  • Valeriana officinalis (valerian)

If you do choose to use these or other herbs, always check with your doctor first to make sure they won’t interact with any medication you might be taking.

Also note that herbs and supplements are not monitored by the FDA, so there may be concerns about purity or quality. Always buy from a reputable source.



Although some herbs and supplements show promise in treating depression, they aren’t a consistent or reliable option when you experience severe depression. Don’t rely on supplements as a way to pull you through severe depression symptoms. Depression can be a serious disease. Work with your doctor to find a treatment plan that works for you.

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