National Institutes of Health • National Center for
Complementary and Alternative Medicine Depression and
Complementary Health Practices Depression is a medical condition
that affects nearly 21 million American adults each year,
according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Mood,
thoughts, physical health, and behavior all may be affected.
Among the common symptoms of depression are persistent sad,
anxious, or “empty” feelings; feelings of hopelessness, guilt,
and/or worthlessness; restlessness or irritability; fatigue;
difficulty concentrating; insomnia; overeating, or loss of
appetite; and/or thoughts of suicide. Many people with a
depressive illness never seek treatment. But the majority, even
those with the most severe depression, can get better with
treatment. Depression can be treated effectively with
conventional medicine, including antidepressants and certain
types of psychotherapy. Some people turn to complementary health
products and practices for depression, including the dietary
supplement