Few Natural Remedies Proven Effective Against Depression

In 2025, Rachael Frost and team from Frontiers looked at 209 clinical trials testing 64 over-the-counter products like herbs and supplements for depression in adults. They checked if these helped symptoms more than placebos or matched antidepressants, grouping results by strong evidence (over 10 trials), emerging (2-9), or single studies.

Findings showed St John’s Wort, saffron, and probiotics often helped, sometimes like meds. Folic acid, lavender, zinc, tryptophan, rhodiola, and lemon balm looked promising in fewer trials. Most had few side effects, but safety reporting was spotty. Popular ones like melatonin and curcumin had mixed results.

Many didn't shine: omega-3s had more no-effect trials despite hype; vitamin D helped some but not consistently in big groups. Prebiotics and SAMe matched placebo, while cinnamon, echium, vitamin C, and vitamin D with calcium gave mixed or weak outcomes, showing not all "natural" fixes deliver.