While western medicine advocates drugs to treat depression, the truth is depression has been treated for thousands of years using natural remedies and approcahes.

Sometimes the treatment takes form in a life style change, including better sleeping patterns, better eating habits and exercise.

Here are some approaches helpful for depression.

Exercise.

Yup, a simple walk 5 times a week for half an hour can prove as beneficial as an anti depressant. Not only is it free, it is also beneficial for your waistline and heart along with upping your mood by releasing endorphins in your brain.

Yoga.

Yoga is a natural stress buster. Stress and negative emotional energy tends to lodge in our soft tissues including our joints. Yoga exercises allow for those energies to be released. As your body becomes more flexible, so does your mind.

Chi Gong.

Chi Gong is a form of exercise that helps you move the energy, or chi, in your body. When energy flows, wellbeing, both physical and mental, follows. Chi Gong has proven to be beneficial for a whole range of ailments. Hypertension, anxiety, depression, insomnia, diabetes, and many others. Chi Gong can be done in the privacy of your home, and if done regularly is guaranteed to produce very favorable results.

Meditation.

Meditating as a regular practice has shown to reduce blood pressure, heart rate and stress. Studies have shown that regular meditation can actually set back your biological clock. Like Yoga and Chi
Gong, meditation can improve physical and emotional reactions to stress.

Energy Therapy.

Todays modern energy based therapies, such as Tapas Acupressure Technique, or Emotional Freedom Techniques have shown remarkable results in alleviating depression. These methods can be self applied, but may benefit from the dierctions of a qualified therapist.

Herbs.

All cultures have herbs which have been used for centuries to treat depression.
One herb in particaulr, St. John's Wort has shown great results in helping those with depression. Infact, in several European countries such a germany and france, St. John's Wort are sold by prescription.

Food Supplements.

Getting adequate levels of vital vitamins, especially the B-vitamins can have a very favorable effect on depression. Fish oil, such as salmon oil, has also shown to reduce depression.