Acupuncture

According to PsychCentral, a recently published UK study showed acupuncture to be effective in cutting depression symptoms in half, even in patients with major depressive disorder. These results occurred in as little as three months. This form of therapy was also shown to be more effective, and in less time, than traditional medication treatment and humanistic, or talk therapy.

Another study, conducted by the University of Arizona, found that 64 percent of participants went into remission for their depression symptoms after acupuncture, as compared with 27 percent of the participants in the control group, who received no treatment.

Meditation

Meditation has also been shown in studies to play a role in minimizing depression symptoms and preventing relapse. One recent study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Internal Medicine, found that meditation may rival antidepressants in its success treating depression symptoms. This study compiled the results of previous studies on meditation and analyzed the results of previous randomized clinical trials - and found that meditation can meet or exceed the effectiveness of medication in treating depression, anxiety, and pain.

Creative Therapy

According to Carrie and Alton Barron, a husband and wife psychiatrist and hand surgeon duo, creativity and handiwork may be linked to relieving depression symptoms. In their book, The Creativity Cure, the two describe their own experiences on flip sides of the coin - with Carrie experiencing elevated mood and reduced symptoms after working on artistic or handy projects, while Alton experienced the significant increase in depression in patients who had lost use of their hands after injury or illness. The two hypothesize that there is a causative link between the general decline in modern times of people using their hands, coinciding with an increase in rates of anxiety and depression. They call handiwork projects a form of lifestyle medicine, using hands to stimulate the brain and ease symptoms. They suggest disconnecting from technology and devoting time toward activities that can range from knitting and gardening to woodwork, carving, or home repairs and improvements.