| A growing number of depression patients | | | | in dealing with mild to moderate |
| are interested in using herbal | | | | depression. In addition this herbal |
| depression medicine rather than | | | | treatment for depression showed a better |
| prescription drugs to treat their | | | | side effect profile than conventional |
| condition. While herbal treatment for | | | | anti depressants. However, other |
| depression is in many cases not really | | | | clinical studies on the use of St Johns |
| proven to be effective the herbal | | | | Wort as treatment for moderate to severe |
| depression medicine St Johns Wort is the | | | | depression showed no significant effect |
| only one that has been shown to have a | | | | of the drug. All in all this indicates |
| positive effect on certain types of | | | | that this herbal depression medicine is |
| depression. So a closer review of this | | | | a treatment of choice for minor |
| herbal treatment for depression is | | | | depression, but not for more severe |
| warranted. | | | | cases where more traditional approaches |
| St Johns Wort (Hypericum Perforatum), | | | | are indicated. As is the case with |
| also known as goats weed, is a perennial | | | | prescription anti depressants the exact |
| herb with small yellow flowers that | | | | mode of action by which St Johns Wort |
| originally stems from Europe, but was | | | | works is unknown. However, it is |
| also introduced to the American | | | | believed that the herb and in particular |
| continent. The plant derives its name | | | | its active compounds hyperforin and |
| from the old tradition of harvesting its | | | | hypericin and others act as serotonin |
| flowers on St. Johns day (June 24th). | | | | re-uptake inhibitors. As is often the |
| The herb is toxic to grazing animals and | | | | case with herbal extracts the quality of |
| invasively replaces other plants | | | | St Johns Wort extracts can vary |
| wherever it grows. Thus, if not actively | | | | significantly depending on where the |
| grown as herbal depression medicine, it | | | | plant was grown and how the extract was |
| is often controlled by the use of | | | | derived at and purified. This has of |
| herbicides or by biological means. The | | | | course implications for clinical studies |
| use of St Johns Wort as medicinal plant | | | | and for the individual patient taking |
| is documented since antiquity, with the | | | | this herbal depression medicine. Thus, |
| first recorded mentioning as herbal | | | | if a patient is successfully using one |
| treatment for depression in the 17th | | | | St Johns Wort-based brand of product he |
| century. Today St Johns Wort extracts, | | | | is advised not to switch to other |
| mostly in the form of pills and tablets, | | | | brands. St Johns Wort is usually well |
| and in some instances teas are used as | | | | tolerated, though side effects such as |
| herbal depression medicine and as | | | | tiredness, sedation, confusion, |
| treatment for anxiety. Especially in | | | | photosensitivity and stomach pain have |
| Europe, and in particular in the German | | | | been reported. This herbal depression |
| speaking countries there is a long | | | | medicine also interacts with |
| tradition of prescribing this herbal | | | | contraceptives as well as with some |
| depression medicine rather than | | | | other drugs, usually decreasing the |
| prescription drugs for mild cases of | | | | effect of those drugs. |
| depression, while in the US there is | | | | Concluding it can be said that St Johns |
| still some scepticism from medical | | | | Wort is herbal depression medicine that |
| professionals. | | | | is definitely worth considering for |
| A large number of clinical studies have | | | | sufferers of mild depression as a great |
| repeatedly shown that St Johns Wort is | | | | alternative to traditional prescription |
| as effective as standard prescription | | | | medicine approaches. |
| medicine and far superior than placebo | | | | |