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