St. John's Wort for Treating Depression

St. John's Wort is a ward against depression that has been used since the times of the Ancient Greeks. In the modern day, it has proved its effectiveness in several clinical trials, and has in one trial been shown to be just as effective as synthetic SSRI antidepressants at treating depression, with a lower incidence of side effects and drug interactions. In some places in Europes, St. John's Wort is prescribed before other synthetic antidepressants when attempting to treat a patient's depression. Unfortunately, modern medical science does not know exactly what substance in St. John's Wort has such amazing antidepressant action, and since the sale of products containing St. John's Wort is not standardized in the United States, they can be of varying quality.

St. John's Wort is thought to prevent serotonin reuptake in the brain, much like the conventional SSRI antidepressants. It is believed that the compounds in St. John's Wort which cause this action are hyperforin and hypericin, but there may be other aspects of St. John's Wort involved in the process. St. John's Wort should not be taken concurrently with other SSRI antidepressants, since it may lead to serotonin syndrome, which is serious and life-threatening. If you are taking an SSRI antidepressant and feel that your antidepressant is not doing much for you, you should talk to your doctor. Remember that you should wait at least a month before judging the effectiveness of any antidepressant, synthetic or natural.

St. John's Wort has mild side effects, with stomach upset, dizziness, and drowsiness being the most common. There are reports that St. John's Wort may cause photosensitivity, but this is a rare occurrence. St. John's Wort is well tolerated by patients and has fewer drug interactions than synthetic antidepressants. However, this does not mean St. John's Wort is totally free of the risk of drug interactions. If you are taking other drugs, it would be wise to talk to your doctor and ask him about the safety of taking St. John's Wort. The effects of St. John's Wort on pregnant and breastfeeding mothers is unknown, and you should definitely talk to your doctor before St. John's Wort if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

It is generally recommended to take just slightly under two grams of St. John's Wort for treatment of mild to moderate depression. Due to the variance of herbal supplements, it is impossible to set an effective dosage in stone. You may wish to follow the manufacturer's instructions in regards to dosage. Currently, it is not known what the effects of a St. John's Wort overdose are.

You can obtain St. John's Wort online or in any store that sells herbal supplements. St. John's Wort is one of the more common and well known supplements, so it is fairly easy to find. You can find St. John's Wort in the form of pills, tinctures, and teas. Currently, nothing is known as to which form of St. John's Wort is the most effective.

The usage of St. John's Wort to treat depression is not a snake oil cure. St. John's Wort is a viable and effective drug for treating minor to moderate depression and should be treated as such. Just because you can get it over the counter does not mean it is perfectly safe. Little is known about possible risks and complications of using St. John's Wort despite its use going back into Ancient Greece. Take note of the risks associated with St. John's Wort before you decide to use it, and preferably you should consult with a doctor.

About the Author: