St. John's Wort has become widely accepted as a alternative treatment for mild to moderate depression, but a recent German study (Feb. 2005)confirmed its effectiveness in treating major depression as well.
A perennial plant with bright yellow flowers, St. John's Wort (hypericum perforatum) grows all over the world. It has been used by herbalists for centuries to treat depression, anxiety, and nerve pain.
Numerous studies have demonstrated that standardized extracts of St. John's Wort are more effective than many commonly prescribed SSRIs (serotonin reuptake inhibitors) in treating mild to moderate depression.
The recent German study showed the herb to be at least as effective, if not more effective for major depression, as paroxetine (seroxat), while producing less side effects.
The active ingredients in St. John's Wort act similarly to selective reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in that they block the breakdown of serotonin, thus causing more of the mood-enhancing neurochemical to be available to the brain.
Standardized hypericum perforatum is much less expensive than SSRIs. Experts in both Europe and America have recently been calling for the acceptance of St. John's Wort as a first line treatment for depressive disorders, excluding bipolar. However, in the United States most antidepressant medication is prescribed by primary care physicians whose main current education about treatment comes from the pharmacological companies who manufacture the antidepressants.
A common objection to herbal medication is that the supplement industry is less well policed than the drug industry, and that bottle labels describing ingredients can be misleading. Recently studies dispute that claim.
The widely accepted formulation for hypericum perforatum to be effective in treating depression is 3% Hyperforin and 0.3% Hypercin. Those are the active ingredients. Common treatment is 300 mg of extract with those concentrations of ingredients three times a day.
You should treat St. John's Wort as seriously as you would any medicine, and discuss your treatment regimen with your doctor and mental health professional. Your pharmacist should also be informed, since St. John's Wort can interact adversely with some other medications, such as contraceptive pills and HIV medications.
The most commonly cited side effects are stomach disorders, though not to the degree experienced with SSRIs. A side effect to watch out for is skin sensitivity to sunlight. You should avoid excessive exposure to the sun while taking St. John's Wort.
Treatment with St. John's Wort is likely to be more effective if undertaken along with cognitive-behavioral therapy and a program of regular exercise.
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