St. John's Wort and Depression

Many people suffering from depression are hesitant to use antidepressant medication due to the many side effects, which include fatigue, agitation, nausea, weight gain, sexual side effects and in some cases even psychotic features such as hallucinations or suicidal ideation. Still, people need some sort of treatment for their depression. Many people are turning to alternative medicine for solutions.

St. John's Wort is an herb that is being increasingly used to treat mild to moderate depression. It is quite effective. In fact, one study conducted in Europe found that, for people with mild to moderate depression, St. John's Wort was as effective as a leading prescription antidepressant, without the side effects.

St. John's Wort is available at most health food stores and at many pharmacies and grocery stores. It comes in capsules. The active ingredient in St. John's Wort is called hypericin. Effective doses contain 0.3% hypericin per 300mg of St. John's Wort. That is what you want to look for on the label.

You should take three capsules per day, but to avoid upsetting your stomach, start out with one capsule for the first few days, then two capsules for a few days, then go on to three capsules. The main side effect of St. John's Wort is photosensitivity, which means a greater than usual sensitivity to the sun. You can get sunburned more easily than normal, so wear sunscreen and limit your time out in the sun.

A few people do experience other side effects from St. John's Wort, including headache, nausea, and sexual side effects. These may go away as your body adjusts to the herb. If you are bothered by any side effects, you can stop taking St. John's Wort at any time. While many prescription antidepressants cause withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking them, St. John's Wort does not cause any kind of withdrawal.