St John’s Wort Dealing with Mild Depression. St John’s Wort contains important compounds in it that have medicinal qualities such as Hypericin, which is believed to have a similar effect to antidepressants. Depression is characterised by depressed mood and/or loss of interest or pleasure in nearly all activities and a variety of other symptoms for periods longer than two weeks. The most common dose used in studies has been 300 milligrams, three times a day as a standardized extract. Extract of St. John's wort is commonly used in Germany for people with depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders. Research from National Institutes of Health shows that St. John's wort may reduce the effectiveness of several drugs, including birth control pills, drugs used to prevent organ transplant rejections, and some heart disease medications. Symptoms of depression vary but can include. Rushing to catch a bus or plane, trying to make a deadline for a school or job project is what is considered typical stress-related situations. St. John’s wort uses also include improving mood in people with seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a type of depression that occurs during the winter months because of lack of sunlight. The results of studies on the effectiveness of St. John’s wort for depression are mixed. tty (for deaf and hard-of-hearing callers): Email: info@nccih.nih.gov (link sends e-mail). CDC health information   NIH research information. It causes severe symptoms that affect how you feel, think, and handle daily activities, such as sleeping, eating, or working. It works for millions of people but unfortunately not everyone, which is why we talk about other natural treatments for depression and anxiety that are available too. Since depression affects millions of Americans, this is an important question. https://myhappinessexperiments.com/st-johns-wort/ St. John’s Wort’s Interactions With Supplements. It is scientifically called Hypericum perforatum. Some studies have used St. John's wort extract standardized to 0.2 percent hypericin at doses of 250 mg twice daily and when the extract standardized is to 5 percent hyperforin, St John's wort has b… Conclusions: From the existing literature, St. John's wort appears to be a safe and effective alternative in the treatment of depression. Two recent major studies showed that St. John's wort worked no better than a placebo for moderate depression. St. John’s wort is not a proven therapy for depression. St. John’s wort has been tested a number of conditions, with varying results. It affects the levels of serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine which make up the neurotransmitters in our brains. ", Winchester Hospital: "Health Library: St. John's Wort. Joshi KG, Faubion MD. But because St. John's wort causes many drug interactions it might not be an appropriate choice, particularly if you take any prescription drugs. Warning: Never Combine St. John’s Wort with Antidepressants Although St. John’s wort can be effective in treating depression, it also carries some risks, so it isn’t right for everyone. Research on St. John's wort use for specific conditions shows: 1. Depression takes the joy out of life and can impair job, relationships, and health. Many people use St. John's wort to help treat depression, anxiety, and ADHD. St. John's Wort (SJW) is often as effective as prescription meds -- but with fewer side effects. Look for scientific-based sources of information. What Is Complementary, Alternative, or Integrative Health? It is a kind of flowery shrub bears yellow colored flowers that have oval and elongated petals. Combining St. John’s wort and certain antidepressants can lead to a potentially life-threatening increase in your body’s levels of serotonin, a chemical produced by nerve cells. Website: https://www.nih.gov/health-information/nih-clinical-research-trials-you. To learn more, see NCCIH’s fact sheet. 1. Some people with those symptoms may also have anxiety. Rapaport MH, Nierenberg AA, Howland R, et al. Today it is mainly used as an over-the-counter remedy to treat mild and moderate depression , and sometimes seasonal affective disorder (SAD) , mild anxiety and sleep problems . That can cause a problem of too much serotonin, called serotonin syndrome. Tricylic antidepressants and monoamine oxidase inhibitors can produce serious cardiac side-effects, such as tachycardia and postural hypotension, and many unwanted anticholinergic side-effects, including dry mouth and constipation. They aren't regulated the same way as medications are. Mild depression and anxiety are an occasional part of living. St. John’s wort is a flowering shrub native to Europe which has been used as a medicinal herb for its anti-inflammatory and antidepressant properties for over 2,000 years. Knüppel L, Linde K. Adverse effects of St. John’s wort: a systematic review. St. John's Wort has been the subject of multiple treatment studies. St. John's wort has been used in alternative medicine as a possibly effective aid in treating somatization disorder (physical illness or symptoms without a known cause), or hot flashes caused by menopause . This is a quick review of St. John's wort for depression. St. John’s wort was no more effective than placebo in treating major depression of moderate severity, an NCCIH- and NIMH-funded study of 340 participants reported in 2002. They come in pills, liquids, and powders, and are intended to supplement your diet. According to several of these studies, St. John’s wort may be more effective than a placebo (sugar pill), and as effective as prescription antidepressants, in treating mild depression.