St. John's Wort Again Proven Better than Antidepressant Drugs



The popular herbal extract St. John's wort is more effective at treating the symptoms of depression than any antidepressant drug, and has fewer side effects, researchers from the Centre for Complementary Medicine in Munich have concluded.

"Overall, the St John's Wort extracts tested in the trials were superior to placebo, similarly effective as standard anti-depressants, and had fewer side effects than standard anti-depressants," lead researcher Klaus Linde said.

In a study published by the Cochrane Library, the researchers compiled the results of 29 prior trials, involving a total of 5,489 participants who were randomly assigned either St. John's wort, a placebo, tricylclic antidepressants or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) to treat mild to moderately severe depression. All studies were double-blind, meaning that neither patients nor researchers knew what kind of treatment each participant was receiving.

St. John's wort was found to be more effective than a placebo and at least as effective as both tricylics and SSRIs, but with fewer side effects. Patients receiving the herbal treatment were significantly less likely to drop out of studies due to negative side effects than those assigned to take tricyclic antidepressants.

The researchers called their study the most thorough to date, and possibly the first to show that St. John's wort is effective at treating not only mild, but also severe depression (also known as major depression). St. John's wort, known officially as Hypericum perforatum, is a native European perennial herb with distinctive yellow flowers and now grows wild in many parts of the Americas as well. It derives its common name from the tradition of harvesting its flowers on St. John's day (June 24). Also known as Klamath weed or Tipton's weed, the plant has been used for centuries as an herbal remedy for depression and sleeping problems.

In recent years, the popularity of the herbal antidepressant has soared as new concerns continue to emerge over pharmaceutical antidepressants, especially SSRIs. In Germany, doctors regularly prescribe it to children and teenagers. In the United Kingdom, it is currently used by two million people.

SSRIs have been shown to significantly increase the risk of suicide in those under the age of 18, and evidence suggests that they may have a similar effect on adults, as well. Recent evidence has also linked use of the drugs by pregnant women with an elevated risk of oral and heart-related birth defects.

With Western health care systems emphasizing drugs for the treatment of mental illness, however, many doctors feel they have no alternatives but to prescribe tricyclics or SSRIs, in spite of the risk. The new study may lead more doctors to prescribe St. John's wort instead.

Another recent study, conducted by St. James' University Hospital in Leeds, England, found that St. John's wort was the only herbal supplement effective at treating depression, in contrast to cat's claw, ginseng, gingko biloba, liquid tonic and royal jelly.

Researchers remain unsure precisely how St. John's wort works, in part because the plant contains chemicals from at least seven different families. The most favored explanation is that the herb acts much like an SSRI, slowing the rate at which the neurotransmitter serotonin is removed from the brain. The chemical hyperforin is posited by some as the most active chemical agent in the herb, and has been linked to slowed uptake of not only serotonin but also the neurotransmitters dopamine, noradrenaline, GABA and glutamate. St. John's wort extracts from which hyperforin has been removed, however, have still been shown to function as effective antidepressants.

Source: www.naturalnews.com
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Previous Comments

henry morgan commented on 05-Aug-2009 09:57 PM5 out of 5 stars
I have been taking an Australian Supplement thant is full of St. Johns Wort - and I feel so much more poitive waking in the morning than ever before!
It definitely works - Yeah to natural products!
Anonymous commented on 05-Aug-2009 11:15 PM5 out of 5 stars
I have been taking St. John's Wort for several month and it does work wonderfully with absolutely no side effects!
Anonymous commented on 06-Aug-2009 03:35 AM4 out of 5 stars
I've been taking St John's Wort for three weeks. After the first week I started feeling remarkably better - more positive (that young, refreshed & optimistic feeling). I hadn't felt quite that great in a long time. I know it can only be as a result of the St John's Wort.
I gave it 4 stars though because I've been waking up with headaches during this last week. I attribute to the st johns since I take it right before bed. I've never been one to get headaches. I decided to discontinue it temporarily. I might do a routine where I take it for a few weeks; Then stop for a few weeks. I'm willing to try that because I don't have a serious problem with depression, but more of a situational depression.
Anyway, yes, as far as at least short term use without side effects, St John's Wort is terrific!~
Gwyneth Knolls commented on 06-Aug-2009 07:27 AM5 out of 5 stars
I'd love to take St. John's Wort instead of the tricylic antidepressant I take now, but I don't know how much to take. Where can I find this information?
Anonymous commented on 06-Aug-2009 10:50 AM5 out of 5 stars
Is there any research done on when St John's Wort is combined with antidepressants?? I know of a suicide three days after St John's Wort was taken in conjunction with Prozac.
Anonymous commented on 06-Aug-2009 09:43 PM4 out of 5 stars
I've taken both St John's Wort and SSRI antidepressants. St John's Wort is a great natural supplement during tough times however don't underestimate diet and exercise as equally important treatments of depression.
Lisa commented on 07-Aug-2009 07:30 AM5 out of 5 stars
My boyfriend takes this and I told him in order for his body not to build up a tolerance to it he may want to discontinue it for the summer months....but when he did his depression came back...I'm just afraid that if he takes it continuously for years and years that it will not work for him...help!
Pramod Chauhan commented on 10-Aug-2009 12:11 AM5 out of 5 stars
I advise to a lot of patients as a pharmacist, this just solidify my belief in it, where can I get hold of the this research paper.
Chelle commented on 20-Sep-2009 02:21 PM5 out of 5 stars
I took st john's wort before totally fantastic. I took it after my gran died and believe me at that time i was in a right depressive state. It actually lifted me up from my depression and made me much more happy.
ciprofloxacin commented on 11-Mar-2010 10:24 PM5 out of 5 stars
Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.
enjoy commented on 11-Mar-2010 10:25 PM5 out of 5 stars
To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best day and night to make you like everybody else means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight and never stop fighting.
zestril commented on 12-Mar-2010 01:48 AM5 out of 5 stars
How we treasure (and admire) the people who acknowledge us!
toprol xl commented on 12-Mar-2010 05:34 AM5 out of 5 stars
The toughest thing about success is that you've got to keep on being a success. Talent is only a starting point in this business. You've got to keep on working that talent. Someday I'll reach for it and it won't be there.
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Therefore search and see if there is not some place where you may invest your humanity.
Anonymous commented on 16-May-2010 07:15 AM5 out of 5 stars
I actually tried 5 H T P for depression, it was excellent but left me with headaches and no sex drive! I later read it has long term side affects to your heart. I think i will try St Johns Wart again!
Anonymous commented on 25-Oct-2010 10:10 PM5 out of 5 stars
Have there been any studies on the use of St John's Wort with anxiety? Usually SSRIs are prescribed in higher doses for anxiety than depression so I'm wondering if St John's Wort is effective for anxiety also??
Anonymous commented on 26-Oct-2010 12:20 AM1 out of 5 stars
If I take it I get horrible hot flashes, and this was even when I was 20 and I tried it for the first time. Now I have it in a herbal sleep formula which cost a lot so I have to use it up, and I wake up soaking wet.
Anonymous commented on 26-Oct-2010 12:25 AM1 out of 5 stars
I found it out it is contraindicated with nasal decongestant sprays because the combination will spike your blood pressure, which is very dangerous.
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