St. John's Wort

St. John's Wort is the herb with the best evidence of efficacy in mild to moderate depression. This herb has been used for literally thousands of years to treat depression and may be a good starting point for patients looking for more natural medications.

Now that you have learned about St. John's Wort, continue to the next section to learn about SAMe.

St. John's Wort (Hypericum Perforatumis) is an herb found in most areas of the world. The aerial parts of the plant (the parts above ground) are used to likely boost levels of serotonin and possibly norepinephrine in the brain, an action similar to that of synthetic antidepressants. St. John's Wort can be particularly useful for depressed and anxious patients looking for alternative medications to use during stressful times. Patients with other neurological conditions may benefit from more long-term use.

(Frank Mayfield, Hypericum pyramidatum GREAT ST. JOHN'S WORT, flickr. CC: BY-SA 2.0. Obtained on June 21, 2009.)