St John's wort effective against depression

In the Middle Ages, St John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) was considered a magical remedy used for emotional and nervous complaints. Current research supports the use of St John's wort for depression, a modern day nervous complaint.

St John's wort has traditionally been used as a herbal tonic for problems such as anxiety, tension and insomnia, as well as depression. A native remedy of Britain and Europe, St John's wort prefers a sunny position and well-drained soil. The flowering tops are the medicinal part used, harvested in midsummer.

In modern times, few people have the opportunity to escape the pressures of long-term stress, which can manifest as anxiety, nervousness, depression, insomnia, palpitations and irritability. Remedies such as St John's wort are said to nourish the nervous system. Increasing feelings of well-being and supporting a gradual return to health.

Modern research confirms the antidepressant effect of the herbal remedy St John's wort, and its usefulness for the treatment of depression, comparable in effectiveness to selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs), the standard orthodox antidepressants.

See the following abstracts of current findings from recent research trials on St John's wort:

Kava and St. John's Wort: current evidence for use in mood and anxiety disorders.

Efficacy and tolerability of Hypericum perforatum in major depressive disorder in comparison with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors: a meta-analysis.

St. John's wort and Kava in treating major depressive disorder with comorbid anxiety: a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled pilot trial.