Depression and the Use of St. John's Wort
- Dr. P. Caleshia Herring
- May 11, 2019
- 2 min read
Updated: Dec 1, 2020
So am I depressed? The secret mental illness no one talks about; until its too late.
According to one of the most recent National Institutes of Mental Health studies, there is estimated to be 17.3 million U.S. adults that have experienced a major depressive episode during their lifetime.
There has also been a significant increase in young adults with depression between the ages of 18 to 25, spiking in recent years. Major impairments were reported in 63.8% of adult cases, which usually require medical intervention with antidepressants, antipsychotics, or other mood altering chemicals. In most cases, especially younger adults who are not on harsh heart or blood pressure medications, St. John's Wort could be an alternative herbal short term option for managing symptoms.
For older patients who take more than three medications, it would not be recommended due to the possibility of drug interactions due to the herbs ability to blocks the absorption of other chemicals. St. John's Wort should never be combined with other psychoactive drugs due to its serotonin inhibiting action, similar to common pharmaceutical products such as Prozac, Paxil, and Celexa.
The most common preparation of this herb is in capsule or tablet form, but it is also available as dried leaves for teas, liquid, and topical application at most local health food stores. It is important to talk to your doctor or pharmacist prior to starting a regimen using St. John's Wort due to the unpredictability in dosing of herbal products, and the possibility of side effects and/or drug interactions. Although only recommending for mild to moderate depression, studies have shown that St. John's Wort has comparable results to other antidepressant drugs on the market.
Less widely known, this amazing herb has also been used for menopausal symptoms and premenstrual syndrome (PMS) when taken orally as a tea along with black cohosh. Additional uses include anxiety, irritability, agitation, insomnia, low blood sugar and stomach discomfort.
St. John's Wort is not recommended for pregnant or nursing mothers. Seek the help of a qualified medical professional if you or a family member are having thoughts of suicide or depression. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached at 1-800-273-8255, but in case of emergency call 911 or go to a healthcare facility for help. Nothing is more important than retaining the counseling and support needed to heal.
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