Cure Your Blues with St. John's Wort

For many people suffering from some form of depression the herbal remedy St. John's Wort can be effective in treating the depression. St. John's Wort is a form of alternative medicine. If you go to your local Wal-Mart or a drugstore you will see rows and rows of alternative medications.

St. John's Wort is a long-living plant with yellow flowers. It contains many chemical compounds. Some are believed to be the active ingredients that produce the herb's effects, including the compounds hypericin and hyperforin. It is not clear yet on how these ingredients actually work in the body. Early studies have shown that they may prevent nerve cells in the brain from reabsorbing the chemical serotonin. St. John's Wort has been used for years as an effective treatment against mental disorders and nerve pain. Today it is also used as a sleeping aid and as a means to treat anxiety.

Some patients with a mood disorder will not experience relief when taking prescription medications. And there are others that just experience bad side effects from taking the prescription drugs. People turn to herbal remedies because they believe that natural products are better for them and are safe. Neither of these statements is true. People also use herbal remedies because they cost less than the prescription drugs.

In Europe, St. John's Wort is widely prescribed for depression. However, in the United States, St. John's Wort is not a prescription drug. There has, however, been considerable interest in the herb.

There are risks to taking St. John's Wort as there are risks to taking prescription drugs. If taken in large quantities the chemicals in St. John's Wort can have harmful effects. Don't mix prescription drugs with herbal medications. The combination of both prescription drugs and herbal medications can cause the buildup of the brain chemical serotonin. This can cause symptoms of nausea, anxiety, agitation, confusion, dizziness and uncontrollable muscle twitching.

If you have tried the traditional prescription medications and they don't seem to be helping, only then should you try herbal medications. You should consult your physician at all times when changing your medications or adding herbal medications to your daily regimen

Since I am diagnosed with depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder, I tried St. John's Wort and it didn't do anything for me. It could have been that I didn't give it enough time for me to see any results or it just plain didn't work. I don't believe that St. John's Wort would have worked for me due to the severity of my depression.

St. John's Wort is not proven to help with the depression. If the depression is not treated properly, it can become severe and life threatening. The best course of treatment is to consult with your physician.