Many people who suffer from anxiety and depression do not like taking prescription antidepressants due to side effects. Some people choose to forgo medication or look into alternative therapies. St. John's wort has been extensively studied in Europe and North America in its role as a treatment for mild-to-moderate depression and anxiety. St. John's wort can be found in many health food stores and pharmacies.
Significance
According to "The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook," St. John's wort was recommended by Hippocrates for anxiety over 2,000 years ago. St. John's wort is now commonly used as a herbal medication in Europe and North America for the treatment of depression. In fact, St. John's wort "has outstripped even Prozac and accounts for over 50 percent of the antidepressant market in Germany," according to Edmund J. Bourne, PhD.
Functions
St. John's wort (plant species Hypericum perforatum) affects mild-to-moderate depression, with a secondary effect on anxiety. The U.S. National Library of Medicine indicates that St. John's wort may also affect somatoform disorder, nerve pain, obsessive compulsive disorder, social phobias, PMS, seasonal affective disorder and burning mouth syndrome. There is no clear evidence or studies to prove these possibilities, however.
Low Risk
The benefits of using St. John's wort include a good safety record during its hundreds of years of use, according to "The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook." There are risks with almost any medication--herbal or not--but there has not been a large risk or reported incidence of adverse effects associated with St. John's wort. Some people prefer to take herbal medications over prescriptions, due to their being natural or having less risk than some of their prescription--or even over-the-counter--alternatives.
Considerations
St. John's wort needs four to six weeks to reach its full potential of effectiveness, just as with prescription antidepressants. Herbal medications are not FDA tested or approved. St. John's wort's side effects include dizziness, stomach upset, skin reactions and photosensitivity, dry mouth and sedation. St. John's wort may not treat a severe case of anxiety or depression.
Expert Insight
According to the National Library of Medicine, short-term studies (1 to 3 months) suggest that St. John's wort is more effective than a placebo (sugar pill), and equally as effective as tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) in the treatment of mild-to-moderate major depression.
References
- "The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook"; Edmund J. Bourne, PhD; 2005
- "The Duke Encycolopedia of New Medicine"; The Center for Integrative Medicine at Duke University; 2006
- U.S. National Library of Medicine: St. John's Wort
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