Depression is a common mental disorder characterized by feelings of extreme sadness, loss and hopelessness. Although the exact cause of depression is unclear, people that suffer from this condition often have low levels of the "feel-good" brain chemical, serotonin. Some herbs may also have antidepressant effects and your doctor can recommend certain supplements that will compliment any psychotherapy or anti-depressant drugs.
Example
The herb known as St. John's wort may help to alleviate symptoms of depression, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. St. John's wort has been used as an herbal remedy for a variety of ailments, including nerve pain, sleep disorders and depression, since ancient Greece.
Administration
St. John's wort can be taken as an herbal tinctures or in capsules or tablets. Although the amount of St. John's wort needed to alleviate mild depression may vary among individuals, UMMC suggests taking 300 mg of a standardized extract of this herb two or three times daily. However, this dose and treatment schedule should only be used as a guideline. If you have any doubts about how much you need to take, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice.
Clinical Evidence
According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, there is scientific evidence to suggest that St. John's wort is a useful short-term treatment for mild to moderate depression. The results of the study published in the February 2008 issue of the "European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience," also show that St. John's wort extract is an effective treatment for patients suffering from mild depression and leads to a substantial increase in the probability of remission.
Considerations
Bear in mind that St. John's wort may not be suitable antidepressant for you. For example, it interacts with a large number of other drugs that you may be taking including antidepressants, a heart medicine known as digoxin, anti-seizure drugs and anticoagulants. It is also contraindicated in a number of conditions including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, Alzheimer's disease and attention-deficit disorder. It may cause side effects including dizziness, headache and dry mouth.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Depression
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: St. John's Wort
- European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience;"Efficacy of St. John's Wort Extract WS 5570 in Acute Treatment of Mild Depression: A Reanalysis of Data from Controlled Clinical Trials; S. Kasper et al., February 2008
- MedlinePlus: St John's Wort
