St. John's Wort

St. John's Wort is a very common plant in North America that blooms around St. John the Baptist's celebrated birthday (June 24th). Extracts from the plant have been used for centuries for a variety of indications including wound healing, infections, and cancer, but its main medicinal use is for the management of mild to moderate depression.

Scientists do not know exactly how St. John's Wort works in the treatment of depression but one of the main ingredients, hypercin, is believed to be responsible for most of its activity. Physicians in Germany prescribe St. John's Wort to a large number of patients with mild to moderate depression. Several studies have been done with St. John's Wort and even though it has not been proven to be as effective as prescription medications, it was shown to be superior to a placebo (sugar pill). An ongoing study is comparing St. Johns Wort to a prescription medication for the treatment of depression and the results should help define its role in therapy.

Some of the side effects associated with St. Johns Wort include emotional vulnerability, fatigue, itchy skin, weight increase, dry mouth, dizziness and gastrointestinal discomfort. Photosensitivity, a phenomenon where the skin becomes more sensitive to the sun, has been reported with St. John's Wort, so it is best to use a sunscreen when spending time outdoors. Pregnant women and individuals already taking a prescribed antidepressant should not take St. John's Wort, as its effect and safety in these situations is not known.

St. John's Wort may contribute to serontonin syndrome, a condition caused by taking two or more drugs that affect