St. John's Wort is an alternative treatment for depression. Read all about St. John's Wort and the treatment of depression.

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) has developed this fact sheet on the use of St. John's wort for depression. It is one of a series of fact sheets intended to help consumers make informed decisions about whether to use complementary and alternative medical (CAM) therapies for a disease or medical condition. NCCAM defines CAM practices as those health care and medical practices that are not currently part of conventional medicine. There are many CAM practices. A few examples include traditional Chinese medicine, meditation, chiropractic, therapeutic touch, and herbs.

Key Facts About St. John's Wort

St. John's wort is an herb that has been used for centuries for medicinal purposes, including to treat depression. The composition of St. John's wort and how it might work are not well understood. There is some scientific evidence that St. John's wort is useful for treating mild to moderate depression. However, recent studies suggest that St. John's wort is of no benefit in treating major depression of moderate severity. More research is required to help us know whether St. John's wort has value in treating other forms of depression. St. John's wort interacts with certain drugs, and these interactions can be dangerous. Herbal products vary greatly as to their chemical composition and quality.

For Your Safety

The information in this fact sheet is not a substitute for professional medical advice. It is important that you seek the advice of a health care practitioner about any medical condition or symptom you are having, or if you are considering taking any herbal preparation. St. John's wort can interact with prescribed drugs and affect how well they work.

Frequently Asked Questions About St. John's Wort

What is St. John's Wort?

St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum in Latin) 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.

How these compounds actually work in the body is not yet known, but several theories have been suggested. Preliminary studies suggest that St. John's wort might work by preventing nerve cells in the brain from reabsorbing the chemical messenger serotonin, or by reducing levels of a protein involved in the body's immune system functioning.

For what medicinal purposes has St. John's wort been used?

St. John's wort has been used for centuries to treat mental disorders as well as nerve pain. In ancient times, doctors and herbalists (specialists in herbs) wrote about its use as a sedative and treatment for malaria as well as a balm for wounds, burns, and insect bites. Today, St. John's wort is used by some people to treat mild to moderate depression, anxiety, or sleep disorders.

What is depression?

Click here for comprehensive information on depression. Here is a brief overview.

Depression is a medical condition that affects nearly 19 million Americans each year. A person's mood, thoughts, physical health, and behavior all may be affected. Symptoms commonly include:

• Ongoing sad mood
• Loss of interest or pleasure in activities that the person once enjoyed
• Significant change in appetite or weight
• Oversleeping or difficulty sleeping
• Agitation or unusual slowness
• Loss of energy
• Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
• Difficulty "thinking," such as concentrating or making decisions
• Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide.

Depressive illness comes in different forms. The three major forms are described below. Each can vary from person to person in terms of symptoms experienced and the severity of depression.

• In major depression, people experience a sad mood or loss of interest or pleasure in activities for at least 2 weeks. In addition, they have at least four other symptoms of depression. Major depression can be mild, moderate, or severe. If it is not treated, it can last for 6 months or more.

• In dysthymia, a milder, but more chronic form of depression, people experience a depressed mood for at least 2 years (1 year for children) accompanied by at least two other symptoms of depression.

• In bipolar disorder, also called manic depression, a person has periods of depressive symptoms that alternate with periods of mania. Symptoms of mania include an abnormally high level of excitement and energy, racing thoughts, and behavior that is impulsive and inappropriate.

Some people still hold outdated beliefs about depression--for example, that the emotional symptoms caused by depression are "not real." However, depression is a real medical condition. It can be treated effectively with conventional medicine, including by antidepressant drugs and certain types of psychotherapy (talk therapy).