Articles Information Warning Signs of Depression 9 Types of Depressive Disorder Is Someone You Love Depressed? The feel-good neurotransmitters, their primary functions and how to naturally enhance them Studies Suggest the Mind Makes, Breaks its Misery Hope for the chronically depressed The 23 best things to say to someone who Is Depressed The 99 worst things to say to someone who is depressed Scientists Have a Good Feeling About Exercise Physical Activity and Depression St. John's Wort and the treatment of Alcoholism Semen acts as an Anti-depressant? Tracing the Source of a Sense of Humor Brain part that appears to accentuate Negativity DNA Research links Depression to Family Ties Study Shows Genetic Link in Stress and Depression Active Mind's Linked to Brain Growth Depression raises heart attack risk   Personality Quizzes And Other Miscellaneous Info Classifications of Pharmaceutical Antidepressant Drugs Non-research-grade SJW After treatment for depression, defensive lineman Dan Cody finds happiness in new position with Oklahoma What Is Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)? Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) -A Self Quiz New JAMA study finds Lithium is best for preventing suicides New 20,638 person study links lithium to fewer suicides Out Of Darkness: Beach Boy Brian Wilson transcends decades of depression with release of album aptly titled 'Smile' Frequently Asked Questions About St. John's Wort How should I take St John's wort? Is it prudent to take St. John's Wort with antidepressants? Will St. John's Wort Help Menopausal Mood Swings? Can St. John's Wort Replace Prozac? Are There Withdrawal Symptoms For St. John's Wort? Are There Side Effects To Taking St. John's Wort? St. John's Wort Study Creates Consternation. Are There Interactions Between St. John's Wort And Tamoxifen?     Children's Corner An open-label pilot study of St. John's wort in juvenile depression. Antidepressant use by preschoolers rises dramatically Rates doubled in girls 5 and younger and rose 64% for boys in the same age group. Paxil Not For Kids, FDA Warns of Increased Suicide Risk N.Y. Charges Maker Hiding Paxil's Risks to Teenagers Anger and Children's Young Hearts Severely ill kids aren't more prone to depression in adulthood Emergent Suicidality in a Clinical Psychotherapy Trial for Adolescent Depression  Antidepressant Use for Kids Doubled Before FDA Warnings  Parental Control Affects Teen's Depression Childhood Conduct Problems May Predict Depression Among Young Adults

Other Nonpharmacologic 
Approaches to Depression

• From Reuters - First published in the February 2005 issue of Archives of General Psychiatry
  February 15, 2005
  DHEA eases midlife depression
• SAMe was shown to mitigate depressive symptoms in as little as 7 days
• New Clue to Bipolar Disorder
• Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Bipolar Disorder
• Fish Oils Ease Aggression/Depression
• HGH Improves Mood and Sleep Patterns
• New Study Indicates B-12 Levels Positively Affect Depression Treatments
•   Electroconvulsive ("Shock") therapy, depression, and the brain      New studies on ECT treatment for depression and its effects.
• Bursts of magnetic energy may ease severe depression and improve mood without inducing memory loss.
• Wondering if it's ok to take ST. John's Wort and 5-HTP?

 

NIH & FDA Warnings and Updates

• Brain circuit is linked to depression
• FDA Calls for Warnings on 10 Antidepressant Drugs:
  Celexa, Effexor, Lexapro, Luvox, Paxil, Prozac, Remeron, Serzone, Wellbutrin, Zoloft
• Bristol-Meyers Squibb to Halt Sales of Serzone in U.S.
• NIH Staff Must Report Payments
• Does SJW Have Side Effects?

 

Clinical Research Studies

• Mechanism of action of St John's wort in depression

• Taking the edge off: Why patients choose St. John's Wort

• Efficacy of St. John's Wort in major depression

• Summary of studies on Hypericum Vs Placebo

• Summary of 25 randomized clinical studies of Hypericum

• Studies comparing Hypericum Perforatum to synthetic anti depressants (St. John's Wort)

• What is the Hyperforin component of St. John's Wort?

• Efficiency and Safety of Hypericum in treatment of depression

• Pharmaceutical quality of hypericum extracts

• Clinical Criteria for review of St. John's Wort as antidepressive therapy

• St John's Wort for depression: a systematic review

• A Model for Examining Cost Savings Derived From Substituting St. John's Wort for Zoloft and Prozac

• Hypericum for depression. An update of the clinical evidence.

• The Influence of St. John's Wort on the Pharmacokinetics and Protein Binding of Imatinib Mesylate

• Additional Clinical Studies

Historical St. John's Wort Applications

The historical use of medical St. John's wort is well documented. Commencing 2400 years ago St. John's wort was used as a nerve tonic, a painkiller for arthritis, menstrual cramping, gastrointestinal problems (such as diarrhea, nausea . . . ) as well as ulcers.

The ancient Greeks and Romans used to treat many ailments, including sciatica and poisonous reptile bites as well as to ward against evil spirits, placing sprigs of the plant on statues of their Gods. In fact, the genus name Hypericum is from Greek and means "over an apparition" as the herb was once considered odiferous enough to cause evil spirits to depart.

In the first century St. John’s wort was referred to in Pliny the Elders famous book on natural history for its bracing quality in treating diarrhea and promoting urine flow and bladder troubles.

Dioscorides, a Roman army surgeon, recommended drinking St Johns wort in his medical text, “For it expels choleric excrements…” He also recommended rubbing it on burns. Paracelsus, a medical authority of the Renaissance also wrote of using St. John’s wort to treat wounds. He was also the first to mention using it for psychotic symptoms which he called “phatasmata”.

During medieval times, the Europeans used the plant to treat all forms of madness (They thought St. Johns wort had magical properties) as it blooms near the Summer Solstice. The Saltenitan drug list of the thirteenth century also referred to St. John’s wort as herba demonis fuga--an herb to chase away the devil.

Sixteenth century medical books refers to the plant as Fuga demonum, or devil’s scourge, a term that was repeated frequently in the literature of the next several hundred years.

The oil made from the flowers was listed in the first Pharmacopoeia Londinensis (1618). 1630 Angelo Sala stated that St. John’s wort treated illnesses of the imagination, melancholia, anxiety and disturbances of understanding. He wrote, “St. John’s wort cures these disorders as quick as lightening.” Gerard wrote that its use as a balm for wounds, burns, ulcers and bites was without equal (Gerard 1633).

There is even evidence that the American Indians used St. John's wort used it in the treatment of Tuberculosis and other breathing ailments.

Civil War soldiers collected St. John's wort to use on battle wounds. A prolific and hardy plant that threatened grazing land, a beetle was introduced into the Pacific Northwest in the early 1900's to keep St. John's wort under control.

19th century literature incorporated the use of hypericum to treat melancholia. 19th century British and American literature stressed the superficial use of the herb for the treatment of burns and wounds. A powerful antibacterial, St. John’s wort has been used through the centuries as an analgesic (pain reliever) to treat saddle sores and in poultices for certain lameness's in horses.