Herbal Answers To The Depression Problem

A patient with depression can be difficult to treat successfully. This is because, despite the wide range of antidepressants available, it can be very difficult to find the right medication. There are three major forms of medication used to treat depression, and the average psychiatrist will go from one type to another should the ones he's prescribing fail to show any improvement. In most cases, they combine it with other forms of treatment to help the patient, but more and more people seem to be depending more on the pill to help ease depression. The problem, in either case, emerges when the medication doesn't work and no pharmaceutical alternatives have shown any viability. In such situations, the average patient may decide to turn to herbal remedies.

St. John's Wort is among the most commonly mentioned herbal alternatives to antidepressant medications like Prozac. The wort has long been referred to in folklore as a means of alleviating things like sadness, worry, poor sleep, and nervousness. Clinical trials have found that it works better than placebos, and may actually be an effective treatment for instances of depression that are mild to moderate in severity. As of now, studies have also noted that those who use this herb show less side effects compared to more conventional depression treatments. It is commonly available in health food stores, some drug stores, and has recently emerged online in the form of capsules, liquid extracts, teas, and tablets. Like most conventional medications, it can take up to four to six weeks before any effects emerge.

Safety is a concern when using this drug. While it appears reasonable to believe that it does not cause that much harm when used on its own, However, tests have indicated that using this herb while taking other depression medications can cause a number of side effects to occur. This has also been noticed with regards to drugs for the treatment of HIV, medications that prevent organ rejections from transplants, and a variety of oral contraceptives.