Hypericum perforatum, an herb also known as St. John’s Wort, has long been used in treatment of depression. The use of its extracts has been concluded to show efficacious results in over five thousand patients diagnosed with major depression by an up-to-date, systematic review of twenty-nine clinical trials. Today safe, standardized dosages can be purchased over the counter to aid individuals suffering from mild depression.

Historical Uses

The widespread belief in connection with its purported potency against mood disorders can be traced back to more than two thousand years ago when it was already used to fight off melancholia, the old name for depression. Earliest records dating back to Greek antiquity tell us that St. John’s Wort had been the popular choice against illnesses believed to be brought on by maleficent spirits corrupting the human soul.

Its name in the vernacular is proof that it took on spiritual nuances, not only due to common Christian practices but also pagan rituals. Its yellow five-petalled flowers had been utilized to ornament statuettes in honor of the old Greek gods, and were used the same way in Christian worship. It was believed that the best time to pick the plant was on the annual feast celebration of St. John as the summer solstice neared. Before long it was associated with religious rites that were supposed to exorcise demons, the thick red liquid of St. John’s Wort being the blood of Christ.

Major Depressive Disorder

The use of St. John’s Wort against mental disorders was rediscovered to a greater degree in the modern times when in the latter part of the 19th century it was approved for treating patients afflicted with certain psychical disturbances such as anxiety and depression in Germany. The discovery of hypericin and hyperforin in the late 1970’s led to a series of researches and clinical trials that provide substantiation of its age-old claim to cure melancholia.

Both hypericin and hyporfirin are tied to three chemical compounds that are believed to influence depression: (1) MAOA (2) dopamine and (3) serotonin. High-activity variants of an enzyme called MAOA are an indicator of major depressive disorders in both males and females, and hypericin inhibits this enzyme. The reuptake of monoamines has been tied to the neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine, noted as a widely accepted risk factor for depression. Hyporfirin’s interference with this process leads to increased levels of serotonin and dopamine at the cellular level, resulting in the touted benefits of St. John’s wort against depression.

Recent Popularity

It is of special note that St. John’s Wort is among the most popular antidepressants available today with worldwide annual sales of up to $550 million dollars. According to studies underway the use of St. John’s Wort is as effective as standard antidepressants. Also, randomized clinical trials always point to efficacy far more superior to placebo. These reasons coupled with the fact that there is an apparent absence of side effects even in extended periods of time explain the popularity of St. John’s Wort.

If you suffer from mild depression, what is stopping you from giving st. john’s wort a try today?

Author Bio: Try St. John’s Wort Extract a try risk free at VitaNet®, LLC Vitamin Store. http://vitanetonline.com/

Category: Medicines and Remedies
Keywords: st. john’s wort, natural antidepressant, herbal antidepressant, fight depression naturally