Using St. John's Wort to treat Depression

Depression comes in many forms and with the overabundance of anti-depression drugs currently available, it is often tricky for doctors to prescribe the right one for their patients.

Some patients suffer from a mild depression, also known as dysthymic depression. This includes symptoms of sadness and a loss of interest in activity. Many times this kind of depression goes unnoticed and untreated, but can last for many years.

Other types of depression include major depression and bipolar depression. There are others as well, and can include disorders relating to pregnancy and traumatic events.

A lot of the medications used to treat depression include complicated chemical balances that need to be adjusted to the particular patient, and can also have multiple physical and emotional side effects. Some patients report feeling worse after having taken traditional medications or they report needing to switch from medicine to medicine as one wears off and becomes less effective.

So what does a person with depression do? What does a person do if they don't have access to a trained psychiatrist that can prescribe them medication?

The newer trend in handling depression begins with a healthier lifestyle. Eating more fruits and vegetables, as well as avoiding sugars and caffeine can create a more wholesome environment in the body and an increased resistance to the everyday stresses of life.

Physical exercise helps to ease mood swings that are caused by depression. It also strengthens the body so that it can deal with stress more effectively.

St John's Wort is a herb that has been used in Europe for centuries to treat depression. It is now popular in the United States.

St. John's Wort works by stabilizing the mood and reducing the amount of swings in the overall demeanor of the patient. And because it's not created with chemicals, it can also have fewer side effects.

It's still in the testing stage, to establish its depression alleviation properties beyond doubt. But you don't need a prescription to get it in the grocery store. So for those who can't make it to the doctor's office, or folks who find the medical fee too high, St John's Wort is easily available and conveniently accessible.

As with any medication, you should consult your doctor before taking St John's Wart to treat depression. Sometimes depression has other underlying physical causes that need to be ruled out before medication is prescribed.