When feelings of sadness and depression take over, there is an alternative solution to common prescriptions. St. John's Wort often is used as an alternative treatment for mild depression. One local doctor offers it to patients as an alternative to Prozac, a depression treatment approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
Depression is real common.
Anti-depressants such as Prozac work by slowing the breakdown of serotonin, which allows the brain to function properly, Mooney said. Symptoms of depression include fatigue, lack of motivation and insomnia, he added. St. John's Wort often is useful in the treatment of these symptoms. I advise that people who maybe don't want to use Prozac or don't have severe depression use it. While St. John's Wort may be effective, it should not be the first treatment choice because it is not clinically proven to be effective, said Edward Rosick, doctor of osteopathy at University Health Services.