Last year, several smaller studies of the herb and depression were combined and reanalyzed. This gave greater strength to the evidence for the effectiveness of the plant in treating mild depression and the information made it into the public awareness. While this is a great advantage to have a safe, effective, accessible, and inexpensive substance to aid in the treatment of depression, there are some precautions to consider. St. John's Wort is not a magic cure. The studies show effectiveness only in mild depression and it cannot be assumed to work in more serious cases.
Depression is a multifaceted problem.
Anyone experiencing depression should consider all aspects of their lifestyle and determine if they are nourishing themselves physically, emotionally, and spiritually. A healthy care practitioner should be consulted before stopping current antidepressants or using St. John's Wort at the same time as prescription antidepressants. There can be some adverse interactions or worsening of the depression. Another factor to consider in the decision to utilize St. John's Wort is the product itself. A great variety of brands, dosages and strengths are available.