Hypericum St. Johns Wort and Depression

Because suicide is one of the leading causes of death in elderly people and in other populations, rapid and effective treatment of depression is warranted. Current therapies include the use of electroconvulsive (shock) therapy, psychiatric intervention, and antidepressant drugs such as tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), and serotonin-selective reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Recently, in the U.S., the use of St. John s wort (Hypericum perforatum) has become more prevalent, especially in the treatment of depression. 

Hypericum perforatum is a herbaceous perennial plant widely distributed throughout Europe, Asia, North Africa, and Canada, notably in British Columbia. In the U.S., it grows wild in northern California and southern Oregon. 

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