Hypericum and Depression

Hypericum, an herb also known as St. John's Wort, has been receiving a great deal of attention lately as a natural treatment for mild to moderate depression. Extract of the herb is, in fact, the most popular antidepressant on the market in Germany, where doctors prescribe it regularly. In the U.S., the extract is available in health-food stores, but it's difficult to be sure what level of the active ingredient is present in each dose, since there are no guidelines for standardization in place. Research on the herb's effectiveness is not conclusive, but scientists in the U.S. have become intrigued and are starting to devote resources to pursuing the question. Hypericum & Depression examines the available research on the effectiveness of the herb in treating depression, and includes information on how to find research-grade, standardized hypericum.