St John's wort is a herbal antidepressant that you can buy from pharmacies without a prescription. However, many doctors do not advise that you take this as it can cause serious side-effects in some people, and should not be used in certain situations (detailed below).

What is St John's wort?

St John's wort (hypericum) is a short, yellow-flowering, wild-growing plant. It has been used for centuries as a medicinal herb.
Extracts of St John's wort are made into capsules and other types of preparations which are used to treat depression. It recently became a popular treatment for depression.

How does St John's wort work?
St John's wort contains many different chemicals. Some are thought to be the active ingredients. How these chemicals actually work in the body is not clear. It is thought that they may alter the balance of some of the chemicals in the brain (neurotransmitters) such as serotonin, dopamine, gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA), and noradrenaline. Alterations in the balance of these neurotransmitters are thought to play some part in causing depression.

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