Worry wort
Question
Is St John's Wort safe to take?
Answer
There has been some research into the effects of herbal remedies with some positive results. St John's Wort has been proven to have an antidepressant effect and it is commonly used to treat mild to moderate depression.
Although there have been no reports of St John's Wort being unsafe it is something that you should consider asking your local doctor (GP) (or a qualified practitioner) about it if you're thinking about taking it. Individuals can react to different remedies in different ways and it's not advisable to start taking it without professional advice if you're already on medication. St John's Wort could also reduce the overall effectiveness of certain treatments.
Herbal medicines can be very powerful and should not be used without advice from a trained herbalist. You can find lists of registered practitioners from The Institute of Complementary Medicine (ICM) and The National Institute of Medical Herbalists (NIMH).
Alternatively if you, or someone you know, has been feeling depressed it might be worth considering contacting SANELINE on 0845 767 8000, they can offer free, confidential support and information to anyone experiencing mental health problems.
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