St. John's Wort as good as Prozac

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New trials show that St. John's Wort may be as effective as Prozac in treating depression

Traditional antidepressants work by increasing a chemical in the brain called serotonin, which in turn controls your mood.

It is thought that St John's Wort works in a similar way but the good news is that it doesn't have the side effects that you get from standard treatments.

In fact, recent tests show that the herb was not only a good, alternative remedy, but also fewer people dropped out of the study due to side effects.

Is it safe to take?

It's important to know that St John's Wort can vary in strength and effectiveness, depending on what brand or dosage you take.

Are there side effects?

The herb can also have a negative effect on other medications you might be taking such as the Pill or warfarin (the blood-thinning drug) as it can cause the body to get rid of the drugs too quickly.

In fact medication for asthma, epilepsy, depression, migraines and heart problems may all be affected, so if you're thinking about trying St John's Wort, talk to your doctor before going ahead.

There are also reports of unwanted side effects such as dizziness, tiredness and hair loss.