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St. John's wort: use as an antidepressant
Article By:
Cott, Jerry M. Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Silver Spring, Maryland.
Last reviewed:2015
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.YB150972
St. John's wort [Hypericum perforatum L. (Hypericaceae)] is a perennial plant (see illustration) and one of the best-known and best-researched Western medicinal plants. It has been used for millennia as a result of its many medicinal properties; for example, St. John's wort has been used to aid wound healing and to treat kidney and lung ailments, insomnia, and depression. Although St. John's wort was at one time the most popular antidepressant in the German marketplace, concerns have arisen mainly because of reports of potential interactions with other drugs. It should also be noted that St. John's wort has not received any approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a treatment for depression.
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