Many depression aids can be found in the garden. St. John’s wort’s (Hypericum perforatum) medicinal uses were first recorded in ancient Greece. Traditionally, it has been used to treat mental disorders and nerve pain. It has also been used as a sedative and a treatment for malaria, as well as a balm for wounds, burns and insect bites, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM).
Today, St. John's wort is used by some for depression, anxiety and/or sleep disorders. In one unpublished study by Bioforce USA (Ghent, NY), six weeks of three times daily consumption of one tablet of St. John’s wort (as A. Vogel Hyeriforce) reduced the severity of depression by 54 percent, anxiety by 49 percent, nervousness by 50 percent, gastrointestinal symptoms by 54 percent, cardiovascular symptoms (e.g., palpitations) by 58 percent, sleep disorders by 51 percent, day fatigue by 57 percent and headaches by 65 percent. The study included 200 patients suffering from mild to moderate depression in Switzerland.
A review of 23 randomized trials, including 1,757 outpatients with mild or moderately severe depressive disorders, compared St. John’s wort with another drug treatment.1 It found the hypericum extracts to be significantly superior to placebo and similarly effective as standard antidepressants. Side effects occurred in 50 (19.8 percent) patients on hypericum and 84 (52.8 percent) patients on standard antidepressants. Other studies have found St. John’s wort to be 1.5 times more likely to result in an antidepressant response than placebo,2 and is better tolerated than common antidepressant drugs.3,4
However, not all studies show St. John’s wort to be effective against depressive symptoms. One double blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial conducted in 12 academic and community psychiatric research clinics in the United States involved 340 adult outpatients with major depression who received H. perforatum, placebo or sertraline (as an active comparator) for eight weeks; The results failed to support the efficacy of H perforatum in moderately severe and major depression.5
Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) is another flowering plant that can offer relief from depression symptoms. Even its name refers to mood support. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, valerian is derived from the Latin verb valere meaning "being well," "feeling good" and "having a good morale.” Valerian has traditionally been used to aid insomnia in those who cannot sleep because of stress and anxiety. Better sleep can lead to less stress and anxiety, and promote general well-being.
A placebo-controlled, randomized, double blind clinical trial published in the European Journal of Medical Research (2008; 13:1-5) sought to determine if one daily dose of valerian (as Valerian Complex, from Bioforce USA) influenced sleep. The study of 44 patients with a history of poor sleep recorded sleep patterns during two consecutive nights; the first one as a reference and the second one under drug condition with either placebo or a 2 ml. dose of valerian. The results showed those who took valerian experienced more time in deeper sleep than with placebo, and minutes spent in deep-sleep phases with the supplement significantly improved (303 minutes compared to 265 minutes for placebo).
Along with sleep, valerian also affects depression symptoms and anxiety. One study found it not only significantly (P<0.001) attenuated stress and anxiety, but also significantly (P<0.001) improved depression.6 It has also been shown to enhance the effects of St. John’s wort when used in combination.7