Major Depression and St. John's Wort St. John's Wort has been
used for thousands of years, and is currently one of the top
selling herbs in the United States. More prescriptions are
written for St. John's Wort in Germany than many prescription
drugs (such as Prozac). The herb was once considered magical
because the plant's red sap resembles blood. Legend suggests
that the herb got its name because the plant first "bled" red in
the Middle Ages after St. John the Baptist was beheaded. Also,
the flowers of this plant bloom around late June, coinciding
with the feast of St. John. The term "wort" refers to any plant
used for medicinal purposes. There are many active chemical
constituents in St. John's Wort. These chemicals, called
hypericin, pseudohypericin, and hyperforin, have all been
investigated for their anti-depressant properties. However, the
reason why St. John's Wort successfully treats depression is not
entirely clear. The first studies found that St. John's Wort was
a weak inhibitor of monoamine oxidas