Hypericum (St. Johns Wort) a herbal remedy is extremely popular in Germany for Seasonal Affective Disorder, some research has shown it to be as effective as Prozac. However Prozac doesn't always work with everyone so Hypericum won't always be effective for some. However before you head off to acquire some and self medicate Hypericum does interact with other medications and can have some side effects. It should not be taken with prescribed antidepressants, just because it is a natural herbal remedy does not make it safe and it is prudent to get some professional advice even though it is freely available over the counter. In certain conditions such as Bi polar disorder it's advisable you do not take Hypericum and certainly you should not take it if you are pregnant and breastfeeding. It can also reduce the effectiveness of oral contraceptives and it reacts with a number of over the counter medicines and prescribed medicines, it can also have an effect on blood clotting. Like other antidepressants, it can cause tiredness, dizziness and confusion, headache and a dry mouth and allergic reactions, the major one being a sensitivity to sunlight. Used with care it is a valuable remedy however do please see a medical herbalist, pharmacist or your doctor before taking this remedy.

Research has shown that St. John’s wort interacts with many medications in ways that can interfere with their intended effects. Examples of medications that can be affected include:

Antidepressants
Birth control pills
Cyclosporine, which prevents the body from rejecting transplanted organs
Digoxin, a heart medication
Indinavir and possibly other drugs used to control HIV infection
Irinotecan and possibly other drugs used to treat cancer
Seizure-control drugs, such as phenytoin and phenobarbital
Warfarin and related anticoagulants.
Taking St. John’s wort with certain antidepressants may lead to increased serotonin-related side effects, which may be potentially serious.

USEFUL CONTACTS

British Herbal Medicine Association
 tel: 0845 680 1134
 web: www.bhma.info 
Offers publications about herbal medicines

Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) 
web: www.mhra.gov.uk 
For more information about herbal medicines registration, and registered products.

National Institute of Medical Herbalists
 tel: 01392 426022 
web: www.nimh.org.uk  
A list of NIMH members is available on this site.

The article below is from the Daily Mail.

Wet British weather triggers spike in sales of 'mood-boosting' supplements

Sales of a 'mood boosting' supplement have increased drastically because of the terrible British weather, figures suggest.

Torrential downpours in recent weeks have left communities from Devon to Northumberland struggling to cope with flooded homes and businesses.

Now new figures have revealed that sales of a popular herbal remedy for mild depression have soared as a result.

St John's Wort

Sales of St John's Wort increased by 115 per cent in June this year - the wettest June on record - compared to June 2011.

Schwabe Pharma UK, manufacturer of St John's Wort supplement KarmaMood, said the unseasonabe weather may have led to an increase in the number of cases of seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

SAD is thought to be linked to reduced exposure to sunlight and usually affects sufferers during the short days in winter. Those affected experience a low mood and often sleep and eat more.

Oxfordshire GP Dr David Edwards said: 'After an initial burst of sunshine in March people were lulled into a false sense of security that summer was just around the corner.

'However, due to the unseasonably poor weather in May and June people who already have a major problem with depression have been having relapses, and patients at the other end of the spectrum have been attending GP surgeries reporting that they are 'tired all the time'.'

Flooded roads in the York area following torrential downpours on Friday. Wet weather has caused a spike in supplement sales

Unfortunately it looks like the bad weather is set to continue as the senior forecaster with MeteoGroup said England and Wales were unlikely to see any sunny weather during the next 10 days.

'There will be heavy downpours tomorrow and Thursday, particularly across England and Wales,' he said.

Should it rain this Sunday, which is St Swithin's Day, legend has it that it will rain for a further forty days and forty nights.

But there is one piece of good news - the incessant rain has finally spelled the end of the hosepipe ban.