22 Aug 2013 Blackmores Institute St John's wort extract looks promising in severe major depression 22 Aug 2013 Share Share on LinkedIn Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Google+ Share on Pinterest News A high quality extract from the herb St John’s wort (SJW), has less side-effects and is as effective as antidepressants and more effective than placebo for treatment of moderate to severe major depression, according to a recent review. Multiple studies on Hypericum extracts from SJW show a benefit in mild to moderate depression, but to date evidence is sparse on its use in severe, major depression as well as long-term prophylactic treatment after recovery from an acute episode. × To continue reading this article, please Log In or Sign Up for access.