Q. A friend of mine just tried SAMe for depression and is having a very positive experience with it in a very short time. Can you tell me why in The Triple Whammy Cure you emphasize St. John’s Wort as a natural antidepressant instead?
A. As part of my response to this excellent question, I’m going to devote a future health tip to a more comprehensive review of SAMe, which I do like as a safe and effective antidepressant. In the book I emphasize St. John’s wort for several reasons:
- St. John’s wort has more published clinical studies than SAMe, a relative newcomer on the scene.
- There’s a cost factor. SAMe is simply more expensive than St. John’s wort.
- Finally, dosing is mildly inconvenient with SAMe. You must take it on an empty stomach, either one hour before eating or two hours after. As a major proponent of keeping things simple, I like the easier scheduling with St. John’s wort.
With that said, St. John’s wort doesn’t work for everyone. If you’re among this group and you’re reluctant to move to a prescription antidepressant, or you simply want to try a faster-acting natural antidepressant, SAMe might be just the ticket. Read more about it by clicking here.