In trying to decide whether and how to use St. John's wort to treat
my depression, I read three books on it and skimmed several others,
and I liked this book the best. I appreciated that, while Dr. Cass
seems to prefer alternative treatments for depression--including
St. John's wort and megadoses of vitamins and minerals--she is
trained in conventional psychiatry and is not ideologically opposed
to prescription antidepressants, which she also uses in her
clinical practice, and so she is able to offer helpful comments on
the relative merits and appropriate roles of St. John's wort and
prescription antidepressants. The book includes chapters on what
depression is, what St. John's wort is, how to use St. John's wort,
the evidence for its effectiveness, prescription antidepressants,
nutrition, and other aspects of a depression-free lifestyle.
(Incidentally, St. John's wort helped me sleep much more soundly,
which was lovely, but I'm not sure it helped my depression
much.)
Other b