How To Overcome Depression: How Do Enzymes Work?

To answer the question how do enzymes work to overcome depression we need to remember, as I wrote in a previous article, that enzymes are essential to almost every biochemical process in our body. Biochemists, in experimenting with how to overcome depression, have developed numerous antidepressants.

Many of the antidepressant drugs that have been marketed are an attempt to replicate what normally is done by enzymes occurring naturally in our bodies. The most popular and successful family of antidepressants are known as selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRI's).

These drugs are designed along the line of enzyme inhibitors to successfully compete with the natural enzymes to keep them from removing the "feel good" hormone serotonin from our system by re-absorption (re-uptake). Hence, by artificially maintaining serotonin levels in our brains they make us feel better.

Some commercial examples of SSRI's are Prozac, Celexa, Lexapro, Paxil and Zoloft. The problem is many of these drugs may have horrendous adverse side effects and are quite expensive due to the patents.

It would be much better, in my estimation, to accomplish the same end with a naturally occurring substance without so many potential adverse side effects and expense. People have, in fact, being doing this for centuries!

St. John's Wort, Hypericum perforatum, is an ancient herb that comes from sunny yellow flowers that appear to bleed when bruised. Because of this phenomena, during the rise of Christianity it got dubbed with the name John The Baptist's plant (The Old English word for plant is wort).

It has been demonstrated to be an effective remedy for mild to moderate depression in history as well as laboratory controlled experimentation. Due to the apparent benefits without some of the adverse side effects the herb has undergone a remarkable revival in the last few decades.

For similar reasons it has become the object of a considerable amount of research. It was traditionally believed that Hypericin was the active agent in the herb's ability to overcome depression, but recent research has led biochemists to believe that Hyperforin is the principal antidepressant agent.

This early misunderstanding, unfortunately, obfuscates much of the earlier research into the herb's effectiveness in overcoming depression. St. John's Wort has been standardized based on the Hypericin content. The amount of Hyperforin in the herb can vary dramatically.

Because of this there have been research results that seem inconclusive or even contradictory. Germans even came under suspicion because they had consistently more positive experimental results than Americans.

Some even went so far as to suspect them of rigging their results because of the traditional popularity of the herb in their nation. I submit that a more likely cause is they had a source of St. John's Wort that was richer in Hyperforin. Probably closer to the 3% clinically proven potency.

It has been shown in a number of in vivo, in vitro and clinical studies that Hyperforin inhibits the re-uptake of serotonin as well as several other hormones important in fighting depression. These include norepinephrine, dopamine, gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) and L-glutamate. Hence, it can be considered a naturally occurring enzyme inhibitor that helps to overcome depression.

It has been demonstrated to be just as effective as many of the popular commercial anti-depressants. The same studies, including more than 5,000 patients, produced much less side-effects than SSRI's. As a matter of fact, the side effects reported were similar to those claimed by control groups taking placebos. A cautionary note is that it is known to reduce the effectiveness of prescription drugs.

Hence, anyone that is on prescription drugs considering taking St. John's Wort to overcome depression needs to get medical advice. It is not a good idea for women taking contraceptives as it can interfere with them also.

Before you consider adding the herb to your arsenal in fighting depression you should make sure of a reliable source. The content of Hyperforin the active agent can vary dramatically and should be a minimum of 3%.