The well-known herb, St John's Wort, has been licensed for use as a prescription medicine in Ireland for the first time.

Used for the short-term treatment of mild depression, the herb was widely available in pharmacies and health food shops here until 2000, when it was banned from being sold over the counter by the then-Minister for Health, Brian Cowen.

An estimated 75,000 people were using the herb in the year prior to this ban.

The herb was classified as a prescription-only medicine in 2000 by the Irish Medicines Board, which is now known as the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA). This was due to concerns over the quality of products available.

There were also concerns about the herb's interaction with other commonly-used drugs, such as anti-depressants, the oral contraceptive pill and warfarin.

It was also felt that depression should not be self-medicated.

Now, 15 years after the ban, St John's Wort has been licenced for use as a prescription medicine in Ireland for the first time, under the brand name PACIFA.

Commenting on the news, consultant psychiatrist at the Mater Hospital in Dublin, Prof Patricia Casey, noted that a person with mild depression may not necessarily feel depressed, but may typically experience a loss of interest or pleasure in most activities, fatigue, sleep disturbance, loss of appetite, loss of confidence and poor concentration.

"Depression is a common but serious medical illness. Many people with a depressive illness never seek treatment but the majority can get better with appropriate treatment, including psychotherapies and/or medication.

"Many patients are reluctant to take antidepressants, wanting to deal with their depression in a 'natural' way. Prescription St John's Wort may help some overcome the barrier to taking medication that often leads to prolonged episodes of this debilitating condition,' she said.

She added that she welcomed the availability of the herb as a potential treatment for mild depression ‘when other non-pharmacological (drug) approaches have been unsuccessful'.

Pacifa is available in tablet form.

For more information on depression, click here or see our Depression Clinic here