Herb Is 'Better Than Drugs at Treating Depression'
no, paxil and prozac were put on the earch to heal, not st. john's wart...
it's only problem is it interacts with other pharma drugs...maybe pharma drugs are the problem? oh my god, what a crazy, extreme notion.
http://www.technewsworld.com/story/H...ion-40531.html
HEALTH Herb Is 'Better Than Drugs at Treating Depression'
By Jeremy Laurance
The Independent
02/11/05 8:59 AM PT
In Germany, where St. John's wort is a prescription drug, it outsells Prozac by four to one. One drawback is that St. John's wort interacts with several prescription medicines to reduce their effectiveness. Paxil has been at the center of allegations that it causes agitation at the start of treatment.
A specially prepared extract of the herb St. John's wort is at least as effective in treating depression as the powerful antidepressant drug Paxil and has fewer side-effects, a study has indicated.
St. John's wort has long been known as an effective herbal treatment for mild depression, but the latest study is the first to suggest that it may have equal effectiveness with one of the biggest-selling pharmaceutical treatments for moderate to severe depression.
Better Than Paxil
Researchers who asked 301 people with depression to take part in the trial found that half of those given St. John's wort for six weeks reported an improvement in their symptoms, compared with only one third given Paxil.
Neither group knew which drug they were taking, but those given Paxil also reported more side-effects.
Paxil has been at the center of allegations that in some patients it causes agitation at the start of treatment and withdrawal effects in those trying to come off it.
An investigation by the UK Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Authority concluded last year that it should be avoided in mild depression, because of the side-effects. The authority ordered a ban on its use in patients under 18.
The study is published in the online version of the British Medical Journal. The researchers from Germany say: "Our results support the use of [St. John's wort extract] as an alternative to standard antidepressants in moderate to severe depression, especially as it is well tolerated."
More Study Needed
They add that the drug should be assessed for long-term treatment, because many patients suffer chronic depression and the "favorable ratio between efficacy and tolerability" of St. John's wort makes it an "interesting option" in these patients.
In recommendations issued in December, the UK's National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) said that given the well-known side-effects of such drugs, including anxiety, insomnia, headaches and stomach complaints, alternative treatments should be considered for people with mild depression.
NICE recommended that counseling including cognitive behavioral therapy should be considered. But the Royal College of GPs said the shortage of counselors and psychotherapists meant this was impractical. "GPs often feel they have little choice but to prescribe antidepressants," a spokesman said.
In Germany, where St. John's wort is a prescription drug, it outsells Prozac by four to one.
One drawback is that St. John's wort interacts with several prescription medicines to reduce their effectiveness.
© 2005 The Independent. All rights reserved.
© 2005 ECT News Network. All rights reserved.
Herb Is 'Better Than Drugs at Treating Depression'
