A new research review by scientists at the Centre for Complementary Medicine in Munich, Germany, supports the use of St. John’s wort extract in treating major depression. The findings backs up previous research showing the herb is effective in treating mild to moderate depressive disorders.
St. John’s wort was as effective as antidepressants without the side effects.
"Overall, we found that the St. John’s wort extracts tested in the trials were superior to placebos and as effective as standard antidepressants, with fewer side effects," said lead researcher,Klaus Linde.
St John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum)has been used for centuries in folk medicine to treat depression and sleep disorders. While the plant contains a variety of substances that may have anti-depressive properties, the whole extract is considered to be most effective.
The researchers reviewed 29 trials including 5,489 patients with symptoms of major depression. All trials employed a common rating scale to assess the severity of depression. They found that in trials comparing St. John’s wort to other remedies, not only were the plant extracts considered equally effective, but fewer patients dropped out of trials due to adverse effects.
Despite the favourable findings for the herb, the researchers were careful not to make generalizations about its use as an anti-depressant. They recommend consulting a doctor before starting or switching to the herb, especially as the extracts can affect the actions of other drugs.
Source: Reuters, Oct 8, 2008