Posted by Bill L on April 11, 2002, at 7:56:43
A few days ago, there was another press release that tested Saint John's Wort and Zoloft and another AD. I forgot what the other AD was. The SJW (and also Zoloft) did no better than placebo. The investigater said that the dose of Zoloft was too small.
There was another "major study" done over a year ago that showed no benefits of SJW for depression. But the study only lasted 6 weeks. SJW takes at least that long just to start working. That study was sponsored by one of the drug companies that make AD's.
These are disingenuous attempts by prescription AD companies to discredit SJW. Unfortunately, the docs are not pointing that out. Here is an article from today's Nutrition News Focus:
-------------------
April 11, 2002
NUTRITION NEWS FOCUS
"Nutrition news is important. We help you understand it!"Today's Topic: Score One for St. John's Wort
St. John's wort is the best selling herbal supplement in the U.S.
The design and methods of most previous studies have been criticized
because of numerous flaws. A study in the September 2, 2000 edition
of the British Medical Journal appears well designed and compares the
supplement with a standard anti-depressant.
< http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/abstract/321/7260/536 >About 160 patients were treated with St. John's wort, and an equal
number with the drug imipramine. Both treatments were equally
effective in reducing symptoms of depression, but St. Johns' wort
was better tolerated since it induced fewer side effects over six
weeks.HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Diagnosis and treatment
of depression should not be a home remedy game of roulette. A properly trained doctor should be involved in the diagnosis and treatment plan for depression. In addition, St. John's wort causes
dramatic changes in handling of other medications, so a physician
and/or pharmacist should oversee the use of this.(This story originally appeared in Nutrition News Focus on
October 23, 2000.)
poster:Bill L
thread:102733
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020408/msgs/102733.html