Posted by Elroy on February 16, 2005, at 17:47:26
Couple of articles on recent new study:
http://my.webmd.com/content/article/100/105807
Study Shows Supplement To Be as Effective as Paxil
"New research shows the herbal supplement St. John's Wort to be as effective as one of the most popular prescription antidepressants for treating both moderate and severe depression... Some studies have shown that St. John's Wort might be useful in treating mild to moderate degrees of depression. However, prior studies have not shown it to be useful in the treatment of major depression... The researchers treated 251 patients with major depression with either a standard dose of the St. John's Wort extract (900 milligrams a day) or the antidepressant Paxil (20 milligrams a day)... At the end of six weeks, 71% of the patients taking St. John's Wort and 60% of those taking Paxil had responded to treatment. Half of the St. John's Wort-treated patients and 35% of the Paxil-treated patients were free of depression symptoms... "
Also at:
http://www.npicenter.com/anm/templates/newsATemp.aspx?articleid=11690&zoneid=41
"According to a randomized, double-blind, peference-controlled clinical study published today in the prestigious British Medical Journal, the proprietary St. John's Wort extract WS(R) 5570 is at least as effective in treating depression and better tolerated by patients than the widely prescribed anti-depressant paroxetine.(1)... "This study shows that WS(R) 5570 is at least equally effective and better tolerated than one of the leading synthetic antidepressants," says Professor Armid Szegedi, principal investigator of the study. "It therefore represents a real alternative in the treatment of depression."... In the U.S., an identical strength version of WS(R) 5570 is sold as a natural dietary supplement for promoting a positive mood, rather than a drug for the treatment of depression. This extract (WS(R) 5572) contains the same patented, standardized and stabilized hyperforin content as WS(R) 5570, and is marketed as Perika(R) St. John's Wort by Nature's Way Products, Inc., Springville, Utah. Perika(R) is available nationwide at health and nutrition retail outlets... WS(R) 5570 and WS(R) 5572 are patented extracts developed and produced by Dr. Willmar Schwabe Pharmaceuticals, Karlsruhe, Germany. They are uniquely standardized to hyperforin, the key constituent within St. John's Wort responsible for its mood balancing effect. The patent also ensures long-term stability of the hyperforin content.
poster:Elroy
thread:458939
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20050131/msgs/458939.html