Scientific studies conducted in Europe support the effectiveness of St. John’s Wort for treatment of depression. The results of twenty-three clinical studies found that it treats cases of mild to moderate depression successfully. 1,757 outpatients reported that St. John’s Wort relieved mild to moderate depression and that side effects were few. Other studies conducted by Pfizer Pharmaceutical found that St. John’s Wort was not effective when used as a treatment for major depression.
Risks
There are risks to taking St. John’s Wort if the patient ingests more than the recommended dosage and if taken with certain prescribed medications. These include HIV drugs, anticancer drugs and chemo therapy medications. If a patient is on any type of these medications, St. John’s Wort must not be used because it limits the effectiveness and can cause dangerous drug reactions.
Patients who find that St. John’s Wort is not treating their depression effectively should seek the advice of a health care professional.
Side Effects
Though most people experience very few side effects from St. John’s Wort, side effects are experienced by some. These include diarrhea, dizziness, dry mouth, sensitivity to the sun, fatigue and nausea. In certain cases the herb has been associated with suicide.
Warnings
The FDA (US Food and Drug Administration) requirements for herbal supplements are not as strict as they are for prescribed medications. St. John’s Wort is classed as an herbal supplement. It can be sold without studies being conducted on effectiveness, dosage and side effects. Labels often do not contain proper information and product can vary from one brand to another.
Research
The NCCMA (National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine) is funding research on St. John’s Wort. These are recent projects that they’ve supported:
St. John’s Wort treatment for minor depression; safety and effectiveness.
Effects of St. John’s Wort on birth control pills.
Interactions of St. John’s Wort and pain medication.
Treatment of obsessive compulsive disorder; effectiveness.