Written records document the use of Hypericum perforatum,
otherwise known as St. John’s wort, as early as the Middle
Ages.
Some accounts trace its use back to the ancient Greeks, who
purportedly utilized extracts of the flowering plant as a
treatment against demonic possession.
Today, millions of depression sufferers are turning to St.
John’s wort to relieve their condition, and for good reason.
Witness the results of a study that appeared in the September
2, 2000 issue of the British Medical Journal. Three
hundred and twenty-four patients with mild-to-moderate depression
received 250 mg of pharmacy-grade St. John’s wort extract
or 75 mg of imipramine, (one of the most commonly prescribed
tricyclic antidepressants) twice daily.
After six weeks of treatment, St. John’s wort and imipramine
were deemed equivalent in terms of their effect on depression
symptoms, with a subscale of the depression rating scale indicating
a significant advantage for St. John’s wort. Patients also
tolerated St. John’s wort and reported fewer adverse reactions
than patients taking the prescription medication.
Some countries utilize St. John’s wort to treat depression
more frequently than other well-known depression medications
such as Prozac, Paxil and Zoloft. As the results of this study
suggest, they may be on to something. Talk to your doctor
about the potential benefits of St. John’s wort and other
herbal extracts.
Reference:
Woelk H. Comparison of St. John’s wort and imipramine for
treating depression: randomized controlled trial. British
Medical Journal, Sept. 2, 2000: Vol. 321, pp536-39.
To learn more about herbs and botanicals, go to https://www.chiroweb.com/tyh/herbs.html
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