Herbal remedy 'better than drugs at treating depression'

[emad]

The Independent
By Jeremy Laurance, Health Editor
11 February 2005


A specially prepared extract of the herb St John's wort is at least as effective in treating depression as the powerful antidepressant drug Seroxat and has fewer side-effects, a study has indicated.

St John's wort has long been known as an effective herbal treatment for mild depression but the latest study is the first to suggest that it may have equal effectiveness with one of the biggest-selling pharmaceutical treatments for moderate to severe depression.

Researchers who asked 301 people with depression to take part in the trial found that half of those given St John's wort for six weeks reported an improvement in their symptoms, compared with only one third given Seroxat.

Neither group knew which drug they were taking, but those given Seroxat also reported more side-effects.

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/health_medical/story.jsp?story=609921

[enki23]

1. one study, one drug. doesn't really justify the headline

.

[indigobusiness]

2. Doctors in Germany use an herbal "cocktail"

quite successfully.

It includes St John's wort and a couple of other herbs. Remarkably effective.

[JohnyCanuck]

3. If you can't patent it and sell each pill for $50 a pop

good luck trying to get the pharmaceutical industry interested.

[Skittles]

4. you got it, Canuck

today it isn't about cure anymore or any kind of natural treatment - it's drugs, expensive drugs you have to KEEP TAKING. That is EXACTLY the way the pharmaceutical industry has set it up and people fell for it in droves.

[indigobusiness]

5. Republicans have a bill in the works to require a 'script for herbals,

and other over-the-counter supplements.

[pmbryant]

6. Was there a control group?

No mention of one in the article, but that could be poor science journalism for all I know (not an uncommon problem, unfortunately).

Wasn't there a study a year or two ago that reported that St John's Wort was no more effective than a placebo at treating severe depression? Or is my memory off?

:shrug:

--Peter