Herbs for Depression

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The herb St. John's Wort is often taken for depression by those wishing to avoid drugs which can cause side effects, some of them serious.

The aim of both the drugs (popular ones are termed "serotonin re-uptake inhibitors,") and the herbs is to reduce or limit serotonin in the body. As for St. John's Wort, Schempp, Winghofer, Muller, Simon, et al., of the U. of Freiburg, Germany*, refuted one feared side effect, that of dermatitis--skin inflammation.

Butterweck, Christoffel, Winterhoff, et al., U. of Munster, Germany** found that ingredients other than the often-ascribed "Hypericin" ingredient in St. John's Wort contribute to its anti-depressant activity. Dr. Butterweck in amplification of this study, wrote in another journal that, "Extracts of 'St. John's Wort] are now successfully competing for status as a standard antidepressant therapy." Emphasis added.

Draves & Walker, Dept. of Pharmacy, Sunnybrook & Women's College Health Science Centre, Toronto, Canada,*** found that consistency of ingredients in St. John's Wort tablets is often poor and over-stated. Thus some failures of treatment may be related to under-dosage.

Hostanska, Reichling, Saller, et al.,**** found that two constituents of the herb have toxic effects on tumor cells, especially leukemia, and inhibit the growth of other tumor cells. While it is too early to suggest that St. John's Wort be used as therapy for such as leukemia, it is a heartening discovery.

Meanwhile, cautionary note by Glisson, Rogers, Khan, et al.,***** observed that, "Health food store employees offer health care advice regarding treatment of depression with dietary supplements without proper scientific and medical training. Their comments could cause significant harm to customers."

Herbs for Depression Biography

*Phytotherapy Res., vol. 17, 2003. Second journal referred to was CNS Drugs, vol. 17, 2003.
**Life Sciences, vol. 73, 2003.
***Canadian Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, vol.10, 2003.
****European Journal of Pharma. Biopharmacy, vol. 56, 2003. Authors in the Dept. of Internal Med., Univ. Hospital, Zurich, Switz.
*****Pharmacotherapy, vol. 23, 2003. Authors were in the Dept. of Internal Med., U. of Miss. Med. Center, Jackson, 39216.