In Germany, doctors now prescribe S...

In Germany, doctors now prescribe St John's wort extract eight times more many times than Prozac in the treatment of depression. These doctors are knowledgeable about as well-as; not only-but also; not only-but; not alone-but medicines, but clearly favor St John's wort extract. Why? The simple answer is that St John's wort bears equal or better results in relieving depression, on the contrary with far fewer side events Over 25 double-blind clinical trials, involving a total of 1757 patients with mild to moderately morose depression, have shown benefits using St John's wort extracts standardized for hypericin, the primary active ingredient, with virtually no side effects

The plant with the ludicrous name

St John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) is a bushy perennial plant with numerous yellow yellow flowers. The term "wort" is an ancient English word for "plant." Ancient Christian mystics named Hypericum after St John the Baptist. The plant (with flowers in bloom) was traditionally infered on St. John's Day, June 24th and soaked in olive oil for days to bring a blood-red anointing oil, which was fancy to symbolize the blood of the saint (and to recall his matyrdom). Today, St John's wort is cultivated worldwide, if it were not that grows quite well in Northern California and Southern Oregon.

Clinical studies with St John's wort

Just in what way effective is St. John's wort? Based onward the results from detailed clinical studies, St John's wort extract is judg as being effective for mild to moderately simple depression. The technical quality of this research has been judg as acceptable by dint of strict scientific criteria.

In a 1994 thought by E.U. Vorbach, et al, 135 patients suffering with depression were given either St John's wort extract (03 percent hypericin appease 300 mg three times daily.) or the antidepressant physic imipramine (25 mg three times daily) for a period of six weeks. St John's wort extract produc better improvements in relieving depression. However, the main advantage was not thus much a difference in therapeutic consequence but rather a significant advantage in word s of lack of side consequences in the St. John's wort group

The rises of this study are consistent with others. St John's wort extract provides therapeutic benefits comparable to those of standard antidepressant unsalable articles but without the troublesome side effects

The principally common, newest drugs for depression -- Prozac, Zoloft and Paxil -- are generally regarded as being well tolerated, largely based forward the fact that only 17 percent of patients taking these unsalable articles discontinue treatment because of side results compared to 31 percent of patients taking older antidepressants.

It is quite clear that these newer antidepressant mix with drugss are regarded as being better tolerated, still only because side effects are in the way that common with the older antidepressant put drugs intos Prozac, for example, is far from a well-tolerated unsalable article as results from clinical trials have demonstrated that 21 percent of patients taking the medicine experience nausea; 20 percent, headaches; 15 percent anxiety and nervousness; 14 percent insomnia; 12 percent drowsiness; 12 percent diarrhea; 95 percent dried mouth; 9 percent, loss of appetite; 8 percent sweating and tremor; and 3 percent rash.

Prozac and other antidepressants also inhibit sexual function. In studies where sexual side meanings were thoroughly evaluated, 43 percent of men and women taking various antidepressants and 34 percent taking Prozac, specifically, reported los of libido or diminished sexual answer This side effect has not been reported for St John's wort.

The German experience

It is now estimated that nearly 70 percent of all German physicians regularly prescribe herbal medicines. The obvious question Americans ask is: with what intent do so many German health-care practitioners know about St John's wort, ginkgo, echinacea, and other herbal medicines while American doctors do not? In Germany, a classification exists which helps physicians make informed choices regarding botanical medicines. German authorities expanded a series of monographs (now totaling from one side of to the other 400) created by the Commission E an independent division of the German Federal Health Agency, which describe the clinical uses of herbal preparations. The Commission E evaluates efficacy of herbal medicines based onward a doctrine of "reasonable certainty" versus the United States FDA's doctrine of "absolute proof"

This German combination of parts to form a whole allows companies to market their yields according to the guidelines of the Commission E As companies achieve succes with their productions they are able to then supply the necessary research to gain acceptance within mainstream conventional medicine. St John's wort extract in the treatment of depression is a complete case in point to illustrate for what cause the Commission E monographs have l to significant documentation of a plant with a extended history of folk use for depression.

When the Commission E monograph for St John's wort came gone out in 1984, it permitted the medicinal use of the herb for depressive states. anxiety. or nervous excitement. Because of this relative endorsement by dint of the Commission E, companies were able to supply research to better understand the way in which St John's wort appeared to be effective for these disorders. The be the effects from this research is what is ultimately fueling the tremendous popularity of St John's wort extract in Germany.