St John's wort 'eases depression'
St John's wort does alleviate the symptoms of depression, experts have concluded.
By Kate Devlin, Medical Correspondent
Last Updated: 12:36AM BST 08 Oct 2008
Extracts of St John's wort have been used for centuries to treat depression and sleep conditions Photo: PA
The herbal medicine, taken by millions every year, can help sufferers with a severe form of the condition, scientists said.
Previous reports have suggested that the remedy could be beneficial to people suffering from milder types of the disease.
Extracts of St John's wort have been used for centuries to treat depression and sleep conditions.
Researchers from the Cochrane Library looked at 29 trials of 5,489 patients with symptoms of major depression.
They found that the herb performed as well as even more traditional medication.
"Overall, we found that the St. John's wort extracts tested in the trials were superior to placebos and as effective as standard antidepressants, with fewer side effects," says Klaus Linde, from the Centre for Complementary Medicine in Munich, Germany, who led the study.
However, he warned that some of the studies looked at could contain unintentional biases, as the findings were more favourable in trials conducted in German-speaking countries, where the herbal extract is in common use and is often prescribed by doctors.
Those worried that they have depression should also consult a doctor, he added.
"Using a St John's wort extract might be justified, but products on the market vary considerably, so these results only apply to the preparations tested," he said.
The herbal remedy has been investigated in the past for possible dangerous reactions with prescription drugs.
