Hypericum has been shown to help depression. (Louise Valentine/The Epoch Times)
St. John’s wort extracts tested in the different trials were better than placebos and as effective as standard antidepressants, but with fewer side effects, the researchers reported in a Cochrane review—from the Cochrane Library, which provides a database of reviews and analyses of medical and scientific studies.
“The studies came from a variety of countries, tested several different St. John’s wort extracts, and mostly included patients suffering from mild to moderately severe symptoms,” Klaus Linde of the Center for Complementary Medicine in Munich, Germany wrote.
The herb works in a similar way to some prescription antidepressants, by increasing the brain chemical serotonin, involved in controlling mood.
The Cochrane review analyzed 29 studies that together included 5,489 men and women with symptoms of major depression and compared the remedy’s effectiveness with placebos and standard treatments.
The researchers found that St. John’s wort extracts were not only effective, but also fewer people taking them dropped out of the trials due to adverse side effects.
They also noted that results were more favorable in German-speaking countries where doctors often prescribe the remedy and cautioned against using the remedy without medical advice because the extracts can affect the work of other drugs.
In Germany, such herbal treatments are also more controlled for content, unlike in many other markets where the quality and content of herbal products may vary considerably.
“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,” Linde said.
