Herb Called as Effective as Drugs for DepressionA herb used for centuries to treat depression works just as well as some commonly prescribed antidepressants. A new review found that St. John's wort is effective for treating major depression, especially in Germany, where it seems to work particularly well, and other countries where doctors prescribe it regularly to treat mild symptoms of depression. Experts evaluated 26 studies from various countries that included almost 5,500 patients suffering from major depression. The randomized, double-blind studies compared patients treated with St. John’s wort to those treated with either placebo or ti-/tetracyclic antidepressants, such as Remeron, and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors such as Prozac, Zoloft, and Paxil. The reviewers found that S. John’s wort was more effective than placebo and similarly effective as standard anti-depressants in treating major depression. The St. John’s wort products used in the studies were high-quality products. Daily dosages ranged from 500 to 1,200 milligrams.
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