St. John's Wort Hypericum perforatum super function.St. John's Wort Extract.

Does St. John's wort work as a treatment for depression?

St. John's Wort Extract.INCI Name.HYPERICUM PERFORATUM EXTRACT,CAS.84082-80-4,EINECS ELINCS No282-026-4 photo picture image There has been scientific research to try to answer this question.

In Europe, results from a number of scientific studies have supported the effectiveness of certain St. John's wort extracts for depression. An overview of 23 clinical studies, published in the British Medical Journal in 1996, found that the herb might be useful in cases of mild to moderate depression. The studies, which included 1,757 outpatients, reported that St. John's wort was more effective than a placebo (a "dummy" pill designed to have no effect) and appeared to produce fewer side effects than some standard antidepressants.

Other studies conducted recently have found no benefit from the use of St. John's wort for certain types of depression. For example, the results of a study funded by Pfizer Inc., a pharmaceutical company, found that St. John's wort, when compared with placebo, was not effective for treating major depression (Shelton, et al. JAMA, 2001).

Are there any risks to taking St. John's wort for depression?
Yes, there are risks in taking St. John's wort for depression.

Many so-called "natural" substances can have harmful effects,especially if they are taken in too large a quantity or if they interact with something else the person is taking.

Research from the NIH has shown that St. John's wort interacts with some drugs~including certain drugs used to control HIV infection (such as indinavir). Other research shows that St. John's wort can interact with anticancer, or chemotherapeutic, drugs (such as irinotecan). The herb may also interact with drugs that help prevent the body from rejecting transplanted organs (such as cyclosporine). Using St. John's wort limits these drugs' effectiveness.

Also, St. John's wort is not a proven therapy for depression. If depression is not adequately treated, it can become severe and, in some cases, may be associated with suicide. Consult a health care practitioner if you or someone you care about may be experiencing depression.

People can experience side effects from taking St. John's wort. The most common side effects include dry mouth, dizziness, gastrointestinal symptoms, increased sensitivity to sunlight, and fatigue.

What are some other possible problems with using St. John's wort?

Herbal products such as St. John's wort are classified as dietary supplements by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a regulatory agency of the Federal Government. The FDA's requirements for testing and obtaining approval to sell dietary supplements are less strict than its requirements for drugs. Unlike drugs, herbal products can be sold without requiring studies on dosage, safety, or effectiveness.

The strength and quality of herbal products are often unpredictable. Products can differ in content not only from brand to brand, but from batch to batch. Information on labels may be misleading or inaccurate.

Reference:

1.St. John's Wort Hypericum perforatum super function.St. John's Wort Extract.

last edit date:26th,Feb.2010.

Available Product

Name:St. John's Wort Extract
Serie No:S-026.
Specifications:Hypericin 0.3%~0.4%UV.
INCI Name:HYPERICUM PERFORATUM EXTRACT
EINECS/ELINCS No.:282-026-4
CAS:84082-80-4
Chem/IUPAC Name:Hypericum Perforatum Extract is an extract of the capsules,flowers,leaves and stem heads of the St. John's wort,Hypericum perforatum,Hypericaceae

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