Call for conventional licensing of herbal remedy
Pharmacists at the Maudsley Hospital, London have suggested
that St John’s Wort should be licensed so that doctors are able to
prescribe it for the treatment of depression.
They say that a change to the current licensing
arrangements would help doctors to safely advise on, and monitor the use
of, the herbal remedy.
Eromona Whiskey and colleagues conducted a review
and meta-analysis of trials of St John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum)
in depression. They say that the analysis confirms previous reports that
St John’s Wort is an effective treatment for depression but add that it
remains unclear whether St John’s Wort is as effective as conventional
antidepressants.
The study is published in International Clinical
Psychopharmacology (2001;16:239).
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