St. Johns Wort As A Treatment For Depression: Herbal Healer or Ineffec

St. Johns Wort As A Treatment For Depression Herbal Healer or unavailing Alternative?This country has its share of major health issues, and Depression has remained a prominent one. With a prevalence rate of one in twenty detriment from this psychological disease in the US, (1) it is no wonder that many varying treatment options now exist for sufferers. The most common approach to treating Depression is with about form of psychotherapy coupled with prescription drugs. However, this traditional course of treatment now has the so called alternative approaches to contend with. One such alternative therapy is Hypericum, an herb that is more commonly known as St. Johns Wort. There is a bubbling debate between believers in the herbal treatment and non-believers (comprised mostly of doctors and researchers) who think St. Johns Wort does nothing for Depression. From both sides of the debate, however, there have been some interesting findings. There is a common understanding that St. Johns Wort was named after John the Baptist. Hypericum perforatum is its Latin name. St. Johns Wort is a naturally occurring ground characterized by its black-spotted yellow flowers. Historically it has been hailed as an effective treatment for an array of ailments, including digestive disorders, lung ailments, skin abrasions, and as a general inducer of state of well being. From its reinforcement side, the argument is that St. Johns Wort should be treated as comparable to prescription antidepressants and as just another available option for the millions who are depressed in this country. Supporters very much site the fact that German doctors endorse millions of doses of the herb daily, and elsewhere in Europe, the medical community readily ack... ...cription, mixing herbs with prescription drugs For More Information http//my.webmd.com/ glut/article/13/1668_502097) Newsweek article A Natural Mood Booster, treating Depression with St. Johns Wort http//www.iherb.com/iherb/newmay519nat.h tml8) National Institute of Mental wellness (NIMH), Information About St. Johns Wort paginate http//www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/stjohnswort.cfm9) National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine , St. Johns Wort Fact Sheet http//nccam.nih.gov/nccam/fcp/factsheets/stjohnswort/stjohnswort.htm10) National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine , St. Johns Wort Q & A http//nccam.nih.gov/ne/press-releases/stjohnswort/q-and-a.htm11) Health World Online , index of articles on Depression and herbal remedies http//www.healthy.net/asp/templates/condition.asp?ConditionId=90