St. John’s Wort has taken quite a beating these last couple of years due to negative press coverage. It is interesting that NONE of the positive studies on the treatment of depression with St. John’s Wort ever make the news. Here are three recent peer review and double blind studies that I bet you or your doctor have never seen. To get more information read my article on St. John’s Wort.

A double blind study published in October 2005 concluded, “SJW was significantly more effective than fluoxetine (Prozac) and showed a trend toward superiority over placebo.” This study was completed on patients with major depression.3 Ending Hamilton Depression scores were 10.2 +/- 6.6 (SJW) and 13.3 +/- 7.3 (fluoxetine). Remission rates were 38% SJW, 30% fluoxetine, and 21% placebo.

A double blind study in March 2005 concluded, “The results indicate that hypericum extract STW 3 is not inferior to sertraline (Zoloft) and that it is a well-tolerated drug for the treatment of moderate depression. These favorable effects were achieved with a once-daily dose of 612 mg of hypericum extract given for up to 24 weeks.”4

A double blind BMJ study in March 2005 concluded, “In the treatment of moderate to severe major depression, hypericum extract WS 5570 is at least as effective as paroxetine (Paxil) and is better tolerated.”5 Hamilton depression total score decreased by 56.6% in the SJW group and by 44.8% in the paroxetine group. This same extract was studied in August of 2002 with the conclusion, “H. perforatum extract WS 5570 was found to be safe and more effective than placebo for the treatment of mild to moderate depression.”6