St. John's Wort More Effective than Paxil

From the article:
At the end of the latest trial, half of those taking St John's wort (61 out of 122) found that their depressive symptoms were in decline, but only a third of those on paroxetine [Paxil] (43 out of 122) -- as a widely-prescribed antidepressant drug -- went into remission.

Many in the alternative health field have been promoting for years the use of St. John's wort for mild to moderate depression. Many studies have shown the herb to be effective for many users with none of the side effects experienced with pharmaceuticals.

A study that came out last year suggested that many St. John's wort supplements did not meet label claims and therefore should not be used by consumers. While this may be true for some brands, if one uses a standardized extract from a trusted company (Natrol, Nature's Way, Nature's Herbs, and NOW Foods are a few that are trusted in the industry), labels claims will be within the margin of error.

This is the first study that confirms the effectiveness of St. John's wort for severe depression. With the recent revelation of suicidal risks in young people taking antidepressant pharmaceuticals, a natural alternative with fewer side effects is a great option.

One note of caution: please check with your doctor before stopping the use of Paxil or any other depression medication, as severe withdrawal symptoms have been noted for some drugs. If you want to try St. John's wort, check with your doctor to be sure the herb does not have adverse interactions with any other drugs you may be taking (for example, birth control pills lose effectiveness when St. John's Wort is introduced).

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