First U.S. clinical trial of St. John's wort.

One of the hot items on alternative health shelves these days is the herbal antidepressant St. John's Wort, or Hypericum. St. John's Wort is widely used in Europe to treat depression. In 1996, the British Medical Journal looked at 23 short studies and concluded that Hypericum might be useful for mild to moderate depression and that it had very few side effects. Now 3 offices of the National Institutes of Health are sponsoring a 3-year, double-blind study of St. John's Wort. (They are the Office of Alternative Medicine, National Institute of Mental Health, and Office of Dietary Supplements.)

The study will involve 336 participants diagnosed with major depression. Dr. Steven E. Hyman, director of the National Institute of Mental Health, said, "This study will be the First rigorous clinical trial of the drug that will be large enough and long enough to fully assess whether it produces a therapeutic effect."

Depression is a common problem for people with MS. Until there is more definitive information, St. John's Wort is not recommended as a proven therapy. People who think they are suffering from depression, which can include persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, loss of interest, decreased energy, and disturbed sleep, or--in severe depression--thoughts of suicide, should consult a physician.

Anyone considering an herbal therapy should consult a medical professional First to avoid harmful side effects. For example, St. John's Wort should not be taken in addition to a prescription antidepressant.