Herbs proven as effective as Paxil

St. John’s wort is at least as effective in relieving depression as paroxetine, an antidepressant sold under several names, including Paxil. That’s the conclusion of German researchers who published their findings in the British Medical Journal (Feb. 11, 2005).

In a study involving 251 patients with acute depression, they found that the St. John’s wort extract WS 5570 actually worked better than this standard antidepressant for moderately to severely depressed people. The herb also causes markedly fewer side effects than paroxetine, another important advantage.

However, since St. John’s wort interacts with other drugs, consult a doctor before using it.