Media Misleads Public on St. John's Wort Study

From The June 2001 Issue of Nutrition Science News

A study published in the April 18 Journal of the American Medical Association made headlines with its conclusion that St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) was ineffective for treating severe depression.

But according to industry sources, the conclusions were misleading. Many studies have shown St. John's wort to be a safe and effective treatment for mild to moderate depression and mood enhancement. "This study evaluated St. John's wort for 'major' depression—a condition for which St. John's wort is neither recommended or intended," said Allen Montgomery, Pharm.D., CEO and Executive Director of the American Nutraceutical Association, based in Montgomery, Ala. News media reports failed to make this important distinction, instead concluding, as the Washington Post did, that the herb is "useless" for depression. (For more, see "St. John's Wort Vs. Drugs.")