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Article: WHAT IS . . . ST JOHN'S WORT?
- Article from:
- The Sunday Herald
- Article date:
- November 27, 2005
CopyrightCopyright 2005 The Sunday Herald. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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In 1994 alone, St John's Wort was prescribed for 20 million people
in Germany. It accounted for more than 50per cent of the
prescriptions given to treat mild to moderate depression. It makes me
wonder if there is a connection to the pharmaceutical industry's
current interest in controlling herbs. The herb can only be bought
with prescription in Ireland. St John's Wort has no major side
effects and costs much less than comparable antidepressant drugs. The
herb has also been used to treat insomnia, SAD and PMS.
The active ingredient in St John's Wort, Hypericun, enjoys a long
and colourful history. Dioscorides, Pliny and Hippocrates all used it ...