| Chevallier, A. (2000, January 18). St. John's Wort. Retrieved
February 5, 2002 from the World Wide
Web: http://metalab.unc.edu/herbmed/HerbSociety/stjonswort.htm.
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I found this site using the Librarians' Index Directory. It discusses
Ireland's new designation for this herb as a "prescription only" drug,
because they are afraid people will use this herb rather than seek
medical help for depression.
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Gaster B., & Holroyd, J. (2000, January 24). St John's wort for
depression: a systematic review.
Archives of Internal Medicine,
152. Retrieved November 15, 2001, from EBSCOhost database
(MasterFile Premier on-line) on the
World Wide Web: http://search.epnet.com.
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A review of all the double-blind, randomized trials on the use of
St. John's wort for depression finds that it is more effective than
a placebo, but less effective than prescription drugs. However, there
are very slight side effects, unlike the prescription tricyclic antidepressants.
St John's wort is currently unregulated, but the Food and Drug Administration
is reviewing plans to tighten its regulatory oversight.
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| Hurley, J. (1995). The Good Herb. New York: William Morrow &
Co. |
This is basically a cookbook. Discusses the use of St John's Wort
to rub on cuts, scratches and minor burns, or onto stiff joints for
relief from arthritis. For depression, a tea is made by steeping a
tablespoon of the fresh leaves and flowers in a cup of hot water for
4 minutes. Contains hypericin, a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor.
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St. John's Wort. (1999, March 5). Retrieved February 5, 2001
from the World Wide Web:
http://www.kcweb.com/herb/stjohn.htm.
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This is an information article, posted by a company that sells vitamins
and herbal supplements. Includes a page of side effects, which covers
MAOI-like reactions to foods like red wine, cheeses, and sausage.
Gives a short history of the uses of St. John's Wort as a nerve tonic
and mild mood elevator for 2400 years. I found this article using
the search engine, HotBot.
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