EXAMPLE 11 St. John’s Wort—Treatment for Depression?

Although prescription drugs must pass the test of randomized comparative experiments before being sold, herbs and other “natural remedies” are exempt. Because these treatments are so popular, some are now being studied more carefully. Fans of natural remedies often use extracts of the herb St. John’s wort to treat depression. is the herb safe? Does it work? The Journal of the American Medical Association reported a “randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial” in which 200 patients with major depression were assigned at random to take either herb extract or a dummy pill that looked and tasted the same. Results: The herb is safe, but “[i]n this study, St. John’s wort was not effective for treatment of major depression.”