The C.A.M. Report
Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Fair, Balanced, and to the Point

Archive for the 'St. John’s Wort' Category

Review: CAM for ADHD

Thursday, January 19th, 2012

Complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) are frequently given to children and adolescents for reputed benefits for hyperkinetic and concentration disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Researchers in Arizona and Australia assessed the evidence based on the results of studies providing an acceptable standard of evidence. (more…)

CAM treatment of obsessive compulsive disorder

Tuesday, December 13th, 2011

Standard therapies are of limited value for obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).

Researchers at Swinburne University of Technology, in Australia, reviewed the value of CAM, self-help techniques, and lifestyle interventions. (more…)

St John’s wort and hot flushes in women with breast cancer history

Thursday, December 8th, 2011

There are few effective treatments for hot flushes in post-menopausal breast cancer survivors.

During the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina reported the results from a pilot study. (more…)

CAM options for treating depression

Tuesday, October 25th, 2011

Emily Matthews, a reader of this blog, provides this overview of depression and complementary treatment options.

About 20 million Americans suffer from clinical depression. Low levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter, are thought to contribute to depression. Depression is also associated with diseases like diabetes, heart disease, chronic pain, hormonal imbalance, hypoglycemia, stress, impaired thyroid function, environmental toxins, and unhealthy lifestyles. (more…)

Limited value of herbals to lower blood pressure

Tuesday, September 6th, 2011

Researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center, in New York, reviewed non-drug treatments.

Let’s focus on herbals. (more…)

The biggest problem with St. John’s wort

Tuesday, September 6th, 2011

st-johns-wortIt’s one of the most popular herbal supplements for treating depression. Dr. Perry Halushka from the Medical University of South Carolina has reviewed the scientific literature, including the many drug interactions associated with its use.

But the biggest problem is the lack of standardization and reliability of the contents of commercially available brands of St. John’s wort. (more…)

Herbal supplements: Caveat Emptor

Thursday, August 11th, 2011

Researchers at the University of Leeds, in Woodhouse, evaluated written information provided with commonly used herbal products in the UK in advance of a European Union Directive that tightens regulations for some herbal products, including requirements to provide safety information. (more…)

Effects of herbals on warfarin therapy

Sunday, June 12th, 2011

Researchers at the University of Hong Kong, in China, studied the risk for an herbal:warfarin interaction in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation. (more…)

Review: Herbal treatments for prementrual syndrome

Thursday, May 26th, 2011

Some herb remedies seem useful, according to researchers at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, in Italy. (more…)

Drug interactions with St John’s wort

Friday, May 20th, 2011

It’s a long list compiled by researchers at RMIT University in Victoria, Australia. (more…)

CAM for major depressive therapy

Friday, April 15th, 2011

The American Psychiatric Association’s Task Force on Complementary and Alternative Medicine reviewed the evidence and report their findings.

Here are their findings. (more…)

CAM (not St John’s wort) to treat depression

Tuesday, April 12th, 2011

Researchers at Goulds Naturopathica, in Hobart TAS, Australia, reviewed the evidence. (more…)

First report: St. John’s Wort for autism

Monday, April 4th, 2011

It’s just a report on 3 patients, but it’s important because some people with autism are already taking St. John’s wort. (more…)

Do we overhype drug-supplement interactions?

Sunday, March 13th, 2011

Real and hypothetical concerns exist.

Dr. Mark Moyad (photo), who is Director of Preventive and Alternative Medicine at the University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor, puts it into perspective. (more…)

St. John’s wort to treat IBS?

Friday, February 18th, 2011

Here’s the rationale supporting this study by researchers at the Mayo Clinic, in Rochester, Minnesota.

St. John’s wort treats mild-to-moderate depression. Antidepressants are often used to treat irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). But no one has studied the effects of St. John’s wort in patients with IBS. (more…)

Review of CAM for behavioral health

Friday, November 5th, 2010

Evidence for CAM to treat depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been reviewed by researchers at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, in Kenner.

Here’s what we know. (more…)

Nutritional herbal supplements for treating anxiety

Saturday, October 9th, 2010

Approximately 6.8 million Americans suffer from generalized anxiety disorder. It’s not surprising then that there’s interest in finding effective natural treatments.

The Global Neuroscience Initiative Foundation, in Los Angeles, California, reviewed the evidence for passionflower, lysine, magnesium, kava, and St John’s wort, alone or in combination. (more…)

St. John’s wort interaction with oxycodone

Monday, September 6th, 2010

Chronic pain is associated with depression.

Self-treatment of that depression with St John’s wort makes pain patients prone to a drug interaction with the potent pain drug, oxycodone (OxyContin), according to this study by researchers at the University of Turku, in Finland. (more…)

CYP2D6-mediated herb-drug interactions

Monday, August 2nd, 2010

Cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) is a liver enzyme responsible for the metabolism of approximately 30% of all drugs.

Researchers at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock studied the effect of CYP2D6 on the metabolism of several herbal supplements and the risk of drug interactions. (more…)

Fish oil lowers risk of breast of cancer

Monday, July 12th, 2010

Researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, in Seattle, Washington tell us, “There have been no prospective studies of the association between the long-term use of these supplements (omega-3 fatty acids and others] and breast cancer risk….” until now.

This and other recent breakthroughs are summarized below. (more…)