Maine news, sports, weather | Kennebec Journal, Augusta, Maine

Herbal medicines havetheir share of successes

Morning Sentinel Staff

The article (6/11) about St. John's Wort and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder was biased.

A single study does not prove anything does not work. The announcement that "another blow" has been struck against herbal supplements is inappropriate because no battle is being fought unless you happen to be a large pharmaceutical company protecting market share.

The article descends into half-truths about echinacea (not a cold cure, but an immune enhancer), saw palmetto (another study supporting its use for the prostate was published in February) and glucosamine/chondroitin (another study supporting its use for knee arthritis was published in January).

The author did not mention some herbal successes, like butterbur performing as well as drugs for migraines or the studies on probiotics alleviating ulcerative colitis. Where is the article reporting this month's study on mushrooms' effect against invasive breast cancer?

St. John's Wort's lack of effect on depression previously received such wide publicity that even as a naturopathic doctor I had dismissed it. But recent double-blind trials at Massachusetts General show it outperforms a pharmaceutical antidepressant.

Although 96 percent of studies on antidepressants are funded by drug companies, drug antidepressants fail to outperform active placebos over longer periods. St. John's Wort's major side effect is to speed up the liver's detoxifying processes by as much as 300 percent, dangerous if one is on drugs but desirable if one is not.

Since it can be gathered and processed for free, it presents a formidable opponent of overpriced drugs.

Christopher Maloney, N.D.

Augusta