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Here is a wonderful article on depression.

Depression:

 

Current and Alternative

 

Treatments

 

2

 

Depression. Just the word itself conjures up negative

associations: " down in the dumps, " " feeling blue, " " in a bad

mood, " " low pirits, " " dejected, " and " cast down " . Yet everyone can

feel sad or discouraged at one time or another. In today's world, the

phrase " I'm depressed " can simply mean that someone is feeling down

or out of sorts, a condition that is usually temporary, lasting only

a few days. However, clinical depression is quite a different and

more serious matter. A true medical disorder, it is characterized by

persistent and sometimes severe feelings of worthlessness, guilt,

sadness, helplessness and hopelessness.1 Other common symptoms

include inactivity, difficulty thinking or concentrating, appetite

changes, sleep disturbances and sometimes suicidal tendencies.

Unfortunately, depression is the world's leading cause of chronic

(recurring) disabilities. Some 18 million Americans suffer from

clinical depression,2 and over 28 million take antidepressant drugs

or anxiety medications.3 The nation spends about $44 billion per year

in treatment, disability and lost productivity.4 Prozac, a common

antidepressant, was the third top-selling drug in the country in

1997.5 In fact, according to a November 1993 report in the Journal of

Clinical Depression, the cost for depression adds up to more than

that for cancer, AIDS, or coronary heart disease! 6 Why are so many

people glum? There are several theories, including those that cite

our modern stressful lifestyles or deficient diets as major factors.

Thirty-five million people are known to suffer from Seasonal

Affective Disorder (SAD), in which symptoms like fatigue and

desperation appear in the winter time when there is less exposure to

sunlight.7 Indeed, depression can be caused by many things, including

traumatic life events or chemical imbalances in the brain. Because of

the variety of different kinds and levels of depression,

antidepressant drugs help only 60 to 70% of patients, and even then

often only after a period of trial and error. Furthermore, they're

expensive–Prozac typically checks out at one dollar per pill.6 Worse,

some people experience unwanted side effects from antidepressant

medications. Fortunately, clinical research has discovered natural

and less expensive alternatives to treating mild to moderate

depression. The first and most prominent of these is St. John's wort.

A humble yellow-flowered plant native to Europe and Asia and brought

to the United States by European colonists, the herb has long been

reputed to have many health benefits, the strongest is its effect on

mood. However, only in recent years have researchers taken this

traditional remedy to the lab to gather true scientific ata on its

effectiveness. The results have been positive, even when putting the

extract up against common antidepressant drugs. In fact, St. John's

wort is currently the leading antidepressant remedy in Germany.8

 

Common Symptoms

 

of Depression

 

Though depression is a very individual condition,varying in severity

and inm character from person to person, there are some common

symptoms that, if shown in an individual for an extended period of

time, can point to major depression:9 •Fearful, overwhelmed

feelings •Onset of a fear of being alone •Preoccupation with failure,

illness •Nightmares, especially with themes of loss, pain or

death •Loss of ability to experience pleasure •Indecision •Onset of

unexplained anxiety, panic attacks •Sleep disturbance (too much or

too little,especially with early morning awakening) •Appetite

disturbance (increased or decreased, usually enough to cause weight

change) •Fatigue, low energy •Vague aches and pains, heaviness in the

chest •Constipation •Loss of interest in sex •Poor concentration,slow

thinking

 

In addition, research has suggested that both folic acid (a B

vitamin) and vitamin B12 may affect mood and behavior, as

deficiencies in these vitamins are common in depressed patients.3

Correcting such nutritional deficiencies has resulted in mood

improvement. And finally, a compound called 5-HTP that is extracted

from an African plant (Griffonia simplicifolia) has shown in numerous

double-blind studies to have equal effectiveness against depression

as common antidepressants like Prozac and Paxil. Best of all, like

St. John's wort and the B vitamins, it is less expensive and better

tolerated by the body.

 

Depression–What is it?

 

Mark S. Gold, M.D., likens depression to another of life's largest

emotions: " Depression is like love: It is a state of mind that

overwhelms and distorts the senses… But whereas love seems to imbue

all the molecules of the earth with a heavenly, light energy,

depression increases the weight of the world until finally it is too

dense and dark to stand up in. Worse, the self loses its value in

such an

 

atmosphere. The depressed person is but one more grain of sand washed

up on an endless, meaningless beach. " 10 To put another way,depression

is a recurring low mood. It is a feeling that dulls life and living.

The experience seems final. It is more than just sadness, though

sadness is a significant part of the feeling.Words like grief and

bereavement are closer in comparison. Despair and hopelessness are

other similar words. The condition can negatively affect the way we

feel about ourselves and our future. Some researchers speak of a

difference between " normal " depression and " abnormal depression. "

Francis M. Mondimore, M.D., reports that " normal " depression is

understandable and proportional, but most of all reactive.

 

Lifestyle Remedies for the Blues1

 

1. Exercise vigorously,

 

2. Eat more fruits and

 

vegetables,

 

3. Cut back on

 

sugar/caffeine,

 

4. Have a good cry,

 

5. Do something you enjoy,

 

6. Explore a new place

 

7. Spend time with " up " people

 

8. Make real plans to change the situation that's getting you down,

 

9. Start a project with a goal–redecorate,become better at a sport or

craft, take a class 4 In other words, because of some life event or

identifiable stressor, a person reacts and experiences depression.

Sometimes this form of depression is called " reactive

depression. " Abnormal depression, on the other hand, acts more like a

disease in that it often appears just " out of the blue. " It is

usually characterized by more prominent feelings of guilt, failure,

and loss of interest in pleasurable activities. Most importantly,

this type of depression is out of proportion with life events, and it

often persists in a recurrent manner, consistently pulling the person

back to depressive thoughts even when he/she may be attempting to

divert those thoughts. This type of depression is often

called " primary depression, " 11 and is often the result of chemical

imbalances in the brain.Why bother with classifying depression as one

type or another? Doctors can often use the classification to assist

in diagnosing the patient, as those with reactive depression can

improve with psychotherapy, whereas those with primary depression

often respond better to medication. However, these classifications

are still very elementary and do not cover all the possible forms of

depression. For example, patients often have a combination of both

types. Therefore, a combination of both methods of treatment is

usually prudent with any type of depression.

 

A Problem in the Brain

 

No matter which type of depression an individual experiences, he/she

is undergoing changes in the function of the brain. Much as we may

like to think that how we think, feel and act are strictly matters of

mystery, science has discovered in recent years that all these

functions follow the laws of biology and chemistry. And though

researchers still don't have all the answers to why depression acts

as it does, they have discovered some of the basic principles that

occur in the brain when an individual is depressed. To understand the

process, it is helpful to begin with a brief overview of how the

brain works.A Mass of Nerve Cells The brain consists of ten billion

to a trillion nerve cells. Of which there are two types: the glial

cells and the neurons. The glial cells keep the brain supported,

protected and fed, but otherwise their function is still mostly a

mystery.2 The neurons, however, are believed to do all the actual

brain " work. " They are constructed like any other typical cell,

except they have a web of finger-like appendages that protrude from

the cell body (called dendrites). These appendages receive

information and relay it to the cell body, which then sends it on

down–to the axon.The axon projects like a stem or a tail from the

cell body of the neuron, and its responsibility it to relay messages

to other neurons. At the end are hundreds of branches, each with a

sort of " message delivery " terminal. With each cell having a legion

of appendages to receive information and as many as one thousand axon

terminals to relay information, " in a single human brain the number

of possible

 

Possible Physical Causes of Depression

 

It is imperative to see a physician when experiencing the symptoms of

depression,as the disorder may be the result of another condition,

including the following:•Nutritional imbalance or deficiency

 

•Anemia

 

•Malfunction of the thyroid gland

 

•Low-grade infection

 

•Allergic reactions

 

•Schizophrenia

 

•Body chemistry malfunction,

 

•Heart disease

 

•Side effect of a drug

 

•Alcoholism

 

•Diabetes

 

5 interconnections between these cells is greater than the number of

atoms in the universe! " (as Robert Ornstein and

 

Richard F. Thompson exclaim in there book The Amazing Brain!). 10 \

 

From One Neuron to Another

 

Though it may seem necessary for proper communication, no two neurons

are directly connected. Instead, a space of a millionth of an inch

separates them (called a synapse). How, then, can the messages be

transferred from one neuron to the next? Chemicals.When the axon

( " tail " or " stem " of the neuron cell) gets the word to relay a

message, it sends an electric pulse that stimulates one of its

terminals to release its chemical contents. These chemicals are

appropriately called neurotransmitters. Like little messengers,

neurotransmitters move from the axon of one neuron to the receptors

on the finger-like appendages (dendrites) of another. Similar to a

lock and key, the transmitter and receptor must fit together. If so,

the message continues on, likely to pass from one neuron to the next

in a chain reaction, taking the message " on down the line, " much like

a telephone wire. The transmitter, once it's completed its job,

either remains in circulation to connect with another receptor, is

taken back (or " recycled " ) by the axon to be used again later, or is

broken into smaller pieces by enzymes and eliminated from the body.13

Researchers speculate that the brain manufactures several hundred

types of neurotransmitters. About 30 have been idenztified so far,

and though they are small in size, they are considered to be one of

the key components in the occurrence of depression.What Does This

Have to Do With How I Feel? The fact that chemicals can affect brain

function and mood can be seen in the changes that occur when someone

drinks alcohol (containing ethyl alcohol) or takes drugs. Since the

brain uses chemical messengers to carry out its work,including muscle

function, researchers hypothesized that such chemical messengers

could regulate mood as well. Further, they proposed that mood

disorders could result from an imbalance of these neurotransmitters.

Consequently, it seemed that medication that could restore the proper

balance could thus improve the disorder.Neuron: the basic functional

unit of the brain Neurotransmitters: the fundamental unit of

communication. Our brain power comes from the " wiring " of neurons–the

pathways– among the specialized structures of the brain.10

 

Untreated Depression Can Become Chronic

 

Researchers know that depression alters the secretion of certain

hormones in the body.Consequently, itn egatively affects the immune

system, which can lead to increased susceptibility to disease and

infection. In addition, should the condition continue without

treatment, it can become chronic, or consistently recurring. Dr. Mark

S. Gold says in his book,

 

Good News About

 

Depression, " If … the depression is not treated, and if suicide does

not intervene, the brain will begin to see depression as normal. It

will no longer work to resume its previous balance. The depressed

state will become chronic. " 10 A Brain Neuron13 Direction of nerve

impulse Dendrite Synapse Nucleus Direction of nerve impulse (Terminal

endings of axon)

 

6 Standard Treatments–The Theory

 

The standard medications for depression work on the theory that

depression is caused by a deficiency of certain neurotransmitters,

namely serotonin and norepinephrine. (Other neurotransmitters that

may be involved include dopamine and gamma-amino-butyric acid or

GABA.)

 

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that has been referred to as the

brain's own mood-elevating and tranquilizing drug. In experimental

studies, low levels of serotonin have been linked with depression,

and really low levels have been observed in people who have committed

or attempted suicide.3 Many of today's common antidepressant drugs

(such as Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil) act primarily by increasing the

duration of serotonin (or other similar neurotransmitter) in the

brain, allowing it time to create more of its mood-enhancing effects.

These medications come in two basic types:

 

1) those that prevent the brain's standard uptake and recycling of

these neurotransmitters (often called selective serotonin-reuptake

inhibitors or SSRIs), and

 

2) those that prevent the breakdown of these neurotransmitters

(performed by the enzyme called monoamine oxidase or MAO).Unwanted

Side Effects–The Antidepressant Drawback

 

Unfortunately, though antidepressants are often effective in treating

depression,they carry with them various side effects that have

bothered people for years. These an include nausea, headaches,

nervousness, insomnia, anxiety, drowsiness, diarrhea, dry mouth,

sweating, dizziness, constipation and vision changes. Those

experiencing these side effects can become worse instead of better,

as they often feel more discouraged and sometimes refuse to continue

medication. In these situations, other medications can be tried, and

sometimes a different type will work better. Also, time on the

medication can reduce somewhat the experience of side effects.

However, as with any drug, the problem of side effects remains, and

thus the search for effective but more tolerable solutions has

motivated researchers to test natural alternatives. In a recent

scientific article by Dr. Theo R. Payk, it is emphasized that " the

field of pharmacotherapy currently embraces a broad range of around

40 commercially available… antidepressants with the major groups.

Since all these tend to be accompanied by adverse drug reactions…

research must now be aimed at developing substance with fewer side

effects, or at least better tolerance, without sacrificing

efficacy. " 14 " The field of pharmacotherapy currently embraces a broad

range of around 40 commercially available…antidepressants…Since all

these tend to be accompanied by adverse drug reactions…research must

now be aimed at developing substances with fewer side effects,or at

least better tolerance, without sacrificing efficacy. "

 

-Dr. Theo R. Payk

 

Potential Side Effects of Antidepressants3

 

• Nausea • Headache

 

• Nervousness • Insomnia

 

• Anxiety • Drowsiness

 

• Diarrhea • Tremor

 

• Dry mouth • Sweating

 

• Dizziness • Constipation

 

• Vision changes

 

7 The Effective Alternatives

 

St. John's Wort

 

Licensed in Germany to treat anxiety, depression and insomnia, St.

John's wort was prescribed there in nearly 66 million doses in 1994,

where it outsells Prozac seven to one.15 Natural, low-cost, and

available without a prescription, with the occurrence of side effects

that's practically nil, this extract, taken from a common flower, has

been hailed by the news show 20/20 as a " startling medical

breakthrough. " 15 Tests have yet to be completed in the U.S., though

the National Institutes of Health is already planning a 3-year

clinical trial, the first of its kind in America. However, several

studies have been conducted in Europe, all showing St. John's wort to

have a significant positive effect on depression. The Histories of a

Flower Also known as Klamath weed and goat weed, St. John's wort is a

perennial weed that grows in sunny areas in well-drained, sandy

soil.17 The small, yellow flowers can cover a field, making it

beautiful to the eye but not so appealing to farmers, who consider

the plant a nuisance. Besides the former names, St. John's wort is

often referred to by its scientific name: Hypericum perforatum.

Hypericum is a derivative of the Greek words hyper and eikon which

translate to " over " and " icon, " as in " over an apparition. " This

seems to allude to the flower's use in ancient times for protecting

against demonic possessions and " evil spirits, " as ancient Greeks and

Romans placed sprigs of hypericum above images or statues in their

homes for this purpose. " Perforatum " is based on the perforated

appearance of the leaves, notable because they contain translucent

excretory glands, which look like perforations and can be seen when

held up to the light.19 It seems there are just as many stories about

how the name " St. John's wort " came about as there are letters in the

name. One account cites the fact that the flowers bloom around St.

John's Day (June 24). Another points to the fact that the red

pigments which are exuded when the buds and flowers are squeezed were

associated with the blood of St. John the Baptist. A third refers to

an ancient English custom of throwing the flowers into a bonfire on

the eve of St. John's Day. A fourth quotes the Gaelic legend from the

6th century that tells of the missionary St. Columba, who always

carried a piece of St. John's wort because of his high regard for St.

John.19 Yet another says that the plant was espoused by St. John of

Jerusalem who is said to have used it in the time of the Crusades for

its abilities to clean and heal terrible battle wounds. The

word " wort " is an Old English term for

 

" plant. " 18 For centuries St. John's wort has been used in a variety

of ways, from an anti-inflammatory, sedative, analgesic, and

diuretic, to an antimalarial and a substance that enhances wound

healing. Even Hippocrates is known to have written

 

8 about its medicinal qualities. The tradition continued when

colonists brought the plant to America, where they continued to use

it to heal wounds, ulcers, insect bites, hemorrhages, and to cure

children of bed-wetting and nightmares. However, St. John's wort has

been most commonly used for the treatment of psychiatric disorders,

and now has been shown to significantly effective against depression.

 

How Does It Work?

 

In 1942 the compound hypericin was isolated from St. John's wort and

used to treat emotionally disturbed people.20 Indeed, researchers

still believe that hypericin is the active compound in the plant that

affects depression. However, studies have not yet proven this fact,

and since there are other compounds that may be acting on the

disorder, including various flavonoids (beneficial compounds found in

plants), the essential oil, and xanthones (compounds that are the

parents of several natural yellow pigments), scientists recommend

that the entire plant be used in any St. John's wort extract.21 In

fact, Roy Upton, executive director of the American Herbal

Pharmacopoeia, says that a whole plant extract increases the

likelihood that the product is rich in flavonoids, which may prove to

be even more active than hypericin.22 How does St. John's wort work?

It is believed that the hypericin, like the active ingredients in

other antidepressants, keeps the mood-enhancing serotonin in the

brain for a longer period of time. However, the precise method of

action remains to be determined by studies. In the meantime, clinical

studies (those involving direct observation of a patient) have

continuously and consistently shown that St. John's wort works.

Studies Show: St. John's Wort Effective A 1996 study published in the

British Medical Journal is considered the most influential recent

study on St. John's wort. Researchers from Munich and San Antonio

pooled the results of 23 European studies involving 1,757 patients to

come up with a meta-analysis, or and analysis of combined results.23

These studies, in general, involved two groups of depressed patients,

one of which was treated with St. John's wort extracts, and the other

with a placebo (inactive pill) or common antidepressant. The

antidepressants used were amitriptyline (Elavil), desipramine

(Norpramin), imipramine (Tofranil), and maprotiline (Ludiomil). At

the beginning and the end of the trials, patients were evaluated by

clinicians using standardized, generally accepted methods of

accessing the symptoms of depression.24 The results of the meta-

analysis showed that St. John's wort extracts were more effective

than placebo: 51% of patients taking the extract improved, whereas

only 22% of those taking placebo improved. Even more notable were the

comparisons with common antidepressants 64%of those on the extract

improved, compared to 59% taking drugs.23

 

St. John's Wort Shown Effective

 

Pooled Results of 23 European Studies •In Comparison with Placebo:

St. John's Wort: 51% Effective Placebo: 22% Effective •In Comparison

with Antidepressants: St. John's Wort: 64% Effective Antidepressants:

59% Effective In study after study, St. John's wort consistenly

improved depression, apathy, anxiety,sleep disturbances and feelings

of worthlessness.3

 

9 Perhaps most importantly, St. John's wort seems to fit into the

line of products being sought by researchers, since it was better

tolerated by patients than common antidepressant drugs. In this meta-

analysis, 35.9% of patients on common antidepressants experienced

side effects (most often drowsiness, dry mouth, constipation), but

only 19.8% of those taking St. John's wort reported any adverse

events (usually mild gastrointestinal complaints, allergies,

tiredness).19 A few isolated clinical trials have reported an

increased sensitivity to the sun when taking St. John's wort, and

therefore it might be wise to avoid prolonged exposure to the sun

when taking the extract, but there have been no reports of

phototoxicity despite the herb's regular use in Europe.25 In fact,

the low incidence of side effects is considered by researchers to be

St. John's wort's biggest advantage. Harrer and Schultz, authors of

one of the studies comparing St. John's wort with other

antidepressants, write, " It is generally agreed that hypericum is

effective in the treatment of outpatients with mild-tomoderate

depression. This opinion is based not only on its high degree of

efficacy, but also on hypericum's excellent tolerability. Thus, in a

drug-monitoring study with 3,250 patients, side effects (usually

mild) were observed in only 2.5% of the cases. Another trial showed

that hypericum does not have any sedative effect, nor does it

interact with alcohol, especially important in the view of patients'

ability to drive and of their fitness to work. " 21

 

SAD: A St. John's Wort Study

 

Nearly 35 million Americans suffer " winter blues " each year,

exhibiting symptoms such as weight gain, oversleeping, irritability,

fatigue and desperation. Though these can be common feelings

associated with holiday stress, doctors have found that much of the

suffering stems from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)–a depressive

disorder that occurs regularly with the onset of winter and doesn't

usually end until early spring. The disorder has been associated with

lack of sunlight: according to the University of British Columbia'sm

Mood Disorders Clinic, nearly 10% of Alaskans (people living in a low-

sunlight area of the world) may suffer from SAD, whereas only about

1% of those living in Florida fall victim to the disorder. Light

therapy, wherein a patient spends two-three hours a day exposed to

bright light, is a common treatment for SAD. A recent study, however,

noted the additional effectiveness of St. John's wort. Published in a

1994 Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, this study observed 20 people

with SAD who were given hypericum and then were treated either with

bright light or dim light. After four weeks, researchers found

hypericum significantly alleviated feelings of depression. Those

patients treated with bright light and hypericum improved the most,

and no side effects were reported.27

 

10 5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP):

 

Another Serotonin-Booster Mood-affecting neurotransmitters, such as

serotonin, epinephrine, dopamine, and gammaamino- butyric acid (GABA)

are made by components known as amino acid precursors. Amino acids

are the chief components of protein in the body, and amino acid

precursors are simply those components from which amino acids are

made. These precursors come in different types; for the purpose of

this discussion on depression, tryptophan and 5-hydorxytryptophan (5-

HTP) are mentioned. Tryptophan was used to treat insomnia and

depression in the United States and around the world for 30 years.

The theory behind its use was that it increased the levels of

serotonin and other mood-enhancing neurotransmitters in the brain.

However, when some of the product manufactured in Japan became

contaminated because of changes in the filtration process (which

included changes in the bacteria used to produce the tryptophan),

several people experienced severe allergic reactions. Tryptophan is

again coming back to the market, but since then a related compound

has shown even more promise in treating depression: 5-HTP. 5-HTP,

another component that is involved in making neurotransmitters, has

definite advantages over regular tryptophan. First, it is extracted

from a natural plant–Griffonia simplicifolia–that grows in Africa,

rather than being made in the lab with the help of bacteria. Second,

5-HTP is converted to serotonin in greater amounts than is

tryptophan: over 70% of an oral dose28 as compared to only 3% with

tryptophan.29 And finally, 5-HTP increases other neurotransmitters

besides serotonin, enhancing its side effect on mood.3 Numerous

studies have confirmed the effectiveness of 5-HTP in dealing with

depression. The compound has even shown equal effectiveness to drugs

like Prozac, Paxil, and Zoloft, yet with fewer and milder side

effects. It improved depressed mood, anxiety, and insomnia, even

enhancing the quality of sleep. This finding is especially exciting,

considering the fact that standard antidepressants often disrupt the

sleep process.3

 

B Vitamins–Also Shown to Help Depression

 

In studies of depressed patients, 31-35% have been shown to be

deficient in folic acid, one of the major B vitamins.33-35 In fact,

depression is the most common Griffinolia Seeds

 

11 symptom of a folic-acid deficiency, and folic-acid deficiency is

the most common nutrient deficiency in the world!3 A vitamin B12

deficiency is less common than that of folic acid, yet it can also

cause depression, especially in the elderly.36 & 37 Researchers believe

that the protective effect produced by these vitamins results from

their ability to supply neurotransmitters with a major component– S-

adenosyl-methionine–that assists in their function. Indeed, without

this crucial component, neurotransmitters cannot function at all.

It's like the B vitamins supplym a sort of fuel to the " good mood "

messengers in the brain. Studies in this area have shown that folic

acid supplementation has increased levels of serotonin, the

brain's " good mood " neurotransmitter.38 & 39 The dosages have typically

been high: 15-50mg. These dosages have been shown to be safe and

effective as antidepressants. However, most scientists and

nutritionists agree that regular intake of the recommended daily

value of these vitamins is sufficient to avoid deficiencies that

could lead to depression.

 

The Research Continues

 

Anne Morrow Lindbergh said, in her book Gift from the Sea: " When one

is out of touch with oneself, one cannot touch others. " If nothing

else, it seems depression takes us away from who we truly are,

forcing us to use coping mechanisms that change the way we act around

others, and worse, darken the way we perceive ourselves. Fortunately,

with the right medical attention. Depression can be treated.

Furthermore, with new natural remedies coming on the scene people can

experience relief with less discomfort or inconvenience than ever

before. In addition, we can look forward to further research here in

the U.S., as the medical community starts to realize the benefits

that nature has to offer, perhaps eventually leading to a reduction

in our reliance on synthetic drugs which often carry harmful side

effects. Already the National Institutes of Health is studying St.

John's wort, with results forthcoming within a few years. This marks

a turning point in the medicine of the future, one that promises to

offer continued relief, more convenience, fewer side effects, and an

overall higher probability for a healthy population.

 

Note: St John's wort and other natural medicines for depression may

take up to four weeks to show effectiveness.

 

" When one is out of touch with oneself, one cannot touch others. "

 

-Anne Morrow Lindbergh, Gift from the Sea

 

12 1 Karta Purkh Singh Khalsa, C.N., A.H.G., " Ending Depression, "

Let's Live (March, 1998).

 

2 " An Herb to Alleviate Depression? " Tufts University Health &

Nutrition Letter (January, 1998).

 

3 Murray M., Pizzorno J., The Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine

(California: Prima Publishing, 1998).

 

4 Miller A.L., " St. John's Wort: Clinical Effects on Depression and

Other Conditions, " Alternative Medicine Review 3,

 

No. 1 (1998).

 

5 " A Natural Remedy for Depression? " The Johns Hopkins Medical Letter

(October, 1997).

 

6 " Put Smiles on Your Customers' Faces,' Vitamin Retailer (January,

1998).

 

7 " Turning Sad Into Glad, " Energy Times (January, 1998).

 

8 Kauffman S, " Duke to study humble herb's depression-fighting

qualities, " The News & Observer (Thursday, October

 

2, (1997).

 

9 Mondimore F.M., Depression, The Mood Disease (Baltimore and London:

The Johns Hopkins University Press,

 

1990).

 

10 Gold M.S., The Good News About Depression (New York: Villard

Books, 1987).

 

11 Mondimore F.M., Depression, The Mood Disease (Baltimore and

London: The Johns Hopkins University Press,

 

1990).

 

12 Carter S., Clayton L., Coping with Depression (New York: The Rosen

Publishing Group, Inc., 1990).

 

13 Murray, M.T., 5-HTP, The Natural Way to Overcome Depression,

Obesity, and Insomnia (New York: Bantam

 

Books, 1998).

 

14 Payk Th.R., " Treatment of Depression, " Journal of Geriatric

Psychiatry and Neurology 7, Suppl. 1 (October, 1994).

 

15 " A Natural Remedy for Depression? " Health After 50 (October, 1997).

 

16 " Second Opinion, " Mayo Clinic Health Letter 16 (May, 1998).

 

17 Miller A.L., " St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum): Clinical

Effects on Depression and Other Conditions, "

 

Alternative medicine Review 3, No. 1 (1998).

 

18 Snow J.M., " Hypericum perforatum L. (Hyperiaceae), " Protocol J.

Bot. Med. 2 (1996), 16-21.

 

19 Upton R., et al., St John's Wort (Hypericum Perforatum): Quality

Control, Analytical and Therapeutic Monograph

 

20 The Little Herb Encyclopedia, The Handbook of Natures Remedies for

a Healthier Life (Woodland Publishing).

 

21 Harrer G., and Schultz V., " Clinical Investigation of the

Antidepressant Effectiveness of Hypericum, " Journal of

 

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34 Carney M.W.P. et al., " Red Cell Folate Concentrations in

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623-36.

 

This brochure is intended solely as an informational/educational

pamphlet and is not intended to promote any specific

 

brand of vitamin, mineral or herbal supplement. Should you require

advice for any particular health reason it is advised

 

that you consult your doctor.

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