St. John's Wort and the treatment of mild to moderate depression: a systematic review.

A systematic review of randomized controlled trials was conducted to determine the efficacy of St. John's Wort (SJW) in the treatment of mild to moderate depression. The Boyak and Lookinland Methodological Quality Index was used to evaluate the studies. Despite methodological concerns, all studies demonstrated a significant drop in the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale scores for clients taking SJW compared with placebo or pharmaceutical antidepressants. Practitioners may find SJW a viable complementary treatment alternative to traditional medical treatment. The results should encourage further research to validate these findings and seek the most appropriate preparations and dosing for this popular herb.