ST. JOHN'S WORT
Place in Therapy
Place in Therapy
There is currently insufficient evidence to support a role of St. John’s Wort (SJW) in PMS. The few studies that do exist are flawed with many limitations. Considering the lack of safety evidence to support the long term use of SJW (>3 months) and the vast number of interactions that are known to exist between SJW and conventional therapies it would be advisable to first try other alternatives for PMS with better safety and effectiveness profiles until further research is done.
References:
1. Canning S, Waterman M, Orsi N et al. The Efficacy of Hypericum perforatum (St John’s Wort) for the Treatment of Premenstrual Syndrome A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. CNS Drugs 2010; 24(3): 207-25.
2. Dante G and Facchinetti. Herbal treatments for alleviating premenstrual symptoms: a systematic review. Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology 2011; 32(1): 42–51.
3. Hicks SM, Walker AF, Gallagher J, Middleton RW and Wright J. The Significance of “Nonsignificance” in Randomized Controlled Studies: A Discussion Inspired by a Double-Blinded Study on St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum L.) for Premenstrual Symptoms. J Altern Complem Med 2004; 10: 925-32.
4. Natural Standard. St. John’s Wort Professional Monograph. Accessed from www.naturalstandard.com. Accessed on July 17, 2013.
5. Stevinson C and Ernst E. A pilot study of Hypericum perforatum for the treatment of premenstrual syndrome. Brit J Obstet Gynaec 2000; 107: 870-6.
There is currently insufficient evidence to support a role of St. John’s Wort (SJW) in PMS. The few studies that do exist are flawed with many limitations. Considering the lack of safety evidence to support the long term use of SJW (>3 months) and the vast number of interactions that are known to exist between SJW and conventional therapies it would be advisable to first try other alternatives for PMS with better safety and effectiveness profiles until further research is done.
References:
1. Canning S, Waterman M, Orsi N et al. The Efficacy of Hypericum perforatum (St John’s Wort) for the Treatment of Premenstrual Syndrome A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. CNS Drugs 2010; 24(3): 207-25.
2. Dante G and Facchinetti. Herbal treatments for alleviating premenstrual symptoms: a systematic review. Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology 2011; 32(1): 42–51.
3. Hicks SM, Walker AF, Gallagher J, Middleton RW and Wright J. The Significance of “Nonsignificance” in Randomized Controlled Studies: A Discussion Inspired by a Double-Blinded Study on St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum L.) for Premenstrual Symptoms. J Altern Complem Med 2004; 10: 925-32.
4. Natural Standard. St. John’s Wort Professional Monograph. Accessed from www.naturalstandard.com. Accessed on July 17, 2013.
5. Stevinson C and Ernst E. A pilot study of Hypericum perforatum for the treatment of premenstrual syndrome. Brit J Obstet Gynaec 2000; 107: 870-6.