Dietry Supplements Safer Than Drugs

Dietary Supplement Proven More Effective And Safer Than Drugs -- Again!

A scientific study published in this week's edition of the British Medical Journal shows that not only is the herb St John's wort more effective in all clinical measures than a drug commonly used to treat mild to moderate depression, but it is incredibly safer.

The study, which took place in 40 psychiatric, internal medicine, and general medicine practices in Germany, is the 33rd randomised clinical trial that proves that St John's wort is not only a very safe product but it is as or more effective than commonly prescribed prescription medicines.

Apart from a dry mouth, there were 700% more adverse reactions to the drug tested than to the commonly used dietary supplement. Patients taking the drug were 533% more likely to stop treatment than those taking St John's wort.

Ron Law, Executive Director of the National Nutritional Foods Association, is not surprised by the results. "St John's wort has been used for centuries to maintain and restore wellness. This is simply more compelling scientific evidence that dietary supplements are extremely low risk and very effective healthcare products."

"There has been a considerable amount of speculation recently about the safety of St John's wort," said Ron Law. "There is some evidence that medicines used by organ transplant and HIV patients are affected when patients also take St John's wort."

Ron Law encourages consumers to download the information at http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/321/7260/536 and http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/Profs/Safety/sjw.htm and discuss these with their healthcare practitioners.

"This will help healthcare practitioners learn about the safety and efficacy of complementary healthcare products with an extremely long history of safe use," says Ron Law.

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