While medical studies show alternative therapies such as herbs and dietary supplements may help depression, anxiety, insomnia and memory problems, doctors warn they may not mix well with strong prescription medications. Dr. Adriane Fugh-Berman of George Washington School of Medicine in Washington, D.C., and Dr. Jerry Cott of the National Institute of Mental Health say most patients who use alternative therapies do not tell their physicians and that could spell trouble.
Cott says a review of medical literature shows almost one in five prescription drug users also use herbs and/or high-dose vitamin supplements. That raises concerns about herb-drug, herb-herb and nutrient-drug interactions -- about which little is known.
Writing in the current issue of Psychosomatic Medicine, the researchers say a growing body of scientific evidence shows these over-the-counter remedies often work -- but how they work and what dangers they pose are poorly understood. Researchers say of the 23 studies done on St. John's wort, all show patients who used it experienced significant relief from symptoms of depression.
The study finds 42 percent of American consumers used alternative remedies in 1997 -- up from 34 percent in 1990 -- mostly for chronic pain, anxiety, fatigue and other long-term ailments. Statistics show people spent $90 million for gingko, a memory enhancer; $86 million for energy-boosting ginseng; and $48 million for St. John's wort, an antidepressant.
