August 1998
Natural Alternatives to Prozac

Prozac is the most commonly prescribed drug for depression, with more than six million Americans taking it regularly. This may be a problem because, according to naturopathic physician Michael T. Murray, N.D., "Prozac has long been one of the most controversial drugs ever developed because of it's dark side, namely, its ability to cause violent, aggressive, and even suicidal behavior in some people."

According to Murray, "An extract of St. John's wort... is perhaps the most effective natural antidepressant available." St. John's wort is a shrubby perennial plant with numerous bright yellow flowers commonly found in dry, rocky soils, fields, and sunny places. Its effectiveness has been thoroughly tested in a total of 1,592 patients through twenty-five double-blind controlled studies.

In these studies, St. John's wort extract was shown to produce improvements in many psychological symptoms including depression, anxiety, apathy, sleep disturbances, insomnia, anorexia, and feelings of worthlessness. The most impressive aspect of St. John's wort is that it achieved these benefits without producing any negative side effects.

Dr. Murray also suggests kava extract as an alternative to Prozac. Historically, the kava extract's predominant use was in the religious ceremonies of the South Pacific, but in the past 110 years there has been a number of detailed scientific investigations on its relaxing and anti-anxiety effects.

In one study, where fifty-eight patients suffering from anxiety were given 100 mg of kava extract three times daily for four weeks, symptoms of anxiety, such as feelings of nervousness, and somatic complaints, such as heart palpitations, chest pains, headache, dizziness, and feelings of gastric irritation, were either totally eliminated or greatly reduced. Again, the positive effects were gained without side effects.

The chapters on St. John's wort and kava extract are merely the beginning. Other supplements detailed by Murray in Natural Alternatives to alleviate depression include Ginkgo Biloba extract (especially for the elderly), Melatonin, and amino acid compounds like S-Adenosyl-Methionine (SAM) and gamma- aminobutyric acid (GABA). With each alternative supplement description Murray also offers information on dosages and addresses many of the safety questions the reader might have. Natural Alternatives to Prozac is a sensational source of information for people seeking a natural supplement remedy for depression.