ADHD Not Helped by St. John's Wort

In addition to traditional prescription medication, some parents turn to herbal remedies for treating their child's Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. But a study conducted by Bastyr University in Washington has found that on of the more popular herbs, St. John's Wort, is not an effective treatment for ADHD.

"[Lead author Wendy] Weber and co-workers recruited 54 children with ADHD aged between six and 17, and randomly assigned them to receive a daily supplement of 300 mg of [St. John's Wort]... or placebo for eight weeks... At the end of the study, the researchers reported no significant differences between the groups with respect to inattentiveness or hyperactivity."

The researchers aren't ruling out St. John's Wort completely, noting that it may be beneficial when combined with other herbs or medication. But as a stand-alone treatment it appears to be ineffective. Source: NutraUSA

St. John's Wort Doesn't Help Children with Attention Deficit

St. John's Wort, an herbal remedy for depression, does not help children with Attention Deficit Disorder/Hyperactivity (ADHD), according to a joint study from scientists at Harvard University, Bastyr University, and the University of Washington.

Wendy Weber, lead author, divided 54 children with ADHD into two groups. One group took St. John's Wort three times a day, and the other took a placebo. After eight weeks, the two groups showed no significant difference in their symptoms or side effects.

This study appears in the Journal of the American Medical Association.