Meg Umans wrote in a message to Sue Alexander:
 MP> The three-year study will involve 336 patients with major
 MP> depression, of  whom one-third will receive a 900 milligram
 MP> (mg) daily dose of St.  John's wort, one-third will receive a
 MP> placebo, and one-third will  receive a selective serotonin reuptake
 MP> inhibitor.
 -> I was actually trying to figure out if they were really trying to
 -> test it or setting it up for failure.  From your answer, I presume
 -> you can't help me...oh, well.
MU> Sounds like a setup to me, Sue.  Note that the people in the trial
MU> are people with major depression.  St. John's Wort has been
MU> demonstrated elsewhere to work for people with minor depression.
     Unfortunately any "setup" may not be intentional.  The rules by which 
studies are conducted are fairly strict and studying major depression may be 
the only way to study this at all in a clinical setting.  However, 
considering how hesitant the AMA seems to be about saying that anything other 
than purified chemicals may have their benefits, I will have a "wait and see" 
attitude towards this study.
     Sue
... Find your truth where you will.  -- Richard Bach
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