Hypericum perforatum (St John's wort) in depression: pest or blessing?

St John's wort (SJW) was introduced into Australia during the 1880s for med icinal purposes, but was subsequently declared a noxious weed. There is now a resurgence of interest in the therapeutic properties of this herb. In pa rticular use of SJW as an antidepressant has increased in recent months owi ng to reports of its effectiveness and safety. Nevertheless, the controlled trials available have limitations, increasing use of SJW in the community poses a variety of questions. For example, should medical practitioners bec ome more knowledgeable about the effects and interactions of alternative re medies? What are the ethical and medical implications of "antidepressant" p rescribing by non-medical per,sons? Who is to fund further research and tre atment studies? How can quality of SJW preparations be guaranteed?