Alternative therapies: Part I. Depression, diabetes, obesity

Natural supplements are widely used in the United States and, while claims of their therapeutic effects abound, medical research does not always suppo rt their effectiveness. St. John's wort acts as a weak selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor with fewer side effects. S-Adenosylmethionine (SAMe) has enough of an antidepressant effect to warrant further research. More human studies are needed before garlic, bitter melon, soy and fenugreek suppleme nts can be recommended for the management of diabetes, although chromium ma y be a promising treatment in some cases. Alpha lipoic acid is used in the treatment of diabetic neuropathy. The effects of ma huang/guarana combinati ons in obesity have not been well studied. These combinations may have pote ntially serious side effects but may also offer some benefit. The combinati on of hydroxycitric acid and garcinia has proved no more effective than pla cebo.