ST JOHN'S WORT BAN PROMPTS A BOUT OF DEBATE

It was only to be expected that the Irish Medicine's Board would continue drawing flak for its heavy handed clampdown on the availability of St John's Wort, a herb used by thousands of people to combat mild depression.

Since January 1, health shops have been banned from selling the product now only available by prescription as a result of a Government order.

Many people will endorse yesterday's protest at the Board's headquarters where the Green Party sought the lifting of the ban. Its call for a separate regulatory body for complementary and traditional medicine merits in depth debate.

The embargo was introduced following medical journal reports of adverse reactions among some users of the medicine. However, the Health Products Alliance knows of no side effects among the 75,000 people who purchased the herb in Ireland last year. It seems ridiculous that, despite imposing an Irish solution on yet another Irish problem, the importation of St John's Wort for personal use does not breach the restrictions. The Republic is now the only EU state where it cannot be sold over the counter.

Amid the furore surrounding the humble herb, there is a growing perception that the powerful pharmaceutical industry will benefit handsomely from the decision to restrict sales of a traditional form of this alternative depression remedy which people have been using for centuries.