Protocol development in integrative medicine is not typically a simple process. Individuals require individualized care, and what works for one patient may not work for another.
To establish these protocols, we first developed a Rating Scale that could be used to discern the rigor of evidence supporting a specific nutrient’s therapeutic effect.
The following protocols were developed using only A through C-quality evidence.
A
Systematic review or meta-analysis of human trials
B
RDBPC human trials
2+ studies and/or 1 study with 50 + subjects
C
RDBPC human trials
1 study
Neurological Support – Mood Health
St John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum)
600mg, total per day of 0.3 % hypericin and 1-4 % hyperforin standardized formula, minimum 6 weeks2,4,5,6,7
- Hypericum perforatum demonstrated similar efficacy to SSRIs including criteria like remission rate, Hamilton-Anxiety Scale and depressive symptoms in patients with mild to moderate depression1,2
- Improvement in relapse rates, Hamilton-Anxiety Scale, Beck Depression Inventory time courses and greater over-all improvement (Clinical Global Impressions (CGI) scale) was observed. In addition, Hypericum perforatum demonstrated a potential for prophylactic effect in patients with chronic depression or depression alone5,6,7
- Link to interaction white paper: Nutrient Interactions
930-1400mg EPA 200-750mg DHA, total per day, minimum 12 weeks11,12
- Dietary n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) were shown to lower the risk of depression8,9,10
- Increased levels of red blood cell EPA, DHA and ratio were correlated with improved remission rate12
Rhodiola (Rhodiola rosea)
340mg, total per day, minimum 6 weeks14,15
- Cell response to stress was shown to be regulated by rhodiola, which in return, positively impacted overall mood13
- Overall depression symptoms including insomnia, somatization and emotional instability were improved15
- A decrease in the Hamilton-Anxiety Scale was observed with fewer adverse effects than sertraline14
Disclaimer
The Fullscript Integrative Medical Advisory team has developed or collected these protocols from practitioners and supplier partners to help health care practitioners make decisions when building treatment plans. By adding this protocol to your Fullscript template library, you understand and accept that the recommendations in the protocol are for initial guidance and may not be appropriate for every patient.
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10
Systematic review or meta-analysis of human trials
a
13
Systematic review or meta-analysis of human trials
a