Download PDF
Homeopathy 2012; 101(04): 204-210
DOI: 10.1016/j.homp.2012.08.001
 
Copyright © The Faculty of Homeopathy 2012

A systematic review and meta-analysis on the use of Hypericum perforatum (St. John's Wort) for pain conditions in dental practice

Christa Raak
1   Center for Integrative Medicine, Faculty of Health, University of Witten/Herdecke, Gerhard-Kienle-Weg 4, 58313 Herdecke, Germany
,
Arndt Büssing
1   Center for Integrative Medicine, Faculty of Health, University of Witten/Herdecke, Gerhard-Kienle-Weg 4, 58313 Herdecke, Germany
,
Georg Gassmann
2   Institute of Periodontology, Faculty of Health, University of Witten/Herdecke, Germany
,
Katja Boehm
1   Center for Integrative Medicine, Faculty of Health, University of Witten/Herdecke, Gerhard-Kienle-Weg 4, 58313 Herdecke, Germany
,
Thomas Ostermann
1   Center for Integrative Medicine, Faculty of Health, University of Witten/Herdecke, Gerhard-Kienle-Weg 4, 58313 Herdecke, Germany
› Author Affiliations
Subject Editor:
Further Information

Publication History

Received30 November 2010
revised30 July 2012

accepted01 August 2012

Publication Date:
29 December 2017 (online)

Also available at
    Permissions and Reprints

Background: Hypericum perforatum (St. John's Wort) has been used for a variety of medicinal indications. Most recent research has focussed on its use in herbal form for depression, but its claimed analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties in homeopathic form have also led to a number of studies in patients with acute pain conditions. This systematic review overviews the literature on the use of St. John's Wort for pain conditions in homeopathic dental practice.

Material and methods: PubMed, EMBASE, AMED, CAMbase and the electronic archives of Thieme Publishers were searched with the search terms “(Hypericum OR St. Johns Wort) AND pain”. We reviewed and meta-analysed the evidence on Hypericum in pain after tooth extraction was carried out.

Results: Twenty one relevant articles were found: four described general recommendations, three basic research, six reported studies in dental care and eight were expert opinions or case reports. Four studies were eligible for the meta-analysis. There was marked high heterogeneity in the effects pain (Chi-Squared = 26.46; I2 = 0.89). The overall effect of 0.24 (95% CI: [0.06; 1.03]) favours Hypericum but is not statistically significant.

Conclusion: Although case reports suggest therapeutic potential of Hypericum for pain conditions in dental care, this effect is not currently supported by clinical studies. All studies included in this meta-analysis used Arnica montana as well as Hypericum the results are more influenced by Arnica than Hypericum. Further clinical controlled trials of Hypericum alone in dental practice should be performed.

Keywords

Hypericum perforatum - Meta-analysis - Systematic review - Dental care - Pain
 

  • References

  • 1 Kasper S. Hypericum perforatum – a review of clinical studies. Pharmacopsychiatry 2001; 34 (Suppl. 01) 51-55.
    Thieme ConnectPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 2 Gunther R.T. The greek herbal of dioscorides. Hafner Publishing Company; 1968.
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 3 Guernsey H.N. Philadelphia In: Guernsey Joseph C. Keynotes to the Materia Medica . 1887.
  • 4 Clarke J.H. A dictionary of practical Materia medica . Neu Dehli: Jain Publishers Pvt. Ltd; 1992.
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 5 Ebert H. Zur Homöopathie der migräneartigen Kopfschmerzen – Migränermittel, eine praktische Systematik wahlanzeigender Symptome. ZKH 1980; 24 (06) 242-244.
    Thieme ConnectPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 6 Foubister D.M. Therapeutische Winke für Anfänger. ZKH 1963; 7: 41-48.
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 7 Friese K.H. Homöopathische Schmerztherapie bei HNO-Erkrankungen. Allgemeine Homöopathische Zeitung 1998; 243: 91-96.
    Thieme ConnectPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 8 Raak C.K., Büssing A., Ostermann T. Homöopathie in der Zahnheilkunde – Eine systematische Übersicht von Arzneimitteln und Indikationen. Erfahrungsheilkunde 2010; 59 (01) 23-33.
    Thieme ConnectPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 9 McGarry H., Pirotta M., Hegarty K., Gunn J. General practitioners and St. John's Wort: a question of regulation or knowledge?. Complement Ther Med 2007; 15 (02) 142-148.
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 10 Levenson D. Physicians should increase knowledge of herbal remedies. Rep Med Guidel Outcomes Res. 2001; 12 (15) 7-9.
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 11 Zlotogorski Hurvitz A., Littner M. Potential risks, adverse effects and drug interactions associated with herbal medicine in dental patients. Refuat Hapeh Vehashinayim 2004; 21 (02) 25-41.
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 12 Ostermann T., Zillmann H., Raak C.K., Buessing A., Matthiessen P.F. CAMbas – a XML-based bibliographical database on Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM). Biomed Digit Libr 2007 Apr 3; 4: 2.
    PubMed
  • 13 Moher D., Liberati A., Tetzlaff J., Altman D.G. The PRISMA Group. Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: the PRISMA statement. PLoS Med 2009; 6 (06) e1000097.
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 14 Borenstein M., Hedges L.V., Higgins J.P.T., Rothstein H.R. Introduction to meta-analysis. Chichester, UK: Wiley; 2009.
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 15 National Collaborating Centre for Methods and Tools. Quality assessment tool for quantitative studies. Hamilton, ON: McMaster University; 2008. (Updated 13 April, 2010). Retrieved from: http://www.nccmt.ca/registry/view/eng/14.html.
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 16 Wicht H. Homöopathie und Naturheilkunde in der zahnärztlichen Praxis. Allg Hom Ztg 1953; 198 (11/12) 230-236.
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 17 Steinlechner F. Zahnheilkunde und Homöopathie I. Allg Hom Ztg 1976; 221 (04) 147-153.
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 18 Steinlechner F. Homöopathie in der Zahnmedizin. Allg Hom Ztg 1985; 230 (04) 157-161.
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 19 Raspe T. Erkrankungen im Bereich der Mundhöhle I. Z Klass Hom 1978; 22 (05) 213-215.
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 20 Vogel HH. Homöopathie in der Zahnheilkunde. Homöopathie in der Zahnheilkunde. In: 12. Europäischer Zahnärztlicher Fortbildungskongress, 1980, Davos.
    PubMed
  • 21 Stay F.P. Homeopathy In Dentistry. Health World Online; 1996. www.healthy.net/Library/books/DentalRemedies/Homeopathy.htm (letzter Zugriff 31.03.2009).
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 22 Bhat S.S., Sargod S.S., George D. Dentistry and homeopathy: an overview. Dent Update 2005; 32 (08) 486-489.
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 23 Freihöfer B.C.U. Homöopathie und Zahnheilkunde. Naturheilpraxis 2004; 57 (10) 1463-1466.
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 24 Sardella A., Lodi G., Demarosi F., Tarozzi M., Canegallo L., Carrassi A. Hypericum perforatum extract in burning mouth syndrome: a randomized placebo-controlled study. J Oral Pathol Med 2008; 37 (07) 395-401.
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 25 Mathie R.T., Farrer S. Outcomes from homeopathic prescribing in dental practice: a prospective, research-targeted, pilot study. Homeopathy 2007; 96 (02) 74-81.
    Thieme ConnectPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 26 Albertini H., Goldberg W., Sanguy B., Toulza C.L. Homeopathic treatment of dental neuralgia by Arnica and Hypericum. Journal of the American Institute of Homeopathy 1985; 3: 126-129.
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 27 Bendre W., Dharmadhikari S.D. Arnicamontana and Hypericum in dental practice. Hahnemann Gleanings 1980; 47: 70-72.
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 28 Rafai N., Lüdtke R., Riediger D. Recovery after third molar surgery – are homoeopathic Arnica and Hypericum perforatum effective?. Focus on Alternative and Complementary Therapies 2004; 9 (S1): 41-42.
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 29 Lökken P., Straumsheim P.A., Tveiten D., Skjelbred P., Borchgrevink C.F. Effect of homoeopathy on pain and other events after acute trauma: placebo controlled trial with bilateral oral surgery. BMJ 1995; 310 (6992): 1439-1442.
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 30 Badran Z., Boutigny H., Struillou X., Baroth S., Laboux O., Soueidan A. Tooth desensitization with an Er:YAG laser: in vitro microscopical observation and a case report. Lasers Med Sci 2010 Sep 1; [Epub ahead of print].
    PubMed
  • 31 Malta L.A., Baccetti T., Franchi L., Faltin Jr. K, McNamara Jr. J.A.. Long-term dentoskeletal effects and facial profile changes induced by bionator therapy. Angle Orthod 2010 Jan; 80 (01) 10-17.
    PubMed
  • 32 Sari E., Sari T. The role of acupuncture in the treatment of orthodontic patients with a gagging reflex: a pilot study. Br Dent J 2010 May 22; 208 (10) E19.
    PubMed
  • 33 Fischer R.D. Dentistry and homeopathy: an overview. Journal of the American Institute of Homeopathy 1985; 78 (04) 140-147.
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 34 Linde K. St. John's wort – an overview. Forschende Komplementärmedizin 2009; 16 (03) 146-155.
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 35 Levatin J. Homeopathy: general information on prescribing and administering homeopathic medicines. In: Loo M. Integrative Medicine for Children. 2009. Elsevier; 469-471.
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 36 Mohammadi R., Amini K., Charehsaz S. Homeopathic treatment for peripheral nerve regeneration: an experimental study in a rat sciatic nerve transection model. Homp 2012; 101: 141-146.
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 37 Hammer K.D., Yum M.Y., Dixon P.M., Birt D.F. Identification of JAK-STAT pathways as important for the anti-inflammatory activity of a Hypericum perforatum fraction and bioactive constituents in RAW 264.7 mouse macrophages. Phytochemistry 2010; 71 (07) 716-725.
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 38 Birt D.F., Widrlechner M.P., Hammer K.D. et al. Hypericum in infection: identification of anti-viral and anti-inflammatory constituents. Pharm Biol 2009; 47 (08) 774-782.
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 39 Paterniti I., Briguglio E., Mazzon E., Galuppo M., Oteri G., Cordasco G. Cuzzocrea S effects of Hypericum Perforatum, in a rodent model of periodontitis. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2010; 10: 73.
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar