Scenario

Your friend, Julia, suffering from depression, has been taking prozac as prescribed by her doctor since September. After hearing about the natural remedies, she decided to start taking St. John's wort the following May. Without consulting her doctor, she began the St. John's wort and stopped taking prozac after 2 weeks assuming that the herb could take over at that point. Was Julia's decision sound? Should she continue taking the herb. Find information from the listed web sites to support your response.

Task :

Assuming your assigned role, you are to answer the questions found on the sites corresponding to your role.

Researcher: Answer the following questions:

1. Describe the herb.
2. Where does the herb come from?
3. What parts are used medicinally?
4. What is the recommended dosage?

Visit these sites to find your information.

• National Institute for Health
• Go Ask Alice Site at Columbia University
• Herbs for Health (go to topic menu and find your herb)
• Guide to Supplemental Medicine

Herbie's Herb Company Sales Representative: Answer the following questions:

1. What is the suggested use of this herb in alternative medicine?
2. What studies have been done to verify its use as a cure for these ailments?

Visit these sites to find your information.

• MSNBC site
• Go Ask Alice Site at Columbia University
• Guide to Supplemental Medicine

NIH representative: Answer the following questions:

1. What are the possible side effects experienced while taking this drug?
2. What interactions with other drugs are possible?
3. What precautions would you recommend to someone considering self-treatment with this drug?

Visit these sites to find your information.

• Side effects
• Drug Interactions
• Search Herbal Safety

Go to Guide to Supplemental Medicine For what is this company denying responsibility in their disclaimer?

Product

After completing your miniquest search, compile the information for your role, meet with the other persons studying the same herb and formulate an argument to present to Julia. Based on your findings, decide whether Julia should have taken the herb and should she continue to take the herb.