Does st. john's wort really help against depression?

Question

if it doesn't, what will help that is cheap and doesn't need a prescription?

Answer 1

I tried it and it had terrible side effects - I started getting manic, had to stop it right away. Fortunately I was seeing a doctor at the time and he got me back on some better meds.

I wouldn't use it or recommend it. I would suggest fish oil for anxiety, and I use something called "Body Balance" - you can buy it retail or online from Life Force International. $$$ but it acts like a powerful antidepressant for me. It's made out of sea vegetables and is all natural - vitamins and minerals, nothing artificial.

Answer 2

Only the biologically active kind can help to a degree for some people.  Otherwise, dont' just buy it because it says it has the ingredient on the label.  

Dietary supplement companies make false label claims all of the time because they are not regulated, so the FDA came out with GMP guidelines for nutritional companies to volunteer their proof if they have nothing to hide.

Look for pharmaceutical grade nutritional products with GMP standards on the label.

Otherwise, what's cheaper than cheap is free.  Physical activity of any kind, like walking 20 minutes a day has been clinically proven to reduce depression.

Answer 3

prayer is free. no prescription needed and God is always home with a sympathetic ear.Try it he can do miracles.

Answer 4

St. johns wort can help. Other herbs that may help are valerian root, damiana, ginseng, licorice, ginko, ginger. Any herbs that you take, do some research to see if they will interact with any other medications you may be taking.

I would advise figuring out the source of the depression and learning skills to cope with it and to eliminate it through healing the cause.

Exercise can help also making dietary changes like eating more fresh, raw veggies, some cooked veggies and some fruit limiting caffeine,  sugar, alcohol and gluten.

gluten is in many grain products that we eat every day and if you are sensitive to gluten it can cause deep depression.

Answer 5

Yes it really works but it might interfere with other prescription drugs if you're taking any at the moment.........there are lots of other stuff you can take and do but you didn't mention your age!!! :-(

If you're not VERY young, you can take just

30 mg Co-Q-10 /day and take a high potency B-complex vitamins which will help allot with depression......

Co-Q-10  is a bit expensive if you're looking for a cheap way to overcome it but it's really effective.

If you get lots of natural sunlight & a moderate exercise + fresh water+ clean air & good sleep you will be on the right track to recovery......

Good Luck

Answer 6

It can help, but don't take it if you are on any other medication. St. John's Wort has a lot of interactions with perscription meds that can kill you.

Answer 7

At the moment there is interest in DHA (found in fish) and mild mental disorders like depression and anxiety.

I have not actually read the studies on them yet so I cant really say much more than that but the current recommendation is 2-3 fish containing meals per week. You could try a supplement too.

St Johns Wort does have some pretty nasty drug/nutrient interactions. It can interfere with prescription antidepressants. So if you end up taking it, stop if before you start taking perscription meds.