Is St Johns Wort any use?

Question

For someone with mild depression and a lot of anxiety would this tablet produce any noticeable benefits? Has anyone found it to be good?

Answer 1

I've had a relative who used it and it worked for her.

Answer 2

no - yet another farce that our government has allowed consumers to be duped by.

Answer 3

In my experience, St Johns Wort can be effective for mild to moderate depression, but if it gets severe the best advice would be to see your GP.

Now, is it effective for everyone?  The answer to this would have to b a resounding no. There is no one treatment suits all in depression (or any other mental ill health as a matter of fact).  It will suit some people but not others.

As to side effects.  Sometimes it can make some people a bit light headed in the first few days of taking it, but that usually goes away quite quickly.  Other side effect are:

"St John's wort may cause increased sensitivity to sunlight. Other side effects can include anxiety, dry mouth, dizziness, gastrointestinal symptoms, fatigue, headache, or sexual dysfunction.

Research shows that St John's wort interacts with some drugs. The herb affects the way the body processes or breaks down many drugs; in some cases, it may speed or slow a drug's breakdown. Drugs that can be affected include:

Indinavir and possibly other drugs used to control HIV infection

Irinotecan and possibly other drugs used to treat cancer

Cyclosporine, which prevents the body from rejecting transplanted organs

Digoxin, which strengthens heart muscle contractions

Warfarin and related anticoagulants

Birth control pills

Antidepressants

When combined with certain antidepressants, St John's wort may increase side effects such as nausea, anxiety, headache, and confusion.

St John's wort is not a proven therapy for depression. If depression is not adequately treated, it can become severe. Anyone who may have depression should see a health care provider. There are effective proven therapies available.

It is important to inform your health care providers about any herb or dietary supplement you are using, including St John's wort. This helps to ensure safe and coordinated care". (http://www.medic8.com/healthguide/articl...  Viewed 02/09/2008 )

I found it to helped me a great deal during periods of mild to moderate depression.

See the website below for further information

Good Luck

Answer 4

I think it would. Herbal remedies (also see Omega 3 oils, sam-E, valerian root, etc) are proven to work well for mild to moderate depression.

Answer 5

Did not work for me.

Answer 6

gave me the runs, i take valerian - H&B - along with my imipramine

Answer 7

Tried it and all I found was that it made me really tired.

Not recommended that you take it with any other medication without your doctor knowing.

Answer 8

You'd have to read the label or consult your GP if you're not sure - but do NOT take this tablet if you are epileptic. If you're not sure, read here - http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/special_repor...

Answer 9

my friend took it and found that it helped her. i think anything is worth a try before moving onto stronger prescription drugs.

Answer 10

Yes it is very good and the Bach flower remedies (which work on the emotional side).  Everyone I know who suffers or has suffered depression and has taken anti-depressants has not had any improvement!  Sometimes the anti-d's made them worse, which is just what you don't need but it tells you that on nearly all the side-effects list that its a possibility.

On the other hand everyone I know who has taken St.johns Wort (including myself) has noticed improvements.  I know people who have been on anti-d's for yrs with no change and then they have come off them and gone on st.johns wort and felt better than ever!

Whoever 'PRINCE' has had his information from is completely wrong.  The government don't get anything from people buying St.Johns Wort more than they do if you buy bread! In fact they don't like it, as it means less people are having prescription meds (the pharmaceutical industry is worth billions and the government are linked with this in a big way and get millions of pounds in tax from the industry).

Prescription meds are made from scientists looking at herbs to see how they work and what makes them work, etc and then rather than saying we've found this great herb to cure cancer or depression (because it can't be patented, therefore they can't make billions off it) they try and recreate it in a lab. but they don't manage to do it as good as nature and there fore we end up with an unbalanced, man made inferior product with lots of side effects usually just so they can make money (companies and government).

Aspirin for eg. came from the Willow tree.

Sorry if I've ranted abit about this but it really gets my goat so to speak, check out this link below:  

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=y4Nob...

and this one about the motives of these huge drug companies:

http://noedb.org/library/features/25-sho...

Answer 11

5-HTP is a naturally-occurring amino acid, a precursor to the neurotransmitter serotonin and an intermediate in tryptophan metabolism.

It is also used as a dietary supplement for use as an antidepressant, appetite suppressant, and sleep aid.

Bananas and turkey are a good source of of the Tryptophan

The psychoactive action of 5-HTP is thought to derive from its effect on serotonin synthesis in central nervous system tissue. It is believed that an artificially high supply of 5-HTP causes the brain's serotonin-producing neurons to increase production. Increased serotonin production then leads to increased serotonin release.

Alot of people will tell you to stay away from this but it has worked wonders for many ADHD children who suffer from anxiety and low self esteem, there was a scare many years ago through the fault of a chinese processing plant , who didnt follow guidelines and refined it at a lower grade causeing many people to become ill and many died.

Nowadays in America there are strict guidlines to the manufaturing of this amino acid through natural process only so we are all pretty safe.

Believe me once you take it youll know what im talking about.

Answer 12

You need a stronger med than that