I've just started taking St John's wort. I'm curious to know if there are any side effects or things like that....(I know its herbal and natural...but you never know)
2006-09-17 03:09:35 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Alternative Medicine
Side effects of St John's Wort can be dizziness, insomnia, restlessness, fatigue, constipation, abdominal cramps, light sensitivity, rash and hypersensitivity. None of them very serious, just annoying. There is a pretty long list of drug interactions that can cause the side affects. If you are not on many prescription drugs than you will probably have very few side effects. Drugs St John's Wort interact with are ACE inhibitors, some diuretics, amphetamines, other antidepressants, antiretrovirals, immunosuppressants , NSAIDS,SSRI,, MAO inhibitors, and oral contraceptives.
If you are on the pill, use another method of birth control when on St John's Wort. I have a beautiful grandson because of St John's Wort making birth control pills a lot less effective. Just listen to your body and follow your instincts if this is a good herb for your body. Getting in touch with your feeling and what your body is telling you will help you feel better also Good luck..(-:
2006-09-17 04:38:20 · answer #1 · answered by CYNDI Y 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Do not use if pregnant or breastfeeding without talking to your doctor first.
If you are on other medicines check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking St John's Wort.
There shouldn't be any side effects, it is just food after all. If you do have any problems I would be very interested to hear about it. I am a nutritional consultant, so you are always welcome to contact me if you wish.
Incidentally, St Johns Wort is only a fraction of a very powerful approach to health. You've made a great choice there to start with.
Take Care!
2006-09-17 03:16:48 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
"The most common adverse effects include gastrointestinal upset, skin reactions, fatigue/sedation, restlessness or anxiety, sexual dysfunction (including impotence), dizziness, headache, and dry mouth. Several recent studies suggest that side effects occur in one to three percent of patients taking St. John's wort, and that the number of adverse events may be similar to placebo (and less than standard antidepressant drugs). Animal toxicity studies have found only non-specific symptoms such as weight loss. One small study reported elevated thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels to be associated with taking St. John's wort.
It has been reported that St. John's wort may cause psychiatric symptoms such as suicidal and homicidal thoughts; these symptoms were documented in a case of a 51 year-old woman who had been taking vitamin C and an herbal extract of St. John's wort for 9 months.
Delayed ejaculation has been reported in animal studies."
-nat standard patient handout
looks like its well tolerated so there arent very many but some people do notice side effects. from what ive heard its suppose to have a mechanism of action pretty similar to SSRI drugs like prozac (except weaker) so the side effects are probably somewhat similar. it doesnt matter if a product is natural or not, if it works its gonna atleast some incidence side effects. what matters is how it interacts with your body and alters biochemical processes. your body doesnt care if something is natural or synthetic contrary to what the herbalists say, what matters is how it ineracts. if anybody tells you otherwise they dont know what tehyre talking about most herbal stuff doesnt have side effects simply because it doesnt do anything at all, people just have in their heads that they feel better. st johns is one of the few decent herbal remedies out there, and since it alters biochemical processes it does have a few side effects.
2006-09-17 03:28:10 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Others have mentioned possible side effects but I think all of them are extremely rare. This is an effective mood elevator for mild to moderate depression. I switched from Effexor to St. John's Wort and was on it for 8-10 years with no ill effects. It was highly beneficial to me!
2006-09-18 05:06:20 · answer #4 · answered by keepsondancing 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. Some side effects include sensitivity to sunlight, anxiety, dizziness, headache, dry mouth. St. John's wort also interacts with some medications, including birth control pills, antidepressants, warfarin and more.
2006-09-17 06:18:29 · answer #5 · answered by michele36 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
y do u take st john wort 4
herbel 2 have side effect
no unnessesary medication
2006-09-17 03:19:06 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
no,there is'nt any negative side effects to st. johns wort...
2006-09-17 05:09:39 · answer #7 · answered by Berhane Selassie I 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I noticed that I got sunburned much easier. So would advise you to use lots of sun protection if and when in the sun.
2016-03-17 22:08:15 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes it is good but it makes u sleepy
2006-09-17 03:24:36 · answer #9 · answered by Little miss naughty 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you may get hairy toes
2006-09-17 03:11:59 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋