st johns wort?

Question

how affective is this natural remedy and does it have any bad side affects?

is it useful to use to help depression or mostly just for nerves? its depression i want it for before i try any anti-depressants, is this a good treatment or is there another one i should use?

thanks rockwife, i will have a look for both and ask one of the people who work in the health store which is more effective, thanks:)

Answer 1

Some people find it effective for mild depression. For anything more severe, GP's advise is needed. Everyone is different, so what one person suffers in side effects, another person wouldn't.

Answer 2

St. Johns Wort is about the only herbal remedy which has been tested scientifically and shows some effect on depression. But careful: it also interferes with other meds (so see your doctor first if you are using any meds, or tell your doctor you are using it if he/she is to prescribe some meds for you), and can cause you to bleed more easily, which is troublesome should you need an operation (tell the anesthesist!) or have a tooth pulled.

Answer 3

I can only speak for myself, but as an anti-depressant, it really didn't work for me. I would instead recommend Rhodiola Rosea, as an alternative to antidepressants. Below is a description which is on the packaging of my pills:

Rhodiola rosea, also known as Arctic or Golden Root. Classed as an “adaptogen”, Rhodiola helps to regulate and balance the systems of the body, including the mind and nervous system and the hormonal system.

Rhodiola is widely used for enhancing cerebral function such as memory and mood, and is believed to be a more powerful antidepressant the St John’s Wort. It is useful to reduce stress and regulates the body’s reactions to stressful situations. Rhodiola can help the body recover after physical exertion and increases stamina and resistance to infection.

It is also said to have a positive effect on the heart, and has possible indications in stroke patients due to its ability to regulate the heartbeat and blood pressure.

I bought it off a place called RefreshOrganics on eBay (after quite a lot of research, there's a lot of really expensive low concentrate Rhodiola Rosea tablets out there), and it's the best alternative to "normal" antidepressants that I've found! Good luck to you!

Answer 4

St John's Wort has been used in Europe as a first line treatment for depression for decades. For some it is totally effective, for others it doesn't help at all, which is true for any drug used for depression. I took it for four years, no apparent side effect that I could discern.

Answer 5

It's considered to be a mild anti-depressant; but you need to be taking it for about four months before you notice any improvement. however, it's much the same with chemical anti-depressants; it takes about 14 weeks for them to kick in properly.
It's recommended you don't take St John's Wort if you are already taking an anti-depressant, as the two might have undesirable results; but there are no side effects to taking St John's Wort alone.
Have you considered taking high-dosage fish oils, which have a proven track record in helping with depression? You can take them with any anti-depressants; they work by encouraging your brain to maufacture seretonin, the "happy"chemical. Talk to your doctor about this. I can also recommend a book by Dr. Harry Barry, called "flagging the problem"; he mentions fish oils as one of the effective ways of combating depression long term.

Answer 6

When dealing with natural supplements not all products work for all people. You also need to allow at 4-6 weeks in order to assess if they are working for you. The best way to assess is to keep a journal of how you are feeling prior to adding the supplement to your regimen.I would then keep a daily record of your symptoms. You should also make sure that you are using a high-quality supplement. Also you should use an extract. The only side effects that I am aware of increased photo-sensitivity. This is increased sensitivity to sunlight. It also might decrease the potency of birth control pills.It can also interact with other medications such as Warfarin or other blood thinners,drugs that are used to help patients with HIV, drugs that are used to help patients with cancer,drugs that are used to help patients that have a recent orgsn transplant, and antidepressants. If you are on medications, you should consult your physician prior to adding this supplement to your regimen.

Answer 7

Hi, I've taken it as I have suffered from depression in the past. It does help' lift your mood' and I have found it useful for mild depression. The only side effects I had was it made me so tired (tired enough not to drive, operate machinery). If you feel you have more than mild depresion I would see my doctor for a different type of anti-depressent.
Hope this helps! xxx

Answer 8

I tried it and I personally don't think it works. It didn't help me. There was no side effects at least none I noticed. I took it for almost 3 months. But stopped as it wasn't doing anything. Just my opinion. Some people swear by it though.

Answer 9

Its a good alternative treatment for lifting your mood if taken over a long period. Its not effective enough to treat clinical depression though.
Any women taking it shouldbe aware that it reduces the effectiveness of the contraceptive pill.

Answer 10

It's very effective, my sister used it and recommended it to me, I've used it on and off over the past few years and has helped me tremendously.
I've never suffered any side effects.