Anxiety. St John's Wort

[Oakleaf40]

Hi all.
I'm suffering from crippling anxiety and dnt want to be under medication so looking for alternative treatments. My Doctor recommended St John's Wort. Has anyone use this before. I'm trying the Kalms tables. Any help appreciated xx thank you.

[ppeatfruit]

Yes it worked for me to get through the menopause. it is very calming for everyday anxiety. I

Can I also suggest you look at what you eat and drink. I find I get more anxious\and exhausted if I eat wheat, also too much caffiene and alcohol don't help if you have trouble with sleep.

Camomile essential oil and capsules are brilliant too.

[MiddleClassMother]

Yes I took St. john's wort for a while, it did help a little but it wasn't as strong as say diazepam. What I find works best for me is CBD oil, it's a little pricey but it works well and unlike diazepam it's not addictive.

[ppeatfruit]

Taking omega 3 helps. You can get it in linseed oil or add the ground ones to porridge. Evening primrose oil and or starflower oil are good too.

[AlexisIsMySpiritAnimal]

I have taken SJW and found it good. Kalms worked better for me though.

Can I just point out that SJW makes some contraception ineffective. I'd hate for anyone to get caught out.

[FannyFernackerpan]

Just a word of warning - I took St. John's Wort for just three days and ended up in A&E with a severe allergic reaction. I've never been allergic to anything in my life before, so it was very frightening.

Anything, including herbal remedies, can have nasty side effects as I found out to my cost.

Also as Alexis says, it can have negative interactions with other medications:

www.healthline.com/health-news/is-st-johns-wort-safe-080615#The-downside-of-St.-Johns-wort

[ppeatfruit]

Yes 'normal' ADs can give very bad allergic reactions too, of course. it's best to start gradually and check what other meds you're taking that they don't combine negatively.

For example sooo many people take branded pain killers ALL the time , like they're smarties and they're not.

[TreestumpsAndTrampolines]

I've found it noticeably helped - took a few weeks to kick in, but I remember suddenly realising that I wasn't as anxious as I used to be. I used the Boots high strength ones (I couldn't get them recently, so I've got some other brand U-Calm I think - I don't like them as much though)

I also take evening primrose oil (another one that I didn't expect to have the effect it did - periods much less uncomfortable now).

[Ingridla]

Don't take St. John's wort if you drink alcohol, it causes liver toxicity and you will be really ill.

[PoppingCandies]

I have real anxiety and have bought SJW. Problem is I'm too anxious of the potential side affects to try it.

[ppeatfruit]

Popping Try omega 3 supplements, and cutting down on wheat, alcohol and caffeine. Esp if you OD on it. Eat plenty of fresh fruit and veg.

Then look at your other medications if you take any. Try small amounts to start and monitor your reactions, it was good for me, with camomile I got through the menopause without anything else.

[PoppingCandies]

All good advice. I definitely over indulge in both caffeine and sugar. I have SJW tea. Is that a lower dose compared to the pills? I got it as it seemed safer than the pills somehow.

[PoppingCandies]

@Oakleaf40 Anxiety is awful. I'm sorry you are struggling. I hope you can find something to help manage it soon. Xx

[TreestumpsAndTrampolines]

Don't take St. John's wort if you drink alcohol, it causes liver toxicity and you will be really ill.

Do you have a source for that? Only I've read it's being used to help people reduce their alcohol intake, so it would be odd if that were the case.

I've just googled, and can't find any suggestion of this (although it does interact with other medications as mentioned above, and apparently for some people alcohol can increase the side-effects of St Johns Wort)

[FannyFernackerpan]

@PoppingCandies

I have real anxiety and have bought SJW. Problem is I'm too anxious of the potential side affects to try it.

Don't let my experience put you off. Possible side effects with SJW are supposed to be far less than with pharmaceutical ADs. I was just one of the unlucky ones.

I took a tiny dose too - recommended dosage was 3 capsules per day with meals. I took one on the first day, two on the second day, and had only taken one on the third day when the allergic reaction started and I ended up in A&E. Ironically I was only trying SJW because I was too scared to take the Citalopram my GP had prescribed.

[ppeatfruit]

Popping Yes the tea is less concentrated than supplements it's mixed with water of course. That does depend on the supplements; People forget that most supplements like normal medics. are not 'pure' so we might also be allergic to one of the 'fillers' used.

I only buy Viridian in Eng. because it's the only company that doesn't use fillers. Some herbalists do sell pure 'loose' herbs of course.

[Ingridla]

@TreestumpsAndTrampolines

Don't take St. John's wort if you drink alcohol, it causes liver toxicity and you will be really ill.

Do you have a source for that? Only I've read it's being used to help people reduce their alcohol intake, so it would be odd if that were the case.

I've just googled, and can't find any suggestion of this (although it does interact with other medications as mentioned above, and apparently for some people alcohol can increase the side-effects of St Johns Wort)

I have personal experience. Every time I had a couple of drinks I would extremely poorly the next day, puking until my stomach was empty then almost turning myself inside out bringing up green bile and the lining of my stomach for hours on end. I ended up researching it myself as I could t figure out what was going on and the culprit was St John's Wort. As soon as I stopped taking it stopped.

[ducktape]

SJW has worked very well for me in reducing anxiety but I had to be careful with contraception. It can also make you photosensitive. DH also has anxiety and depression and had been on sertraline for about a year then came off last winter. Over the summer with lockdown etc he had a relapse, but didn't want to go back on sertraline. Dr recommended trying a combination of valerian (aids sleep) and 5HTP. We got this from amazon and it worked surprisingly well. 5HTP does not seem to have as many interactions as St John's Wort. I am definitely much more chilled out with SJW not sure I would have made it though this year without it tbh

[alexdgr8]

i think you have to be extra careful with your skin, esp if having any treatment, due to extra photo-sensitivity.

[ppeatfruit]

Of course we're all different and have varying reactions to ALL medications and foods, many of the 'normal' ones shouldn't be taken with alcohol.

IMO and E Anxiety and depression is caused by too much alcohol and caffiene. It can also be triggered, in some people , by wholewheat. Surprisingly.

[Arnoldthecat]

Longer term i would suggest that you focus on mind and body. Take up yoga or pilates. Take up mindfulness,meditation,relaxation techniques. You need to focus on mind and body. Meds or natural remedies are sticking plasters. Seek out a book called brilliant CBT by doctor stephen briers.

[ppeatfruit]

Arnold Eating and sleeping correctly is the way to improve both one's mental and physical health. I agree about the exercises of course but the 'sticking plasters' are necessary because very very few people know the right way to eat. The mainstream way is basically the wrong way. The herbal remedies are very helpful with that.

[Arnoldthecat]

Agreed, i do the eating,sleeping,exercise and mindfulness. We dont live normal lives. Humans should never be forced to live like hamsters on a wheel or performing seals

[ppeatfruit]

True, or living with 5 screens on the go. I just reminded myself I shouldn't be on line with the radio on. Just doing one thing at a time is considered weird now! Even at home!