.... to ask for people’s experiences with St John’s Wort

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Going through some difficult times and feeling quite low so thinking about giving it a try. I’ve never taken it before so would be interested to hear people’s positive or negative experiences/advice/reasons for taking it/duration/dosage etc...? Thanks!

Why don’t you go to the Dr and get an antidepressant that’s actually right for you? StJohns wort can really mess with other medication and because it’s not regulated, levels can vary in batches. Not the beat thing for an already fragile mental health.

Hi I took this in my 20's. I felt that it really helped, to stabilise my mood and lift me out of a mild depression. I didnt feel that my depression was severe enough to warrant anti-d's but had suffered with these long "dips" in mood since late teens. (I had been in a very bad place a few years previously and had been on prozac so was confident that I recognised the difference but also very aware that I did not want to go back to that place).

However I was not taking any other medication. It can interfere with this (including the contraceptive pill) so if you are on anything else I would steer clear. Herbal medicine can be amazing but needs to be used with caution and research.

I cannot remember the dose but it would have been the recommended on the packaging dose. I know it helped me, it has been shown to assist with persistent low moods, but anything more that (where thoughts are darker or a "low mood" is starting to affect your life significantly) you should see your gp. Herbal medicine is not a replacement for proper medical care and counselling.

Also using the term "low mood" to differentiate between mild depression and more severe and not to minimise in any way ..... I know I have been in various places in my mind in my time and that's how I describe it to myself so I can verbalize the difference iyswim

I found it work for very mild depressive episodes while with a husband who wouldn't let me take real antidepressants even while suicidal and severely depressed. It interacts with other meds though including the pill. Please please don't be scared of taking 'real' antidepressants. They don't alter your personality and you can easily (not painlessly!) wean off them should you want to, though there is no shame or problem in taking them long term.

I’m not on any other medications so don’t need to worry about interactions.

Thank you all for your thoughts. I’m sorry to hear about your husband’s lack of support @MrOnionsBumperRoller. I hope you are in a better place now.

I like it. I was on prozac for years but became sensitive to it and came off it.

in contrast to others I would say try SJW first. But take car if on anything else it can stop the pill working etc. It is prescribed in Germany for depression. I find it gentler than prozac and less 'buzzy' but for me that is a good thing.

Oh also get a good brand one of the German ones. This might be of interest

"Overall, the St. John's wort extracts tested in the trials were superior to placebo, similarly effective as standard antidepressants, and had fewer side effects than standard antidepressants."https://www.cochrane.org/CD000448/DEPRESSN_st.-johns-wort-for-treating-depression.

I think it's a good thing. Or could be. Only you can decide OP. Keep monitoring it, in the foreseeable future and if you decide you need to go and see the GP then that's fine do so.

I think people are too flippant and blasé about suggesting AD's. I have total respect for actual depression, when it's severe.

But feeling down, because you've got a number of legitimate issues, all at the same time, that would cause any person at all, to struggle, is NOT the same thing.

I would recommend St John's Wort. It really helped me, it did take about two to three weeks before I noticed a 'lift' in how I was feeling. Holland and Barrat also have a similar remedy named Kalms that doesn't interfere with contraceptives.

I am taking 425mg twice a day but that is after coming off prozac, it says one a day for most people, that seems to help. I take this one as 60 tablets seemed a bit cheaper than the 30 packs www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B002Q0XRSO/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_image_o03_s00?psc=1&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&ie=UTF8

Also exercise can really help

I took it for four months and found a real difference, it had a lovely calming effect on my anxiety.
I came off it though as it was interfering with my coil and I was having so much breakthrough bleeding ( no need for contraception at that point) .
I had tried ADs but the nausea was quite bad with them and St. John's wort had no similar side effects . It was my GP who reccomended it.

I took the Holland & Barrett one a day dose for almost a year when I was struggling with a difficult work situation. It didn't feel to have any tangible effect but just taking it felt like a hopeful act so I kept on with it until the situation was resolved. If I'd been worse I'd have gone to the GP, but I think it's worth trying if you're still at the 'unsure if this is bad enough for a-d's' stage and want to feel like you're taking steps for self-care. Agree with exercise too, that had more effect for me.

I took it in my twenties when I wasn't depressed but did have low mood and was really stressed by work. As I remember it it made me feel more relaxed, lifted and lighter, on the negative side it did give me irregular periods and some random bleeding, but nothing major.

I'm my thirties I took two different types of prescription antidepressants, both had major effects on my stomach, killed my appetite, but did successful treat depression, really difficult to come off though and I suffered really poor sleep when withdrawing

On paper I have had a very stressful life. However I don't have a depressive personality, never had a depressive illness, but have had the usual reaction to life's upsets. I've taken a good quality St. John's wort for years and feel it helps me stay on a more even keel. Research shows it helps people like me but would not help with serious depression. I am the sort of person who also benefits from talking therapies.

That all sounds very positive. I’m in Australia so can’t get the brand a few of you recommended easily or cheaply, but found one I can get here with good reviews online. So I’m going to try that. Also planning to get back into some exercise now I’ve stopped BF and my son is older. Thanks very much, everyone!

Just be careful in the sun, I got really badly burnt once whilst I was taking it (sat outside for 30 minutes on an overcast day). One of the side effects I didn't know about was it can make your skin more photosensitive.

Spontaneous I am also in Australia which St Johns Wort have you found?

Hello, I'm looking for tried and tested recommendations for St Johns Wort (UK or German brands). I believe GPs in Germany prescribe St Johns Wort over antidepressants. I'm on Levothyroxine but I know to take supplements 4hrs after taking it. I wouldn't say I have depression probably more like low mood and more so during the winter. I just feel like I would benefit from a little lift. (I'm on vit D/K2 so those levels will be fine. My B12 is also fine) thought I'd mention that. Thanks in advance x