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Original poster

St Johns Wort....an alternative that worked for me

21 replies

Rosa1 · 21/02/2006 21:34

Hi..
I was feeling really low with PMT...makes a change from PND...when I read this article \link{http://observer.guardian.co.uk/magazine/story/0,,1707293,00.html about PND ..which made me cry as it was so how I felt for months after having my son. Anyway the article made me remember mumsnet which I used to use alot to try to find some advice after denying I had PND for ages,despite scoring 19 on the Edinburgh test.
The reason I am writing is that my doctor..when I finally went.. recomended St Johns Wort as an alternative to anti depressants and I took it for about 2 months...it started working really quickly..within a week...and has no side affects. Just thought someone out there may want to give it a go. Good luck and it does get better. Even just admitting to myself that I had to do something made me feel more in control and positive.

OP posts:
fransmom · 21/02/2006 21:45

hi rosa1 i'm new to posting messages but thought i would try. i wanted to try st.john's wort but my doc didn't know anything about it and certainly didn't recommend it. was only because i had heard about its benefits previously that i wanted to try them.
you mentioned the edinburgh test - what's that? and what's it do or say?
back to the st.john's wort - i have problems with my memory at the mo, and with taking tablets generally. does it really work that quick?
sometimes i don't feel that i have my fiance's support and that i'm doing it on my own (trying to cope with a growing baby and what i think is quite bad pnd) so it was a glimmer of light _ not quite sunshine yet - that someone else is growing through the same thing {smile]i'm sorry for offloading onto you

Babydaze · 22/02/2006 00:53

St Johns Wort worked for me. My doc did recommend St Johns Wort but prescribed anti depressants & counselling at first. I was on anti depressants for about 6 months which did help me( & the counselling was good too!) but I wanted a natural alternative. So I researched St John's Wort. I weaned myself off the anti depressants & took St John's Wort 3 times a day. You need to find the dose that suits you. Take it slowly. I was on St John's W. for about a year. It really was the 'Sunshine herb' for me. But do be careful. Don't stop taking it when you think you're better. You need to wean yourself off it slowly & constantly monitor your moods. There are lots of books on it that are worth reading. (The Edinburgh Test is a set of questions given by your health visitor to check if you are suffering or are lively to develop pnd. I think it's fairly recent. I was given it back in May last yr. but never had it with my other children). And the St John's Wort took a couple of wks. to kick in for me. Depression is so so horrible. But I feel like a different person these days! There is light at the end of the tunnel. Take good care.

loulounz · 23/02/2006 19:09

St Johns Wort worked for me too - I was feeling suicidal at times because of my nasty divorce, and after taking this (one tablet a day) I feel much better. There have been other changes in my life as well which could have contributed to my happier mood, or it may just have the placebo affect but I definitely feel LOTS better.

I stopped taking it when I was feeling really ill, so I could take other medicines etc as I know you have to be careful taking things with it as it reduces their affect, and I had no ill affects - no need to be weaned off it at all.

I would definitely recommend it to anyone who doesn't want to take anti-d's for whatever reason.

lilianna · 23/02/2006 19:29

hi it also worked for me but did make my sex drive high, i also know others who have said the same.

expatinscotland · 23/02/2006 19:32

IIRC, however, it can cause some hormonal forms of birth control to fail. something to keep in mind!

fransmom · 23/02/2006 19:45

ah thanks thats really nice of you babydaze and loulounz. i did go for what i thought would be counselling last summer but it just turned out to be an assessment! i have my dd on my lap, she went to bed (she was tired) i think it was a bit soon after her tea - she just been sick but it was shepherds pie and smells vile!! poor wee lass.vvvvvvv thats from fran,jv l k.x better go see you later

billiejo · 23/02/2006 20:12

does anyone knowif it's safe to take when breast feeding?

billiejo · 23/02/2006 20:12

does anyone knowif it's safe to take when breast feeding?

billiejo · 23/02/2006 20:41

bump

fransmom · 23/02/2006 21:21

i'm not entirely certain. it might be worth contacting a homeopath for advice. one of my friends from walsall knows one, so if i can get in touch with her, i shall ask for you. i should still ask one though i don't know how you'd go about it.

i didn't know about that side effect tho

fransmom · 24/02/2006 23:23

bump to billiejo

Original poster
Rosa1 · 25/02/2006 22:19

Hi again..sorry its taken a few days to get back to the website...thanks to very lively 1 yr old!
I breastfed ..and still am..while I took St Johns Wort...my doctor said it was fine. I didnt have to wean myself off it slowly either and had no side effects. I was definitely feeling suicidal too at times..and it had a positive effect within a week.
As for the increased sex drive...I think that could also help the PND...a great way to release tension and stress! Goodluck

OP posts:
Original poster
Rosa1 · 25/02/2006 22:22

Oh I forgot to say that I took it for about 3 months ...bad memory too!

OP posts:
misdee · 25/02/2006 22:26

i also took it when i had PND after having dd1. the anti-d made me feel worse and i had a funny reaction to prozac, so i tried st johns wort. think i was taking it for about 6months in the end. it worked for me.

fransmom · 25/02/2006 22:29

i have to say thanks to every one on this thread. it helped me feel better and a little more positive than i have been doing lately. i even felt better about taking sjw and although i haven't taken any for quite a while, i shall be when i sign off for tonight x so thanks again every1

eve2005 · 25/02/2006 22:39

my mother used to give me st.johns when i was a teenager as i was depressed, suicidal and had a tendancy for self harm and all it did for me was make me nauseous. i'm not anti herbal, in fact quite the opposite i always look for herbal and holistic solutions first but st.johns can be dangerous, has actually been made illegal in some countries and pescription only in many others due to side affects.

if you're serious about trying something safe and natural try going to a homeopath and having them prescribe something specifically for you.

sorry for being negative, just wanted to give you all another perspective before you make a decision

chipmonkey · 25/02/2006 23:36

Its been prescription only in Ireland for a while. I know lots of people who used to take it but would never go to a GP to say they were depressed. Feel sorry for them now.

eve2005 · 25/02/2006 23:41

you in ireland too chipmonkey? i'm in galway!

the prescription thing is the only reason my mom stoped forcing it down my throat! i cheered up a fair bit after that.... until she started asking my dad to buy it overseas, moved out at that point and oddly enough haven't been depressed since!

eve2005 · 25/02/2006 23:43

sorry, went on a bit of a tangant there.

st.johns can be fantastic for alot of people but it really shouldn't be self prescribed.

chipmonkey · 25/02/2006 23:45

I'm in Meath, Eve! Been doing MN for about a year now, since ds3 was born. Occasionally visit rollercoaster and magicmum though. But they're not as addictive as Mumsnet!

eve2005 · 25/02/2006 23:48

i know, got the book when dd was born and ROFL, been posting for a couple of months and it's really addictive, the more threads i'm on the more i need to come see what other people think! nice to know i'm not the only one in way over my head!

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