Does St Johns Wort Work and Where is the Best Place to Buy it

[sarahstwins]

Has anyone has experience of real success with St Johns Wart for what I think is mild but long (building up over the last possibly 5 years) depression? Also where is the best place to buy and how do you know what strength to buy?

Any help or advise would be appreciated.

Thanks x

Hi sarahatwins,

I had a really bad time after having my second child. We had moved house when i was eight months pregnant, only to find the land behind us had been bought by a traveller family who intended to bulid an illegal encampment. My son arrived shortly afterwards by c section after a long attempt at a natural birth (really disappointed). I then tried to behave like superwoman and became really ill. I couldn't sleep, felt like i was going mad, cried ALL the time and felt very black. I am so glad I asked for help though. I went to my GP who gave me antidepressants. I took them for two days and they made me feel like I wasn't myself anymore; I felt completely unreal. So I told my lovely husband that I wasn't going to take them anymore and that I would find every herbal remedy that I could to get me through. My darling man stood right by me. It makes me cry now just to think of his support.

To cut a long story short, I started taking St John's Wort, and also Valerian to help me sleep. It took a good four months before I felt brave enough to consider stopping the tablets, but my son is now 10 months old and I can safely say that I am better. I just felt increasingly that I was in control of things more.

My GP was very supportive although he would have preferred me to take the medication.

So, yes, it does work! I bought it from my local chemist. Make sure you get a recommended one. I think mine was distributed by Pfizer. Although I'm not sure. I'll do some research and get back to you on that.

Hope you feel better soon.

Gremlin.

make sure you discuss any other medication with a pharmacuist or doctor.

St Johns wort can affect other meds.

Don't take it if you are epileptic

I've got some but haven't taken it yet as it can make the skin more sensitive to sunlight, so I am waiting for the summer to finish.

I'm also thinking of consulting a medical herbalist rather than going it alone.

thanks, I think I'll go and have a chat with the chemist.