Experience of St John's Wort - anyone?

[bumblebumble]

Hello

I am thinking of taking this and read in the Nice guidance that it is not recommended. Just looking for any experiences of taking it.

thanks

Depends why you are taking it I think ... I did take it for a while a few years ago, just for "winter blues" rather than actual depression, but I can't really say whether it worked or whether it was the placebo effect! Also, if you are on the pill especially (and some other medications I think) it is not recommended as it can affect their performance. Hope someone else can give you a more expert opinion

I think if you take any medication you need to check with your doctor first to see if the St. John's Wort can affect it. My mum takes heart meds and thyroid stuff and one of them caused her GP to tell her never to take St. John's Wort (she's not allowed to eat cranberries either!).

I agree with Child that any positive effect is possibly a placebo effect, but as long as the St. John's Wort is not causing you any damage because of other meds, do you care about a placebo effect as long as there is SOME improvement?

The effect of St John's Worth is proved scientifically and it is widely prescribed in some Germanic countries. But the others are right to point out that it is tricky to combine with a lot of other meds which is i think why NICE does not recommend it, but I stand to be corrected on that one.

I tried st johns wort last winter for SAD and it made me feel worse. Also did something wierd to my vision. Really felt hellish after a while, so stopped.

Now take 5HTP and Rhodiola for SAD, plus attempt to get exercise and cut the crap out of my diet. And lots of B vits too.

St'Johns Wort is a herbal medicine that can interact with many prescription meds. But there are many others out there. Serotone stimulation products can be extremely helpful for anyone who has experienced depression of a kind, whether it be mild or quite severe.

As for Seasonal Affective Disorder try Lumie Light Boxes. They come in many different presentations and all budgets.

What's really good about these light boxes is that SAD is considerd to be an illness and therefore does not attract VAT! Although the body clock devices unfortunately do attract VAT.