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Original poster

St John's wort?

30 replies

BlossomHill · 21/05/2004 09:28

I have been thinking of trying St John's Wort as I do not get on with AD's. Does anyone have any experience with these. Thanks BH

OP posts:

secur · 21/05/2004 09:36

Message withdrawn

sponge · 21/05/2004 09:47

Definitely be careful if you are on the pill. I have a friend who got pregnant whilst on the pill because of taking St John's Wort - she alreday has three kids and they weren't planning on more!
However if you can use another form of contrception (or want to get pregnant ) then apparently it is quite effective as a natural pick me up.

Original poster

BlossomHill · 21/05/2004 11:29

OMG I def. do not want to get pregnant but am using the coil. I don't think it will interfere with the coil will it??

OP posts:

secur · 21/05/2004 11:38

Message withdrawn

gloworm · 21/05/2004 11:44

blossonhill, its banned in Ireland so I can't give too much advice. it has been shown repeatadly to be as effective as prozac. lots of people use it for depression or just as a bit of a pick-me-up when under the weather.
it interferes with a lot of medication such as Pill,HRT, heart medication and others.
Definatly go to a GOOD health shop or medical herbalist for more advice (would not recommend Holland and Barret as in my opinion they are more interested in your money than your health!)

Are you on any medication?

susanmt · 21/05/2004 11:45

Yep, St JW interferes with the workings of the mirena coil.

Chandra · 21/05/2004 12:17

Well, I have heard many things about St Johns wort and I decided to give it a go, and I don't know what happen but from being a bit depressive I become very aggressive, I found myself yelling at my husband at all times, I even told him I didn't want to live with him any more and many other things that I wouldn't have though about even in my bad days.... As soon as I stopped taking it the problem dissapeared. I don't understand why it happened as my diet and my routine were in general the same, the only other medicine I was taking was Neurofen for my headaches, so I guess I may be one of those few persons who have a sensitivity to it, which brang me to the point that not for being a herbal medicine is totally safe for all.

Original poster

BlossomHill · 21/05/2004 15:55

Thanks everyone for all of your kind advice. Just feeling down and finding it hard to concentrate/focus. Have tried 2 types of ad's and they made me feel so weird, I was literally buzzing all over and could not sleep - which made me feel worse. Maybe I just need to sort it out on my own. TBH I had PND after the birth of my son now aged 6years. Haven't felt right since although had medication at the time.

OP posts:

lou33 · 21/05/2004 16:13

It's not recommended if you are epileptic either.

hmb · 21/05/2004 16:16

Don't take it if you are an epileptic as it increases the possibility that you will have a siezure. This happened to a freind of mine. It also interacts with a number of prescription medications. Discuss it with the herbalist and mention it to your gp and pharmacist if later one other drugs are prescribed for you. It is effective, but just like any other drug can have side effects and interactions.

mamalou · 22/05/2004 17:18

Hi,I took a herbal remedy called Rhodiola as I had heard about the problems with St. Johns Wort. It worked brilliantly for me, aiding stress levels, increasing energy and lifting my mood. I am not aware of any contraindications but it is best to check. If you do a search on the internet you are bound to find some info on it. I just hope I have spelt it correctly!

hmb · 22/05/2004 17:31

Can I just put in a general word of warning. Any herbal preparation that is effective (and there are lots) has the potential to cause side effects and drug interactions. If it is effective, it means there is a chemical present which has an effect on the human body, and side effects can happen. A reputable herbalist should be able to help and phramacists can help to give information on potential interactions.

For example grapefruit juice can inrceace the speed at which blood pressure medications are cleared from the system. Just because something is 'natural' it doesn't mean that it is risk free.

JJ · 22/05/2004 18:08

I thought St John's Wort was an SSRI? But unlicensed as such because it was an herb and they skipped round those drug regulations with clever advertising.

I agree with hmb, they work because there's an active ingredient. As with anything, you should know the side-effects, etc. Just because it's "natural" (and like a highly processed pill is natural!) doesn't mean it's safe.

Try homeopathy for no side effects.

gloworm · 22/05/2004 20:02

mamalou, rhodiola is a great suggestion. it has far less drug interactions than st johns wort. you can't take it if on anti-depressants/tranquilizers/sleeping tablets etc but it is fine with all other types of medicine. my husband takes it and says its fantastic. we also have a lot of satisifed customers taking it.

blossomhill, I can get u more info on it if you want.

Original poster

BlossomHill · 22/05/2004 21:01

Gloworm - thanks that would be really helpful if you could. I really need to try something but hate anti-d's as they make me feel literally on another planet.

OP posts:

gloworm · 22/05/2004 21:03

will get back to u on mon. night

kizzie · 22/05/2004 21:18

gloworm - would be really interested to hear about the rhodiola.

I took seroxat for 4 1/2 yrs (2 1/2 trying in vain to come off it) then finally switched to prozac 6 months ago. The switch was so horrific that I ended up having to take valium.

Finally stopped the prozac 3 weeks ago but struggling. I really really want to avoid AD's again because they have caused me so many problems.

Ive also just started taking oil of evening primose/ starflower oil.

(Still taking 2mg valium per day but plan to try and come off this over the next month.)

Hope u dont mind me jumping on this thread.
Kizziex

Original poster

BlossomHill · 22/05/2004 21:25

Kizzie - I was on Seroxat for 6 months after my ds aged 6 was born (Had PND). Had so many problems with sleep and other side effects.
TBH I haven't really ever got over the PND, my dd aged nearly 5 also has special needs so that doesn't help!!! Sorry to hear that you are having problems and hopefully rhodiola may be worth thinking about! Blossom Hill

OP posts:

gloworm · 25/05/2004 15:08

sorry about the delay...shop has been really busy lately and haven't had time to look up the info on rhodiola yet...will definatly do it sometime this week!

kizzie · 25/05/2004 16:25

Thanks for letting us know gloworm.
Kizziex

gloworm · 30/05/2004 11:45

here is the info on Rhodiola (sorry its taken so long)

its a herb.
its a type of herb known as an adaptogenic. this means it helps you body adapt to physical, mental and emotional changes. It increass your intolerance to stress. it normalises the way the body responds to stress.it reduces anxiety-related symptoms associated with stress.

its an anti-depressant. it increases levels of serotonin (sometimes called the happy chemical) in the brain by 30%

helps with irritability.

also:
improves memory and learning skills and concentration.
is a male sexual tonic/helps impotence.
improves immune system, especially after a viral infection.
is a good antioxidant.
improves energy levels, combats fatigue.
helps sleeping problems.

AVOID if on anti-depressants or anti-psychotics or sleping tablets. It doesn't interfere with pill etc.
AVOID if pregnant or breastfeeding.

I think this is a fantastic remedy.
Hope this helps.
if you want any more information just ask

Original poster

BlossomHill · 30/05/2004 17:46

Thanks Gloworm that sounds like just what I need

OP posts:

kizzie · 30/05/2004 23:26

Thanks Gloworm . Ive had a really difficult weekend. Im trying sepia (as recommended by Toothache ) but think Im going to need something else. Am considering this or St johns wort. (Im not on the pill or anything so dont need to worry about the interactions.)

(Am still taking 1 1/2mg valium perday (which I had to start to cope with the withdrawal effects from AD's) so guess Id need to come off that first before trying the rhodiola. (?)

Thanks again Gloworm.

Blossom - if you try it will u post back to say how you got on (please). As Ill have to wait a while till I get off everything it would be good to hear from you.
Kizziex

gloworm · 31/05/2004 07:20

kizzie you would need to come off valium first.

you can take it with sepia (at different time of day)

gloworm · 31/05/2004 07:26

kizzie while you waking to come of valium you could try this...go to your health shop (prob not holl&barr, although they may do it)...ask for "Jan de Vries Flower Essences". there are about 8 remedies in the range. Mood essence will prob suit u best, although ask about the others too (female, relaxing, emergency to name a few)

the good thing is they can be taken along side ANY medication and ANY herbal remedy. making ideal for you to try

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