Overcoming Depression 101
St John's Wort and Depression
by David Schupbach
David Schupbach 
In my ongoing research into Natural methods for overcoming depression, I have found a lot of useful information.
The Black Dog Institute is attached to the Prince of Wales Hospital and affiliated with the University of New South Wales.
One of such is their fact sheet on the use of St John's wort, and it's effects. (read it here)
Personally, I have used it for several years with varying benefits. It is no 'cure-all', but it does have some beneficial effects.
However, like any other medication, it need to be used with some common sense. Mixing it with doctor -prescribed medications may have ill effects, as it can amplify the adverse effects of certain medications.
Basically, St john's Wort acts as a Serotonin Uptake Inhibitor, but is not beneficial to people with Melancholic Depression.
Consult with your Physician for more information on whether this herb would be helpful to you or not.
Dec 28th 2007 02:51
In my ongoing research into Natural methods for overcoming depression, I have found a lot of useful information.
The Black Dog Institute is attached to the Prince of Wales Hospital and affiliated with the University of New South Wales.
One of such is their fact sheet on the use of St John's wort, and it's effects. (read it here)
Personally, I have used it for several years with varying benefits. It is no 'cure-all', but it does have some beneficial effects.
However, like any other medication, it need to be used with some common sense. Mixing it with doctor -prescribed medications may have ill effects, as it can amplify the adverse effects of certain medications.
Basically, St john's Wort acts as a Serotonin Uptake Inhibitor, but is not beneficial to people with Melancholic Depression.
Consult with your Physician for more information on whether this herb would be helpful to you or not.
Dec 28th 2007 02:51
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Comments
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Cheryl Baumgartner
  Medical Billing/Coding/InsuranceI've been hearing all about St John's Wort but I like to know what something is supposed to do. This is one of the older wise woman cures from way back in the day ranking right up there with willow tea. Dec 28th 2007 08:01 |
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Eric Smith
Online ProfessionalWillow Tea... WOW i haven't heard that for years. Its natures own Aspirin and very... "numbing" :o)... Dec 28th 2007 14:41 |
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Cheryl Baumgartner
Medical Billing/Coding/InsuranceMy Grandma would use a bit of cloth soaked in willow tea for toothaches. it worked better than Orajel Dec 28th 2007 14:45 |
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Jean DAndrea
RetiredWatch it with the St John's Wort, especially if you are pale skinned. I've read that it can increase the effect of UV rays on your skin. Not something you'd want to happen. If you are going to use natural remedies, please find out as much about them as you can first. Contrary to common belief, natural remedies are not all harmless. Dec 28th 2007 15:03 |
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Eric Smith
Online Professionaltrue, but in general its the association with other "prescribed" medications that cause the problems in many. There are also those who have allergies to certain plants - peanuts for example. I read a case once where someone who was allergic to peanuts had a facial spa using a mud pack with a peanut base... thank goodness they had an EpiPen. Sometimes people believe they are allergic to a certain fruit or vegetable but it is possible the allergy is coming from the chemicals the plant was grown in... Dec 28th 2007 16:07 |
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Beth Schmillen
Hi Everyone just stopping by to say Happy New Year! great info Mo! and thanks for the link... I've used St Johns Wort before and found it wonderful but it can be a bit too much wonderful! (smiles) Beth Dec 28th 2007 16:24 |
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David Schupbach
Thanks for the input everyone! I personally have had good results with SJW, but everything is different for everybody. One of the reasons for this group is so we can all pool our knowledge and experience. One of the problems today, with remedies that worked well in the past, is the chemicals in our bodies that didn't exist 50 years ago. Like Eric says, sometimes its the interaction with pharmaceuticals. Dec 28th 2007 20:57 |
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Jennifer Underwood
PromoterOh man....see I learn new things everyday.... I really and truly thought this stuff was for warts? Guys, sorry.....lol :0( See...I do HAVE A LOT TO LEARN!!! Dec 28th 2007 21:02 |
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MichaelAp Clayton
 I Earn My Income Online ...Join MeHi Rolma I like natural remedies. I am a great believer in the power of honey to kill infections.. Will have go do a post on it soon. I did do one at Writingup but that site is now down. Rolma I also use penny wart , I eat 2 leaves every day as it can stop arthritis. It helped my late mother free her fingers which would no move for a few years. Dec 29th 2007 23:38 |
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Jenny Stewart
St John's Wort has become a popular alternative to conventional medical treatment for MILD clinical depression. However, although it is very successful on mild cases and those of modd swings, there are a couple of things to watch out for. Firstly, it is unlikely to be adecuate treatment for a severe clinical depression. Secondly IT CANNOT be taken together with conventional treatments - it may have the reverse effect and is incompatible. Otherwise - it is a wonderful alternative for many people who do not need stronger treatment and saves them from getting onto the "chemical train" Dec 30th 2007 10:20 |
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Jenny Stewart
Hi Dave, Just one other comment. I have just seen the comment by Michael "I like natural remedies". And so do many of us. But I want to add my BUt (there had to be a BUt didnt there?LOL) Natural remedies are medicines in many cases and some are very potent. Natural medicines yes, but still medicines. It is always safer to speak to someone like your doctor BEFORE starting a course of natural treatment. There are many medicines that are incompatible with each other, or with a given condition that the person may have., whether they are natural or not. St. John's Wort is one, but there are many many others. I suspect that this omission to check WHAT you are taking may be responsible for the failure of a lot of natural remedies and in certain cases, the worsening of a person's health. Dec 30th 2007 13:37 |
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Eric Smith
Online ProfessionalHomeopathically speaking even arsenic can be considered a remedy. Dec 30th 2007 14:23 |
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David Schupbach
This is true, Jenny and Eric. Even oxygen can be harmful in excessive amounts. Many people are unaware, or fail to take into account, the fact that you must research thoroughly any time you are doing self-medication. Many health professionals will tell you that self-medication will not work, based upon their observation of patients that did no, or insufficient research before starting a natural supplement. However, the side effects of commonly prescribed anti-depressants far outweighs those of herbal supplements in most cases. For example: Tricyclics, commonly used to treat depression: Contraindications: Do not use these medicines if you have heart problems, if you drink alcohol, while you are taking other sedatives and tranquilizers, and while you are taking some cold medicines and stomach remedies. Adverse Reactions: Anxiety, brainfog, inability to concentrate normally, feverish feeling, increased perspiration, restlessness, sleep difficulties, and trembling. Other common side effects of this class of drugs include blurred vision, constipation, dilation of pupils, dizziness when standing up quickly, dry eyes, dry mouth, palpitations, rapid heartbeat, sedation, sensitivity to light, sexual dysfunction, urinary hesitancy, and weight gain. Side effects of each individual drug are listed below. Source: http://www.healingwithnutrition.com/ddisease/depression/depressiondrugs.html Jan 5th 2008 22:24 |
I had read an article about St Johns Wort and Mild Depression a couple of years ago but i hadn't read this formal study. Thanks for the link and information.
Dec 28th 2007 03:43