St. John's Wort

[Maxtro]

As part of my plan to attack my depression I've decided to start taking St. John's Wort. I'm also going to be seeing a counselor about every other week and I work out 3 times a week.

Does anybody have any experience with the herb, positive or negative?

How long does it generally take for it to kick in?

 

[Maxtro]

Well I've been taking it for about 5 days now and I think I'm starting to feel better.

From what I've read, one normally has to take it for 2-6 weeks to get the full effect and see if it is working.

 

[KontrollerX]

Why not take fish oil capsules or eat a diet of baked fish for a good long while instead?

Lack of omega 3's can lead to a lot of bad things happening in humans such as depression and otherwise and if not lead to those things the lack of it probably contributes to a bad condition you'd have anyway.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Depression-and-Diet:-Lack-of-Omega-3s?&id=111274

 

[Quagmire911]

Other things to think about:

Get plenty sunshine. Your body makes vitamin d from it which important healthwise. Not good to supplement with it though as you can overdose. There is a theory that "winter blues" is in large part caused by a lack of sunlight and the accompanying nose dive in vitamin d levels. I would say I feel lower in the winter months. This is actually a good use for using sun beds, albeit for short durations and not too frequently.

Perhaps some baroque music would be a good idea. This is music at around 60 beats per minute. It has a calming effect on the mind and also boosts memory retention and recall, which are negatively effected by depression. Here is an example:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3qQc_QVsCs

Exercise and omega's are definites. Get at least 10g of fish oil a day. Don't know much about stjohns warts so I can't comment on that. Talking with someone might help. I'd also try and get out and socialise with friends.

Good luck.

 

[Maxtro]

Ugh, I can't stand fish.

I caught a cold last week so I bought some Vit C at the grocery and it was buy 1 get 1 free. So I ended up also getting a bottle of Flaxseed Oil - 1,000 mg. I didn't know if I should be getting Flaxseed Oil or Fish Oil. Both have Omega-3 "for heart health."

For the past few days I've been taking 900 mg of St. John's wort at night, 1,000 mg of C a day, and 1,000 mg of Flaxseed Oil a day, I just realized that the bottle says to take a pill 2 to 3 times a day. 10g a day sounds like a ton.

Living in SoCal lack of sunshine is not a problem.

I've been looking into mediation music and the like for the past couple of weeks.

I'm going to be seeing a councilor for the second time on Monday and that should be good for me. It really sucks that the only person that I can really talk to about my problems with is actually the girl that I had the fight with. She was the only close friend I have. Now that she's out of my life, I'm lonely.

I don't really have any friends I can hang out with. Tomorrow is the 1st day of spring break and I'm not looking forward to it. I'm basically going to be by myself with nobody to hang with or talk to until April 6th :sigh

 

[Interceptor]

I recall reading that St Johns wort may not be safe to take for extended periods of time. Have you researched all the data and effects of this before deciding to take it??

I think DMAE and Tyrosine may be good supplements for mental focus and brain chemistry. Also all the B vitamins too, especially Choline and Inositol.

Make sure you are going to the gym too.

 

[Maxtro]

I've done a lot of research into St. John's. Everything I read says that it has very few side effects and that there are no long term affects at all. It's also easier on the body then the standard SSRI (anti-depression) drugs.

I'll do some research on DMAE, Tyrosine and B vitamains. Heh at least I have a way to spend the time.

Yeah I'm going to the gym also. I try to go every other day.

 

[mrRuckus]

valerian root
cod liver oil has both omega3s and vit d and is cheaper than fish oil

 

[Alle_Gory]

Don't take valerian root. Too little and its useless, too much and it causes insomnia. It's not a friendly herb.

If the St.John's Wort is effective you'll notice your eyes hurt when looking at bright lights. Increased photosensitivity is one of the side effects. It will also tell you if the brand you bought is effective. There's lots of brands that aren't even worth the plastic bottle. Check out the methods the company supposedly uses to standardize the extract. You can find this on their website usually.

Exercise also helps serotonin levels. So start doing that cardio!

 

[Maxtro]

The last thing I want is insomnia. I'm actually afraid to go to bed because there's a 90% chance I'm going to wake up at 2am. I've been having constant insomnia for about three weeks. I've been going to sleep around 10:30-11, then I wake up at 2 or 3. I somehow manage to fall asleep around 4 then I get to wake up at 7:30, if I can sleep that long. This shit can't be good for my health.

I've heard about the possible photosensitive side effect of St. John's. But how do you test it? Bright lights have always hurt my eyes, that's why I always wear sunglasses when I'm outside. It also may make you sunburn easier but I'm not going to sit outside and bake just to see if I have the side effect. Though I do need a tan...

I did read that quality can differ from brand to brand. I picked it up Safeway/Vons. They only had two types and both were actually store brands. I picked the more expensive one that is labeled as USDA organic. I've got less than a month of pills left then I might pick up one of the more well known brands.

 

[Alle_Gory]

It's not about how well known the brand is, its about the quality of the product and the testing they do to make sure standardized potencies. McDonald's is a well known brand.

 

[Alle_Gory]

You might also want to try b-complex. You can go as high as 1000mg per day because it is water soluble, it does not accumulate in the body.

Symptoms of B Vitamin Defficiency:
* mental problems
* heart palpitations
* heart arrythmias
* fibrillation
* indigestion
* chronic fatigue
* chronic exhaustion
* paranoia, vague fears, fear that something dreadful is about to happen
* nervousness
* ADD (attention deficiency), inability to concentrate, irritability
* feeling of uneasiness
* thoughts of dying
* easy agitation, frustration
* inability to sleep (insomnia)
* restlessness
* tingling in hands
* tingling fingers and toes
* rashes
* crying spells, inability to cope
* soreness all over
* and so much more.


*

CHRONIC VITAMIN B DEFICIENCY

Vitamin B deficiency can sneak up on you, because it doesn’t have to create serious health problems right away. In fact, medical researchers have discovered that very often there can be no detectable signs according to scientific instrumentation, that you are experiencing a deficiency. For example, “memory impairment due to vitamin B12 deficiency can precede blood symptoms of deficiency by years. Evidence that vitamin B12 deficiency accounts for some cognition deficits in older people comes from a study that revealed abnormal short-term memory in more than two-thirds of clients with pernicious anemia…The researchers recommend that a diagnosis of senile dementia should not be made, even in the absence of anemia, until vitamin B12 status is determined biochemically.” (Hamilton, p. 476) This means that it is possible that certain mental disorders can be directly attributable to vitamin B complex deficiency, and it is easier to first start replenishing stores of vitamin B complex than to begin treating difficult mental illnesses with drugs, therapy or psychological counseling.

When vitamin B deficiency becomes chronic (long-lasting), other problems can occur, including troubles with your adrenal system. The adrenal glands serve many purposes, but in relation to this topic, they are the back up system for making energy. When there is a chronic lack of vitamin B complex then the adrenal glands are called upon to produce quick energy by injecting certain hormones like adrenaline into your system so that you can cope with life. If this goes on for a long time, then the adrenal glands become impaired or worn out, leading to even more health problems.

Now because the vitamins work together in groups you can't just take one, so buy the whole B-Complex. I also hear Vitamin D3 along with Calcium, Zinc and Magnesium make the B-Complex even more effective. For Zinc and Magnesium, a cheap and potent source is ZMA on a mostly empty stomach before bed. You can't take Zinc and Calcium at the same time because Calcium won't let the Zinc absorb.


Source: http://www.chetday.com/vitaminbdeficiencies.html

You can find more sources easily on the net if you like. Just Google "B-Complex defficiency".

 

[penkitten]

i used to take st johns wort when i was in my early 20s.
it helped my attitude alot with some huge stresses.
as i learned to deal with things ,i didn't need the vitamin anymore.

 

[Maxtro H & F]

You might also want to try b-complex. You can go as high as 1000mg per day because it is water soluble, it does not accumulate in the body.


Now because the vitamins work together in groups you can't just take one, so buy the whole B-Complex. I also hear Vitamin D3 along with Calcium, Zinc and Magnesium make the B-Complex even more effective. For Zinc and Magnesium, a cheap and potent source is ZMA on a mostly empty stomach before bed. You can't take Zinc and Calcium at the same time because Calcium won't let the Zinc absorb.


Source: http://www.chetday.com/vitaminbdeficiencies.html

You can find more sources easily on the net if you like. Just Google "B-Complex defficiency".

D'oh I went grocery shopping today but I forgot to pick up some B. I'll have to make sure to get some next time.

i used to take st johns wort when i was in my early 20s.
it helped my attitude alot with some huge stresses.
as i learned to deal with things ,i didn't need the vitamin anymore.

I'm glad that it worked. It gives me some hope.

I was doing some research on depression and one site I found said that depression can be caused by the minds inability to cope with stressful situations. So I'm guessing that once those situations go away, so should the depression.

I've been feeling good for a couple of days and I was also feeling fine for most of today. Then for some reason the stupid girl appeared in my head and my mood crashed. I just don't feel like doing anything.

Is it OK to still feel depressed every once in a while when you are under the effects of the herb?

I've only been taking it for less than two weeks so I wonder if I'm getting the full effects yet?

 

[Maxtro]

If a bunch of duplicate posts appear for some strange reason please delete them.

You might also want to try b-complex. You can go as high as 1000mg per day because it is water soluble, it does not accumulate in the body.


Now because the vitamins work together in groups you can't just take one, so buy the whole B-Complex. I also hear Vitamin D3 along with Calcium, Zinc and Magnesium make the B-Complex even more effective. For Zinc and Magnesium, a cheap and potent source is ZMA on a mostly empty stomach before bed. You can't take Zinc and Calcium at the same time because Calcium won't let the Zinc absorb.


Source: http://www.chetday.com/vitaminbdeficiencies.html

You can find more sources easily on the net if you like. Just Google "B-Complex defficiency".

D'oh I went grocery shopping today but I forgot to pick up some B. I'll have to make sure to get some next time.

i used to take st johns wort when i was in my early 20s.
it helped my attitude alot with some huge stresses.
as i learned to deal with things ,i didn't need the vitamin anymore.

I'm glad that it worked. It gives me some hope.

I was doing some research on depression and one site I found said that depression can be caused by the minds inability to cope with stressful situations. So I'm guessing that once those situations go away, so should the depression.

I've been feeling good for a couple of days and I was also feeling fine for most of today. Then for some reason the stupid girl appeared in my head and my mood crashed. I just don't feel like doing anything.

Is it OK to still feel depressed every once in a while when you are under the effects of the herb?

I've only been taking it for less than two weeks so I wonder if I'm getting the full effects yet?

 

[Alle_Gory]

Is it OK to still feel depressed every once in a while when you are under the effects of the herb?

I've only been taking it for less than two weeks so I wonder if I'm getting the full effects yet?

Yes. You might be more depressed than the herb's potency. Any depression you have while on St.John's regularly will be reduced though.

Take it for at least 2 months. What's your dosage? I take about 600mg daily.

 

[penkitten]

i started taking the vitamin when i was 22 , newly divorced with three kiddos, had no money to my name, and had to move six hours away from my home to start life over in a town where i could get a job and a home and afford to raise the kids by myself.
i researched it and i took it in the form of the vitamin kira. which also reminded me to eat three times a day because you had to take it with food.
at the time , i was so depressed i weighed 79 lbs.
within six months my depression was gone and i was up to 97 lbs.
i am only five foot tall, so 97 was just skinny skinny... but not too underweight.


years later, i had a new baby and and when it was time to go back to work, i was really sad about putting her in daycare.she caught the rsv virus when i took her to the dr for her two week check up and ended up in the hospital for nearly a week and was terribly sick. i ended up going to the dr and asking them to put me on something for post pardon depression. they put me on lexapro and i was supposed to stay on it for at least a year. but i got off of it at six months.
it had big side effects that the st johns vitamin didn't have. like i was always tired when i was on it, and i would have to come home from work and lay down for a little while before i could make dinner or help the kids with homework.

when i got on the lexapro, the dr told me that it would take a while to get into my system. it takes three weeks for others around you to notice that your attitude had changed, but it would take you six weeks to notice the changes. i am pretty sure the st johns wort was about the same way.

 

[mrRuckus]

Don't take valerian root. Too little and its useless, too much and it causes insomnia. It's not a friendly herb.

Might as well avoid all things then if you are going to worry about a possible side effect that's unlikely.


Here are some side effects of st. john's wort

The most common adverse effects reported are gastrointestinal symptoms, dizziness, confusion, tiredness and sedation. Hair loss has also been noted.

Good luck when you wake up confused, sedated, dizzy, and balding with a stomach ache in the middle of the street at night, squinting into the massive glow of streetlights.

Of course that's not going to happen, but better avoid it if you're going to avoid something else because of a benign possible side effect (that he has anyway)

 

[Alle_Gory]

Good luck when you wake up confused, sedated, dizzy, and balding with a stomach ache in the middle of the street at night, squinting into the massive glow of streetlights.

Maybe you know something I don't. Where did you get that info?

 

[Maxtro H & F]

Yes. You might be more depressed than the herb's potency. Any depression you have while on St.John's regularly will be reduced though.

Take it for at least 2 months. What's your dosage? I take about 600mg daily.

I'm currently taking the recommended dosage which is 900mg before bed.

OK so I'm relieved that some moments of depression can still occur while on the herb. That day I thought it stopped working for me or something. 2 months sounds fine, possibly longer.

Wow penkitten, you've been though a lot. It's good that you made it through. Heh I didn't know you were so tiny And no that's not a crack at you or anything.

So 3 weeks for people to notice a change and 6 weeks for you to notice it. Heh I will be amazed if anybody notices a change in me.