st john's wort

[stillforgiven]

Has anyone here tried this? And how did it work for you?

[Dani H]

No replies, eh?

A friend of mine took it for a while, but it didn't work too well. She had other things going on, and it's only meant for light/mild depression as a mood lifter.

You're also supposed to stop taking it before medical procedures.

That's all I got. Sorry if it wasn't very helpful.

[daughter]

In Irish it's called "Lus Mór," the great herb. It's used for depression, insomnia, to help mothers after child birth, or to help someone get over a sudden shock or trauma. It is very effective... my Granny made tea out of it. The tincture you get in the shops is stronger.

Do not take it with any soporific medications, like sleeping tablets - and don't risk a glass of wine, you would get very drunk very quickly on very little indeed.

[stillforgiven]

I'll keep all of that in mind. Never thought of a liquid form. Here it's usually in the pill form.

Thanks for the info.

[daughter]

The liquid form is more easily absorbed. You get it as a tincture, and count out drops into a cup of water or juice. It's a little bit tricky if, like me, you're clumsy, you might accidentally put in a drop or two too much. But that shouldn't cause a problem.

It's also not to be taken with Seratonin Uptake Inhibitors like ... argh, I've forgotten what it's called. Prozac. Because apparently it works by increasing seratonin. You might end up going hyper in that case.

But if you're just taking it by itself, then you're okay.

[stillforgiven]

I don't take anything right now at all, and haven't for years. I would really like to avoid any pharmacuticals, so I'll give this a shot. The only thing I take that I may have to stop is the occasional dose of metatonin, but only when I need help getting to sleep. Not on a nightly basis.

I'll check out one of the local health food stores for the tincture form. Thanks.

[cnw]

tinctures can be done in drops or when you figure out how many drops make up 1/2 a dropper you can gestimate very close. I make tinctures and powerful doses of herbs. It always tells you less than you would be taking under the watchful eye of a midwife or herbalist so you don't overdose.
St John's wort reacts to certain other meds, so read labels and do some research first. It helps some with mild depression symptoms, not severe. If you are pg or nursing, do not take this.
hope things get better.

[stillforgiven]

Thanks. It is just mild, but persistant. I'll be careful.