St John's wort

by wannaexit 24 Replies latest social physical

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  GrreatTeacher

  Agree with the helping with sleep. I take mine at bedtime also and can feel the difference with sleep if I forget it.
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  wannaexit

  Thank you everyone for responding and  your suggestions and caveats. I love this community for the eagerness to help one another.
  
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  kaik

  I would be very careful with St. Johns worth. It can cause serious hypersensitivity and permanently scar skin and eye due increased sensitivity to sunlight. In ancient and medieval times the tea made from the plant was forced into the prisoners for sun exposure to increase their suffering. The plant is lovely and I used to have it at my backyard for decoration, but I would avoid touching it because it did cause skin pigmentation. I am very fair skin complexion and contact in the summer would make my skin turn red. Another problem with St. John that it interact with many other medications especially with antivirals or cancer treatment. It is one the most dangerous herb supplement out there if taken carelessly.
  
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  rebel8

  St John's wort is accepted by the medical literature for use in mild to moderate depression

  OP, where did you get that^information?
  

  https://nccih.nih.gov/health/stjohnswort/sjw-and-depression.htm

  consumers need to be aware of serious concerns about its safety and effectiveness...
  

  • Combining St. John’s wort with certain antidepressants can lead to a potentially life-threatening increase of serotonin, a brain chemical targeted by antidepressants. St. John’s wort can also limit the effectiveness of many prescription medicines.
  • Psychosis is a rare but possible side effect of taking St. John’s wort.
  • St. John’s wort is not a proven therapy for depression. Do not use St. John’s wort to replace conventional care or to postpone seeing your health care provider. Inadequately treated depression may become severe and, in some cases, may be associated with suicide. Consult a health care provider if you or someone you know may be depressed....current evidence that St. John’s wort is effective for depression is not conclusive
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  kaik

  rebel8, I am actually surprised that anyone would claim that St. John Wort can treat a depression, which is known since the times of Romans that it is extremely dangerous for people with light sensitivity and increases hypersensitivity on UV light. This can be further enhanced by even common antibiotics like oxacillin. In ancient and medieval times St. John Wort was used for torture. I do not think it would change much 2000 years later. Medical evidence of St. John Wort falls into unproved legends and can be actually dangerous. Some people believe that dicentra has healing properties for heart due shape of the flowers (it is a bleeding heart after all), but it is also poisonous and can cause a death if digested. But every year there is always some idiots who tried to digest it because they heard or were told that it can work on heart problems...