St. John's Wort

12

Is it any good as an anti-depressant? Has anyone had bad experience with it? I know it's used as an anti-depressant, but is it effective. I get mildly depressed, a few times a week, nothing serious, but more depressed than just fed up. I got this bottle of them from Morrisons, with thirty tablets in it. It says to take one everyday, but should I do that, or just when I'm feeling depressed?

Reply 1

sinkme

i'm not sure what kind you got, but in general it's a very safe medicine to take (as long as there's nothing added to it)
i've used it myself and seeing as it's a natural medicine rather than chemicals it doesn't have the undesirable effects of chemical drugs (tiredness, etc)
i'd say try it out, it can't do you any harm, see if it works for you
i'm also not sure on the dosage, it really depends on what kind you've got, the instructions should say whether it's for severe depressions or light ones?

Reply 2

DrNick2006

10

Yeah- it isn't an anti-depressant, as such, but it has the similar effect of causing a greater release of the good old "happy hormone" (or neurotransmitter, to be pedantic) serotonin. Though, don't use it with any other SSRIs or other anti-depressants! Too much serotonin is not good.

Reply 3

wirbelsturm

2

DrNick2006

Too much serotonin is not good.

Yea but hypomania can be fun sometimes. HYPOMANIA IS GREAT!

Reply 4

DrNick2006

10

wirbelsturm

Yea but hypomania can be fun sometimes. HYPOMANIA IS GREAT!

I would agree with you, were it not for my rather regular bouts of it, and were it not for the fact that I know that it'll be followed by a down...

Hey hey! 150 posts! My rep is worth something... and for recommending hypomania to people, you can be the first recipient!

Reply 5

wirbelsturm

2

Dont set me off else my eyeballs will fall out, ever just sat at the computer giggling to yourself? I would love to be in the same room as another person having a little bout right now. lol

Reply 6

DrNick2006

10

Hehe, yep. I had a bout that ended earlier today, and I laughed all the way through my chemistry class, which was quite fun. I also, perhaps unrelated to the hypomania, started thinking it would be good to inhale all the chemicals we were using in the experiment, including some conc. acid and alkalis, and neat, lethal alcohols... Not good, man, not good.

Reply 7

wirbelsturm

2

DrNick2006

Hehe, yep. I had a bout that ended earlier today, and I laughed all the way through my chemistry class, which was quite fun. I also, perhaps unrelated to the hypomania, started thinking it would be good to inhale all the chemicals we were using in the experiment, including some conc. acid and alkalis, and neat, lethal alcohols... Not good, man, not good.

Woooooooooooooooooo you do chemistry, that rocks(waits for geology joke) hee hee esters are nicer smell them instead. an episode during an exam can be useful, that is if you dont go too far else nothing makes sense. Anyway we must stop this, it seems soo tactless considering the op is depressed, sorry.

Reply 8

DrNick2006

10

Indeed, but it does give a warning about ODing on St John's Wort...

Anyway, you now have a hypomania-related PM! Night night.

Reply 9

wirbelsturm

2

so i do, shall read it now

Reply 10

Richy_Boi

12

My dad used St Johns Wort when he was going through a stressful time, seemed to ease him a bit.

However, I wouldn't rely on it but it may help.

If you feel down you really need to talk to someone, anyone is better than no-one.

Reply 11

scruffs

1

If you go on it, take care in the sun (not that it's much of an issue if you're living in Britain, our summer having apparently ended several weeks ago)- st.Johns wort can make you photosensitive and more likely to burn.

Seemingly it does work, but watch the dosage, and if you want to be extra sure talk to your doctor about it. But for a mild depression a short course of it could, in my own opionion, be more beneficial than whacking you straight onto some manmade SSRI that's capable of sending even Thom Yorke into sunny thoughts.

St. John's Wort

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