how effective is 1000 mg. of st johns wort for minor depression?
410268
A substantial body of scientific research has shown that St. Johns Wort is effective for the treatment of depression  (some studies have shown it is more effective and safer than prescription medications - SSRIs).\n\nEvery therapy has potential risks.  As for the photosensitivity noted by another 'answerer', this appears only to be an issue in animals and not in humans with reasonable doses.  A research study on this issue at the University of Freiberg, Germany published in the medical journal "Phytotherapy Research" in Feb. 2003 found no potential of phototoxicity in humans with daily doses up to 1800 milligrams.\n\nPlease note, if you have a serious enough problem to feel you need medicinal intervention (including herbal therapy) it might be a very good idea to work with an experienced health care professional.  They can guide you with dosages and other appropriate advice.\n\nBest wishes and good luck.
614825
St. John's is good, but I use a combination that is even better. \n\n2 parts St. john's\n2 parts Passion flower (passiflora incarnata)\n1 part Brahmi (Bacoppa monnieri) a weed in Florida\n1 part Schisandra\n1 part Celery Seed\n\nI mix and use 2 500mg capsules a day.\n\nI have also heard that the common wild Memosa Tree (albizza julibrissin durazz)flower and bark is also good and used for years in China to lift the spirits.
738372
I live with long term depression and can not take the anti-depressants doctors prescribe, yes, I have tried the new ones with the same results, they make me more depressed, not less!\n\nOver many years I have developed a lifestyle that alleviates the depression in a natural way. Here is what I do, I hope it is of help to you and others as well.\n\nCounselling: I find having a person I can rely on to talk to is very helpful when the depression is bad, many counsellors now agree that depression in many cases should be treated in a more natural way.\n\nFood: Eat lots of raw fruit and vegetables and if you have to cook them only just cook them! Natural foods are bright in colour and so are pleasing to the eye to eat. Also ensure you eat fish once a week every week.\n\nDrink: Limit coffee, alcohol, soft drinks and tea, instead try lots of water, fruit based cordials, herbal teas and fruit juice\n\nExercise: Walk outdoors in the sunshine and fresh air for 20 minutes a day. During the walk really look at your surroundings and take note of the big strong trees, cool soft grass, blue sky, and if you are lucky enough to live near water notice the water and how it responds to its environment. We tend to breathe more shallowly when we are depressed so some exercise helps us breathe deeper and increases the oxygen intake making us feel better all over. You dont need to run a marathon, just exercise regularly and only do what is possible.\n\nVitamins: Take multi vitamins one day and Multi B the next. You dont need to overload your system with vitamins otherwise you simply end up with expensive urine! If the Multi B and the multivitamin both have Vit C in them then that is even better.\n\nSunshine is the best and easiest way for human beings to absorb Vit D. So being outside in the sunshine is a good thing. Being sunburnt is not, so take care to wear a shirt, hat and sunscreen. And sunshine just makes you feel good! It actually releases some chemical in the human brain that makes you feel good.\n\nIf you eat lots of white flour based foods, fried foods, and processed foods you will find that this tends to make your digestion system sluggish and seems to add to depression so avoid them.\n\nNew Things: Learning a new thing alleviates depression because it gives us a sense of satisfaction and achievement and you cant feel satisfied and depressed at once! Take on new challenges whether it is getting around to learning a musical instrument, painting, riding a bicycle, or learning Tai chi you will find that a sense of accomplishment feels very good.\n\nGrow something: Carig for something else turns your attention to positive things like what you can do right and what is possible. If you think that you are the worlds worst gardener try this: Ask someone for cuttings of geraniums stick the cuttings in some dirt and water daily for a week. Geraniums are the most amazing flowers to grow because they grow from cuttings so there is no cost involved and if you plant half a dozen cuttings you will get two or three plants from that. Their bright colours and often scented leaves are a delight. An old fashioned plant but a cheerful one. Daisies also grow from cuttings and are bright cheerful plants. Both daisies and geraniums grow really well in pots and so do many vegetables! There are lessons we can only learn by osmosis, we have to absorb the lesson and growing something gives us some of those lessons.\n\nGet Involved in Your Community: Join an interest group, a local health centre committee, or a church or other organisation. Being with others with a common goal can be very upliftng. Being with, caring about and learning about other people leaves no room for you to be wound up in your depression.\n\nMusic: Get a good collection of music of all kinds, try some classical, some heavy rock, some lilting little melodies, african drumming music, aboiriginal music, the more variety the better. listen to all kinds of music.\n\nGet a pet: You dont have to buy a d
872593
No studies have been completed on this matter.  It is known that St. John's Wort interacts with many drugs.  You shouldn't take it because we don't know if any interactions occur.
449702
i works really well, i know loads of people who kept trying all the herbal rememdies such as st johns wort and wouldnt do anything for them, and it also reacted with other meds they where on! Citalopram is the one that worked wonders for my partner, but all the anti-depressants in the drug group SSRI's work well, its just finding one that doesn't give you bad side effects. \n\nGood luck what ever you choose
613769
I am reading the label on a bottle of St. John's Wort:\n\n"Helps promote a positive mood," it says right on the front.\n\nUnder 'warnings' on the back it says not to use if pregnant or lactating - and that it is not intended for use in people under 18.  It also says to consult your doctor before using if you have ANY health or psychological problems, and not to use if you are taking a prescription anti-depressant or other prescription meds.\n\nIf you are none of the above it says to take 2 capsules, three times daily, and discuss its usage with your doctor.\nIn this bottle 2 capsules = 300 mg.\n\nHope that you feel better soon.  :)
674064
I am not sure that you CAN cure depression.\n\nAs for St. John's Wort, be careful with that because it can cause reactions with other medicines you may be taking.  Such as birth control pills.\n\nKnowing you have depression is the first step to feeling better.  Talk with a doctor to discuss medicine options, see a counselor/psychologist, try a self-help approach and do some research on your own.\n\nDepression is something that can be dealt with and you can learn to cope with it.  The main thing to remember is that however bad things get, it will pass.\n\nHang in there and Good Luck\n\nP.S. Don't let others tell you that medicine isn't the way.  Depression is a sickness and should be treated as such.  If you are Diabetic you need insulin, if you are depressed and there IS a medicine that can make you feel better, why wouldn't you take it?
727149
Excercise helps bring the up the seratonin levels and often helps. Find an excercise you like, then you're not only enjoying yourself, but you're more likely to stick with it. (basketball, running, swimming, dancing, whatever gets you going.)\nWhat seems a more succesful suppliment is sam-e, it is more expensive than most suppliments, and you should tell your physician or psycologist that you are trying it (clinical studies show little or no side effect, no harm in trying.) \nSt Johns wort helps as much as SSRIs in studies- in mild to moderate depression, but it seems useless for major depression. It also has some anti-anxiety effect. It may have less side effects than SSRIs, but it certainly has some, an increase in blood pressure and such, and is dangerous in conjuntion with MOA inhibitors, you probably would know if you are taking any of those (your physician or psycologist would have gone over a whole list of foods that MOAIs interact dangerously with.)\nIf your depression is seasonal, then light therapy can help (heat lamps for plants put out the same spectrum of light as does the expensive lamps sold for this purpose.) Again talk to your physician or psycologist.
1101021
Homeopathy :-\nI think I answered another question of yours before about depression and suicidal thoughts your conditions call for the homeopathic remedy AURUM MET 30C thrice a day half hour before or after meals and you will be fine in a few days.\nTake Care and God Bless you !
773545
Dosage: The recommended dose is 300 mg of an extract standardized to contain 0.3% hypericin, three times a day. Supplements containing 450 mg are also available and can be taken twice a day.\n\nGuidelines for use: Take St. John's wort close to mealtime to reduce stomach irritation. In the past, those using the herb were advised not to eat certain foods, including aged cheese and red wine -- the same foods best avoided by those taking MAO inhibitors (a type of antidepressant). But recent studies suggest that these foods do not present a problem for those on St. John's wort.\n\nLike a prescription antidepressant, the herb must build up in your blood before it becomes effective, so be sure to allow at least four weeks to determine whether it works for you. It can be used long term, as needed. Unless you are under the care of a doctor familiar with both conventional antidepressants and St. John's wort, the medication and the herb should not be taken together because of the potential for adverse reactions. \nThough no adverse effects have been reported in pregnant or lactating women using the herb, there have been few studies in this group of patients, so caution is advised.
1086993
st john's is the herbal alternative, however, if you find an other one, it probably wont work either.  Just get the scrip or try therapy for the time being (it works great)
382423
How many informative answers!\nWhat I have to add is very few, although I retain that indispensable.\nAs the conventional teratment of this disease remains unsatisfactory, among the various alternative treatments used there are also the following:\n1. S-adenosylmethionine(SAMe) that is used in the treatment of both osteoarthritis and depression and it is for oral use.\n2. 5-hydroxy-tryptofan(5-HTP). It is a serotonin precursor that has been administered for the treatment of depression, migraine, headaches and obesity.\nThere is a study showing an improvement of the situation of the patients who had taken this medication in 30 days.\n3. Capsaicin. It is containd in hot pepper and it is FDA approved for postherpetic neuralgia. It is for local use and is a topical analgesic and can be the costituent of plasters, as well.\n4. blue-green algae. Their meccanism of action, is not completely known, yet.\nIf you need more information about the dosage forms, you have to read the complete articles and of course refer to your doctor.\nWhat you have to take always into consideration, are the drug interactions among pharmaceutical and natural therapies.\n\nAll the best\n\nKaterina
230391
Below is the "official" answer, here is the information from one who used to suffer from depression. If you have a slight case of the blues, get the St. Johns Wort. If you have a mid to heavy case of depression..like a bone crushing, energy sapping, constantly crying life ain't no fun attitude get to a Mental Health Professional for help. If you need "instant" relief from depression only a qualified professional can direct you to a drug that can help you live a better life. Note the time table for St. Johns Wort to be effective. Can you wait the 4 to 6 weeks for relief? Only you can make that call.  Depression is NOT laziness or a sign of weakness, it's a treatable disease. I made it and so can you! \n\n\n\nSt. John's Wort is believed to combat depression by boosting the levels of certain chemical messengers in the brain. Like the prescription antidepressant Prozac, it seems to increase the amount of serotonin available to the nervous system. It also tends to promote higher levels of the chemical messengers norepinephrine and dopamine. In some clinical trials, daily doses of 800 to 900 milligrams of St. John's Wort have proven to be as effective as 20 milligrams of Prozac or 75 milligrams of the antidepressant Tofranil. \nFor depression, the typical dosage of standardized extract is 300 milligrams taken 3 times a day. The extract is available in tablet, capsule, and liquid form. Common brands are made by Celestial Seasonings, Centrum Herbals, Nature's Way, and Schiff. Strengths of commercial preparations may vary. Follow the manufacturer's labeling whenever available. \n   A treatment regimen of 4 to 6 weeks is typically recommended for depression. If you feel no improvement, check with your doctor. You may need a different therapy.
515513
about 3 to 4 weeks. I had depression, for years.  I'm on 100 mg daily. It felt like weight lifted off my shoulders, and things will take CARE OF THEMSELVES for a change!!! Start enjoying your time, life is very short. My doc said to get an "I don't give a damn attitude" it worked. It will be ok!!!!!!!!!
633574
It depends on the physician, just like any profession there are good and bad ones. St. Johns Wort is the most common anti-depressant used in natural medicine and has been Proven to be as effective for mild to moderate depression. There is even a patented version of this on the market and you cannot get a patent unless it has been thoroughly tested and approved.
83212
Talking to trusted family and friends, moderate exercise (brisk walk, 30 min/day), and daily exposure to sunlight can help.\n\nIf depression lasts more than a couple weeks, you should see a doctor.  It is best to talk to a psychologist or social worker.  Psychiatrists do a better job than family practitioners of prescribing medicines for depression because they have so much more experience with it.\n\nAlcohol is a depressant, not a stimulant.  It is best to stick with drugs prescribed by a psychiatrist.
894481
a few years ago i tried to commit suicide. i have a very serious clinical depression. the doctors gave me 5 different drugs to use and they made me feel horrible. i started taking st johns wort and several multivitamins instead and after about 4 months i was feeling much better. i used them for several months and am now no longer on them at all. i still take my vitamins and a st johns wort every so often when im feeling blue. DO NOT STOP taking any medicine you may be on without telling your doctor first if you are taking any. i had no side effects from the st johns wort like i did while on the depression meds.