At this time of year, many people turn to St. Johns Wort to help them deal with the winter blues. Im a big fan of St. Johns Wort, but believe it should only be used after other methods have been tried. Top among those other methods to try first is taking 2000-5000 IU of Vitamin D3 daily. Many people take 400-1000 mg and truly need more. Daily exercise is another key element in any attempt to raise spirits. If nothing has worked and you need assistance rising out of the pit, St. Johns Wort may be a good option. Be aware that St. Johns Wort is only recommended for mild to very moderate depression. More serious cases of depression should immediately seek professional help, especially if daily life is affected or if the person is having suicidal thoughts. Also be aware that St. Johns Wort is known to interact with man prescription medications. The list is too long to include here. Please do heavy research before taking it if you are currently taking prescription medications. As always, let your physician and pharmacist know you are taking it so s/he can advise you of any interactions. Although they are fairly rare, St. Johns Wort can have side effects. They may include an upset stomach, trouble sleeping, dry mouth, headache, anxiety, etc. I recommend starting with half the recommended dose and taking it in the morning so that sleep is not affected. (Many people find it actually helps their sleep, but give yourself time to adjust and recognize its effects before taking it at night.) After being on the half dose for a week, gradually increase until you are taking the full recommended dose. Note that many supplement bottles recommend taking 900 mg of the pure herb, but studies have found 2700 mg to be far more effective. As I said, start with a very low dose and work up gradually. I use St. Johns Wort as a temporary help with my clients. My intention is to never have them take it long-term, but to work on other issues until the St. Johns Wort is no longer needed. When stopping taking it, it is best to wean yourself off gradually. People who are already taking psychiatric medication or who have a diagnosed psychiatric disorder should not use St. Johns Wort. Anyone already taking an anti-depressant should also not take it.
Posted on: Fri, 17 Jan 2014 23:18:58 +0000
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