What are the benefits of taking St John’s wort?
Historically, St. John’s wort has been used for a variety of conditions, including depression, stomach ulcers, and colds, and to aid wound healing. Currently, St. John’s wort is most widely promoted for symptoms of depression. There is some scientific evidence to show that St John’s wort can help to reduce mild or moderate depression. But doctors have concerns about the possible side effects and the fact that it can interact with some cancer treatments.Many studies have found St. John’s wort to be helpful in treating mild to moderate depression. In fact, some research has shown the supplement to work as well as many prescription antidepressants. It’s unclear whether the supplement helps treat severe depression.Medicines which may interact with St John’s wort in this way include the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants (e.John’s wort side effects include dizziness, drowsiness, and stomach issues. Dry mouth, headache, and insomnia are also possible. These side effects are usually mild and often go away as your body adjusts to the supplement. Sexual problems and sun sensitivity are rare, but happen in some people taking St.
When should I stop taking St. John’s Wort?
John’s wort is likely safe when used in doses up to 900 mg daily for up to 12 weeks. It can cause some side effects such as diarrhea, dizziness, trouble sleeping, restlessness, and skin tingling. St. John’s wort interacts with many drugs. Higher doses (1800 mg per day) have been used for those with moderate to severe depression. As with other antidepressant medication, the herbal remedy may take up to four weeks to exert an effect. St John’s wort should not be taken in combination with other prescription drugs, including antidepressants.St. John’s wort appears to be more effective than a placebo (an inactive substance) and as effective as standard antidepressant medications for mild or moderate depression. It’s uncertain whether this is true for severe depression or for time periods longer than 12 weeks.John’s wort is more effective than a placebo for treating mild to moderate depression and appears to be safe to use for up to 12 weeks. However, they note it can potentially cause serious drug interactions and reduce the efficacy of life-saving medications.St. John’s Wort preparations are used for the treatment of mild to moderate depression. They are usually well tolerated but can cause adverse reactions including liver toxicity in rare cases.John’s Wort acts as a reuptake inhibitor of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. This works to reduce the uptake of serotonin at neuronal synapses, as well as dopamine and norepinephrine. Elevated levels of neurotransmitters are believed to be helpful when treating depression.
Who should not use St. John’s Wort?
You shouldn’t take St. John’s wort if you have major depression. You also shouldn’t take it if you’re taking a medicine to treat depression. People who are pregnant should not take St. Its primary use is as an over-the-counter anti-depressive or anxiolytic. Anti-depressives with similar effects are also used to treat menopausal somatic symptoms, so St. John’s wort has also been used to treat these symptoms, as well as obsessive-compulsive disorder, behavioral issues, and psoriasis.For most adults who are not taking any kind of medicine, St. John’s wort appears to be safe when used for up to 12 weeks, and some studies indicate that it can be used safely for a year or more. If taken orally in large doses or applied to the skin, St. John’s wort might cause severe skin reactions after sun exposure.In published studies, St. John’s wort has been generally well tolerated at recommended doses for up to 1–3 months. The most common adverse effects included gastrointestinal symptoms, skin reactions, fatigue and sedation, restlessness or anxiety, dizziness, headache, and dry mouth.St. John’s wort might increase the breakdown of estrogen. Taking St. John’s wort along with birth control pills might decrease the effects of birth control pills.It contains many chemicals that act on messengers in the brain that regulate mood. People most commonly use St. John’s wort for depression and mood disorders. There is some strong scientific evidence that it is effective for mild to moderate depression.
Can kids have St. John’s Wort?
John’s wort is extraordinarily difficult to determine and has varied significantly in the clinical trials to date. In children, the recommended starting dose might be 150 mg three times per day with increases up to 300 mg or 600 mg three times per day. However, some children may tolerate only 150 mg one time per day. Higher doses (1800 mg per day) have been used for those with moderate to severe depression. As with other antidepressant medication, the herbal remedy may take up to four weeks to exert an effect. St John’s wort should not be taken in combination with other prescription drugs, including antidepressants.Ask your doctor about the risks of taking St. John’s wort, garcinia cambogia, L-tryptophan (or 5-HTP) and SAMe (S-adenosyl-methionine) supplements with your antidepressant. Consumer Labs says they can increase your risk of experiencing serotonin syndrome.It can cause some side effects such as trouble sleeping, vivid dreams, restlessness, anxiety, irritability, stomach upset, fatigue, dry mouth, dizziness, headache, skin rash, diarrhea, and tingling. Take St. John’s wort in the morning or lower the dose if it seems to be causing sleep problems.John’s wort, even if you and your doctor decide to stop taking an antidepressant. Don’t stop taking an antidepressant on your own. Avoid foods or drinks that contain a chemical called tyramine. These items include aged cheeses, cured meats, sauerkraut, soy sauce, miso, tofu, beer, and wine.St. John’s wort is a supplement that can help treat mild to moderate depression. There’s no evidence that St. John’s wort directly causes weight gain.
What foods should you avoid when taking St John’s wort?
Teach patients taking St. John’s wort to avoid foods and beverages that contain tyramine, such as Chianti wine, beer, aged cheese, chicken livers, chocolate, bananas, and meat tenderizers. They also should avoid sun exposure. St. John’s wort might increase the breakdown of estrogen. Taking St. John’s wort along with birth control pills might decrease the effects of birth control pills.Taking certain medications: St. John’s wort interacts with many different prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications. That includes birth control pills, blood thinners, transplant medication and HIV medication.The widespread availability and irresponsible advertising of St John’s Wort as `Nature’s Prozac’ created a major public health concern for the board, he added. During a review of the product, he said possible side effects were noted such as hypersensitivity to sunlight and gastrointestinal effects.John’s Wort preparations have been associated with liver damage, possibly as a consequence of drug-drug interactions (Etogo-Asse et al. Piccolo et al.St. John’s wort also appeared to have fewer side effects than standard antidepressants. The studies conducted in German-speaking countries—where St. John’s wort has a long history of use by medical professionals—reported more positive results than those done in other countries, including the United States.
How quickly will St. John Wort work?
Higher doses (1800 mg per day) have been used for those with moderate to severe depression. As with other antidepressant medication, the herbal remedy may take up to four weeks to exert an effect. St John’s wort should not be taken in combination with other prescription drugs, including antidepressants. If you do begin taking St. John’s Wort to treat mild depression, it may take up to 21 days to notice improvement in your mood. Some evidence suggests that a combination of St. John’s Wort plus a specific black cohosh extract (Remifemin) can reduce menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes.There’s no evidence that weight gain is a St. John’s wort side effect. It may help improve symptoms of depression, like loss of appetite. But it won’t cause any weight gain directly.There is research to suggest that St John’s wort can benefit some people with mild depression. But it’s not recommended for severe depression.Antidepressants. If you take St. John’s wort with antidepressants, it might raise the risk of a buildup of high serotonin levels in the body. Too much serotonin can cause mild to severe side effects.