St Johns Wort?
Mar 28th 2008 | 8:08 am
#16
South Yarra Sheila
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,078
Re: St Johns Wort?
A healthy diet and daily exercise may be the harder option and most people don't want to hear it (as seen by some in this very thread), as it involves getting off your arse and making drastic changes, however it's a better solution long term than popping pills, after all they are only a band aid solution and in many cases simply don't work or make you feel worse.
Depression is your brain telling you to make lifetstyle changes. It's no coincidence as the population becomes heavier, depression rates are sky rocketing. And is it any wonder when you see the garbage people put in to their body, topped off with booze and a packet of ciggies - the brain's not getting the serotonin it needs. It's not rocket science.
And no I have never seen a depressed health nut. The people I know who work out daily, eat healthy 95% of the time and don't drink grog are full of energy with no bouts of depression what so ever. Many people I know have experienced depression in the past, made the changes necessary and are very happy and content without any pills.
Lead a healthy lifestyle and you will be surprised just how much the human mind can put up with.
Depression is your brain telling you to make lifetstyle changes. It's no coincidence as the population becomes heavier, depression rates are sky rocketing. And is it any wonder when you see the garbage people put in to their body, topped off with booze and a packet of ciggies - the brain's not getting the serotonin it needs. It's not rocket science.
And no I have never seen a depressed health nut. The people I know who work out daily, eat healthy 95% of the time and don't drink grog are full of energy with no bouts of depression what so ever. Many people I know have experienced depression in the past, made the changes necessary and are very happy and content without any pills.
Lead a healthy lifestyle and you will be surprised just how much the human mind can put up with.
Thats not true in every case though-I exercise an hour a day and have done for years, eat a healthy diet (no wheat as am coelic, lots of veggies), take supplements, take general good care of body. Of course it helps but doesn't cure the problem.
My depression is part inherited (mother, grandmother, great aunt all the same) and I have had it moderately for years with a bad spell (i.e.feeling suicidal) whenever anything stressful has happened i.e. death of mother, loss of business, recent international move etc
Some of us need to take that something extra-that's just the way it is.
Mar 28th 2008 | 9:04 am
#17
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 61,698
From: Victoria, BC Canada
Re: St Johns Wort?
Please remember that "drugs" that a person purchases at a heath food store are NOT regulated by any federal govt agency (at least not in canada, not yet, but we are getting there). The information about the "drug" you are enquiring about is from a health food store clerk, the internet or a naturopathic These folks have only limited knowledge of the interaction of one drug with others.
I took wort on the advice of a health food store clerk and a naturopathic The pain and embarrassment I had to endure because of the side effects taught me a very very important lesson. I will never again take anything without completely researching it myself and not rely on others.
I took wort on the advice of a health food store clerk and a naturopathic The pain and embarrassment I had to endure because of the side effects taught me a very very important lesson. I will never again take anything without completely researching it myself and not rely on others.
Mar 28th 2008 | 9:23 am
#18
South Yarra Sheila
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,078
Re: St Johns Wort?
Here is something that may be of interest to the original poster:-
2/11/2005 5:41 PM
As reported in the British Medical Journal.
St. John's Wort Matches Common Antidepressant (Paxil)
At least as effective for moderate to severe depression as drug from Prozac family
A special extract of St. John's wort has been found at least as effective for some forms of depression as a common antidepressant in the same family as Prozac.
The herbal treatment, hypericum extract WS 5570, was pitted head-to-head against the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) paroxetine, sold under the trade name Paxil.
German researcher Armin Szegedi and colleagues tested both treatments on 301 people aged 18 to 70 with moderate or severe depression at German mental health centers.
Participants took the drugs in a randomized, controlled, double-blind study over a six week period during 2000 to 2003.
At the trial's conclusion, half the participants (61 of 122) who took St. John's wort found their symptoms in decline while just one-third (43 out of 122) of those taking paroxetine saw remission.
Fewer side-effects
People taking paroxetine also reported more side-effects, 269 compared to 172 for St. John's wort. The most common for both treatments was stomach disorders.
2/11/2005 5:41 PM
As reported in the British Medical Journal.
St. John's Wort Matches Common Antidepressant (Paxil)
At least as effective for moderate to severe depression as drug from Prozac family
A special extract of St. John's wort has been found at least as effective for some forms of depression as a common antidepressant in the same family as Prozac.
The herbal treatment, hypericum extract WS 5570, was pitted head-to-head against the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) paroxetine, sold under the trade name Paxil.
German researcher Armin Szegedi and colleagues tested both treatments on 301 people aged 18 to 70 with moderate or severe depression at German mental health centers.
Participants took the drugs in a randomized, controlled, double-blind study over a six week period during 2000 to 2003.
At the trial's conclusion, half the participants (61 of 122) who took St. John's wort found their symptoms in decline while just one-third (43 out of 122) of those taking paroxetine saw remission.
Fewer side-effects
People taking paroxetine also reported more side-effects, 269 compared to 172 for St. John's wort. The most common for both treatments was stomach disorders.
Mar 28th 2008 | 12:16 pm
#19
Thread Starter
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 78
From: Sydney
Re: St Johns Wort?
Just wondering as sister's hubby duly went to dr's and he was reluctant to prescribe AD's. He told him to take more exercise and counselling........been here before???
I know he can be abusive............but when someone (at least) tries to sort themselves out?? It's a nightmare!
His brother is manic depressive, his dad is too..............he explained this to GP, but was told to exercise
We've started him (long distance and ignorant!) on SJW
I know he can be abusive............but when someone (at least) tries to sort themselves out?? It's a nightmare!
His brother is manic depressive, his dad is too..............he explained this to GP, but was told to exercise
We've started him (long distance and ignorant!) on SJW
Mar 28th 2008 | 12:53 pm
#21
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 371
From: melbourne
Re: St Johns Wort?
My husband is a very fit man (did the Grt Ocean rd cycle race last weekend and did extremely well), he hardly touches alcohol and watches what he eats and has recently been diagnosed as depressed.
He was reluctant to start prozac but did because he was desperate and I promise you, the relief is immense. He's still the same person, but without the dark cloud covering everything.
I sincerely hope you never suffer from it.
Mar 28th 2008 | 12:53 pm
#22
South Yarra Sheila
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,078
Re: St Johns Wort?
Just wondering as sister's hubby duly went to dr's and he was reluctant to prescribe AD's. He told him to take more exercise and counselling........been here before???
I know he can be abusive............but when someone (at least) tries to sort themselves out?? It's a nightmare!
His brother is manic depressive, his dad is too..............he explained this to GP, but was told to exercise
We've started him (long distance and ignorant!) on SJW
I know he can be abusive............but when someone (at least) tries to sort themselves out?? It's a nightmare!
His brother is manic depressive, his dad is too..............he explained this to GP, but was told to exercise
We've started him (long distance and ignorant!) on SJW
