Topic Title: hyperforin vs. hypericin brands
| |  "hyperforin vs. hypericin brands"
, Sat 19 Jun 14:18
I've read a lot of info (including messages on this board) which say that hypeforin is the more significant ingredient and therefore the best brands are those that are hyperforin standardized. However, I also read an article based on a German study which said that hypericin effects dopamine. (I believe I read the article based on a posting from here.) Given that I need dopamine boosted more than serotonin, might the hypericin brands work better for me? Has anyone tried both types of SJW and found one type more energizing and motivating than the other?
Posts: 1 | | Registered: Sat 19 Jun 2004 14:4 |
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| | "Re(1):hyperforin vs. hypericin brands" , Mon 19 Jul 10:46
First, keep in mind that most brands that standardize for hyperforin also standardize to 0.3% hypericin. So when you're buying a hyperforin-standardized brand you're not choosing either-or. You're getting a consistent amount of BOTH hyperforin and hypericin. When you choose a brand standardized only for hypericin, you're getting very little, if any, hyperforin.
The fact is that you want a brand standardized to hyperforin. The idea that hypericin is active is based on old research. For instance, this is from one recent clinical study:
"During the course of the randomized, double-blind study, subjects received six weeks of treatment with either placebo, the 5 percent hyperforin extract at a daily dose of 300 mg, or the 0.5 percent hyperforin extract at a daily dose of 300 mg. Results were assessed with the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), the Clinical Global Impression scale, and the von Zerssen Depression Self-Rating Scale. According to the results, the 5 percent hyperforin extract was significantly more effective than placebo in alleviating symptoms of depression. No significant superiority over placebo could be demonstrated with the 0.5 percent hyperforin extract."
(http://www.herbs.org/current/stjefficacy.html)
In other words, if it contains about 5% hyperforin then it works. If it is not standardized for hyperforin (which means it probably contains closer to 0.5%) then its no better than placebo.
Be Happy,
Sally
Posts: 2 | | Registered: Mon 19 Jul 2004 10:26 |
| | | "Re: hyperforin vs. hypericin brands" , Wed 4 Aug 15:03
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In other words, if it contains about 5% hyperforin then it works. If it is not standardized for hyperforin (which means it probably contains closer to 0.5%) then its no better than placebo.
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Interesting information.
I belong to the upper-moderate catagory and have hidden it fairly well for over 20 years. Recently, it's become unbearable and the anger control just isn't there anymore. Doctors cannot help me - the junk they peddle turn me into a sleepless, asexual zombie. Worse, my late Father-In-Law committed suicide 4 years ago, just after he started taking Paxil. Want to know how much trust I now put in medical prescriptions?
Anyway, I just heard about SJW, and picked up some generic-junk at Wally World to try. BIG difference! Of course, I'm only getting hypericin which probably works marginally, but still, BIG difference. Huge difference, actually. I decided to take your advice and buy 3 280-tab bottles of HBC Protocols' Hypericum Perforatum III (Research-Grade St. John's Wort with B6, B12, and Folic Acid.) It's inexpensive and standardized to contain 0.3% Hypericin and a minimum of 4% Hyperforin. It's actually cheaper than Wally World's offering and should work better.
Again, thanks for your information. Even though I'm taking the el-cheapo stuff, I haven't felt this good since I was 16. SJW is amazing stuff.
Posts: 1 | | Registered: Wed 4 Aug 2004 14:9 |
| | "Re(1):hyperforin vs. hypericin brands" , Sat 19 Jun 17:18
Good question -- I've been trying to get some comments related to this as well -- a comparison of Kira with Amoryn. But, it seems kind of quiet here this summer...
Posts: 23 | | Registered: Tue 8 Jun 2004 21:12 |
| | | "Re(2):hyperforin vs. hypericin brands" , Thu 24 Jun 19:46
I am taking New Chapters SC27 which is standardized for Hyperforins and therefore I was a little concerned since everything I have read said wort should be stardardized to hypericin. So I started doing some research, I visited the new chapter web site, which has a (St. Johns Wort)link. This link brings you to a Herbal Gram ( a herb magazine)website which lists research articles published on st. Johns Wort. There is an article titled first intl conference on st. johns wort da, da, da that has a lot of information on which constituents are most important. It has a lot of discussion on hyperforin vs hypericin. I think the conclusion it draws is hyperforin is most active, but hypericin is also active. Regarding New Chapters formulation, eventhough it is standardized to hyperforin, the formulation also has to have hypericin in it as well, since it is a 270 mg softgel capsule, with 10% hyperforin (27 mg). The remainder has to have a percentage of hypericin since the formulation is sourced from the whole st. johns wort flower, just not standardized. Just some thoughts. Visit the website and let me know what you think.
Posts: 1 | | Registered: Thu 24 Jun 2004 19:28 |
| | | "Re(3):hyperforin vs. hypericin brands" , Tue 29 Jun 02:25
Thank you! That's exactly what I wanted to know. I haven't had a chance to read the article yet but I will. I read an article on rhodiola from Herbal Gram a few months ago. It was very informative. Supposedly New Chapters has a really good rhodiola product as well (at least according to someone else on this board). How long have you been taking SJW and is it working well for you?
Posts: 16 | | Registered: Sat 19 Jun 2004 14:4 |
| | | "Re(4):hyperforin vs. hypericin brands" , Tue 29 Jun 16:40
I have been taking it for about 2 months now. My story might be interesting to a lot of people. what happen is my psychiatrist put me on wellbutrin, but after awhile it started causing me some problems (severe nervousness, choking up when I tried to talk). I was on 300 mgs, which is the standard dose, so my md reduced the dose to 150 mgs. Given that he new I had taken st johns wort in the past and somewhat believed in its effectiveness, he suggested I take 2 capsules (600 mgs) with the wellbutrin. I don't know for sure why he put me on the st johns. It could have been to supplement while the wellbutrin was lowering in my system, since people can have withdrawals coming off anti depressants. Or he might of thought the combination might work. Interestingly, after about 4 weeks on the lower dose of wellbutrin and the st. johns, I started feeling better. Then all of a sudden one day I started feeling like I felt I should feel all the time, my true self, no depression(numb feeling, inability to concentrate, etc) and no anxiety ( sleeping better at night and feeling rested in the day). As a result, I scheduled an appointment with my doctor to discuss how I felt. I wanted to know what caused the change. Could it be the combination? Could it be that I should have been on the lower dose of wellbutrin all along. Or just maybe it was the st. johns. Therefore, he suggested I had two options: 1)Stay the course since I was doing well? Or eliminate the wellbutrin. This would be the only way to tell what was helping more. I chose to eliminate the wellbutrin. It has been two weeks now. I am coming off the wellbutrin by alternating taking 150 mgs every other day. I have gone up to the standard st johns dose (900 mgs per day) and I have never felt better. In two more weeks I will be off the wellbutrin totally. Sorry for being so long winded but I thought this story would be interesting to alot of people on this website who are struggling with the decision to try st johns over prescription drugs. I hope to continue to feel good. I will keep you posted.
Posts: 6 | | Registered: Thu 24 Jun 2004 19:28 |
| | | "Re(5):hyperforin vs. hypericin brands" , Tue 29 Jun 22:05
WOW! That's fabulous. No need for the expensive doctor (although I guess you have to give him or her the credit for having you start on it), no horrible side effects like choking on your food and you feel great! (What more could anyone hope for?)
Posts: 18 | | Registered: Sat 19 Jun 2004 14:4 |
| | | "Re(2):hyperforin vs. hypericin brands" , Wed 23 Jun 00:02
Ah, some of us just need a break every once and a while. :)
Seriously I don't know the answer to the question but wish that I did... any links or pointers to new scientific studies are always welcome.
Kelly
Posts: 648 | | Registered: Thu 5 Oct 2000 21:48 |
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