Topic Title: Be Patient w/St. John's
| |  "Be Patient w/St. John's"
, Mon 8 Dec 10:47
While product manufacturers and wishful thinking lead us to believe that SJW will always work (or not) in 2-4 weeks, that was not my experience. It was a full seven weeks before I experienced the effects of Perika (300 mg x 3 times/day). I had considered dumping it at the end of four weeks after not experiencing any improvement in symptoms, but thankfully stuck with it.
I also took/take 2000 mg of clean fish oil (screened for mercury, lead, etc.) twice a day along with 50 mg of 5-htp on an empty stomach at bedtime. I've had great results with this regimen--perhaps you will too. It helped pull me out of a lengthy depression, eliminated the extreme dread I felt each morning upon opening my eyes, and significantly boosted my energy level. I believe the boost in energy may also be related to my adding 100 mg. of CoQ10 to my daily diet three weeks ago. Whatever your regimen, best wishes for success.
Posts: 0 | | Registered: Mon 8 Dec 2003 10:23 |
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| | "Re(1):Be Patient w/St. John's" , Mon 8 Dec 17:33
Thanks for posting your experience.
I have always given up on St. John's wort after about 3 weeks, since among the side effects I experience, I find my depression getting worse. I feel more achy, and I'm fatigued and unmotivated. I also tried Perika for a couple of my trials.
Did things remain pretty much unchanged for the 7 weeks prior to the antidepressant effect that you experienced, or did things get a little worse before things got better?
Posts: 50 | | Registered: Thu 3 Apr 2003 5:33 |
| | | "Re(2):Be Patient w/St. John's" , Tue 9 Dec 09:59
Yes, things simply remained unchanged--no better, no worse--over the course of six weeks with effects kicking in during the seventh week. I'm fortunate that I didn't experience any side effects. It is true that with some medications (both pharmaceutical and herbal) there is a period of adjustment to the substance after which side effects diminish or vanish. I don't know if St. John's fits into this category or not--that is, will your side effects subside after a period of body adjustment? Perhaps others here have more experience in this regard.
I believe one other thing that has contributed to my increased well being is the fact that I eliminated sugar (and other simple carbs) and caffeine from my diet a few months ago. These substances are truly bad news for the body, taking you up and crashing you down over and over each day. "Even keel" is a much better way to live and can be achieve by eating more proteins and other foods that won't break down into sugar immediately (and you'll drop unnecessary pounds also).
Posts: 1 | | Registered: Mon 8 Dec 2003 10:23 |
| | | "Re(3):Be Patient w/St. John's" , Wed 10 Dec 06:13
Maybe I could try the CoQ10 as I'm weaning myself from caffeine. I generally don't think I lack in energy (I have a hard time relaxing and having to sit still and concentrate on something), but maybe that supplement will help me to focus better. I've been experiencing the headaches from lack of caffeine, but your post has encouraged me regarding looking forward to having a more "even keel".
I don't have a "sweet tooth" or any weight to lose, but I do notice that when I follow that "Carbohydrate Addict's" diet, it does help with my moods, and does contribute to enhanced mental functioning. My worst carb downfall is wine and beer (very bad, I know), although when I stick to the diet (and, when I'm off of caffeine), these cravings seem to be much less. I just checked out some relaxation tapes from the library, hoping that these will help to slow down that "racing engine".
Posts: 51 | | Registered: Thu 3 Apr 2003 5:33 |
| | | "Re(4):Be Patient w/St. John's" , Wed 10 Dec 12:23
CoQ10 may help boost your energy. If nothing else, it's a great antioxidant. The caffeine headache goes away after a week or so and will never return. I read recently that Americans consume an average of 1/2 cup of sugar a day---it's hidden in everything from salad dressing to bread to meat---so watch labels closely. Also, you might try L-theanine, a derivative of green tea. It helps put you into an alpha brain wave state---relaxed but fully alert. Theanine is the reason why you can drink loads of green tea, but never feel "strung out" like when drinking coffee. Start with 100 mg. on a empty stomach. No known side effects with Theanine. Also, try regular diaphragmatic breathing. It's a simple but powerful way to stay relaxed and centered. With regular practice, you'll actually retrain yourself into better breathing. Shallow breathing contributes to anxiety. Learn more here:
http://www.anxietycoach.com/breathing.htm
Posts: 2 | | Registered: Mon 8 Dec 2003 10:23 |
| | | "Re(5):Be Patient w/St. John's" , Wed 10 Dec 17:26:
Thanks for the advice. I briefly tried l-theanine, but I didn't feel anything from it. I will try it again, first thing in the morning on an empty stomach, to see if has an effect this time.
I really dislike the taste of sugar (and other various junk that they put into processed foods), especially in main meal foods (don't even like barbecue sauce, and even some Chinese food), so I religiously check the labels of the products I buy. I love to cook, and make most things from scratch. If I can't find it at the store without sugar or other strange substances, I get it at the health food store.
Thanks for the link. The site looks very informative! I will check it out.
[this message was edited by wolkig on Wed 10 Dec 17:30]
Posts: 56 | | Registered: Thu 3 Apr 2003 5:33 |
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