Phyllis A. Balch, CNC
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 St. John's wort can prevent tension headaches. Use any product containing the dried herb as directed on the label.
Stress is a common source of headaches. (See STRESS in Part Two.)
þ See also MIGRAINE in Part Two.
Heart Attack (Myocardial Infarction)
A heart attack, known as a myocardial infarction, occurs if the heart's blood supply is sharply reduced or cut off entirely. This deprives the heart of oxygen, which causes heart tissue to die if blood flow is not restored within minutes. In the United States, approximately 1.5 million heart attacks occur every year. |
Rudolph M. Ballentine, M.D.
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 Fear of parent, usually father. FE: st. john's wort, Sunflower; trial elim of dairy products; Hrbl: Cinnamon oil, Agrimony tea. Poor bladder tone: NP 3x (TS in special potency) and magnesium suppl.; vits A, D, C, and E.
Bee Stings: "Epipen" (and ER) for severe reactions; otherwise or meanwhile: Ledum 30C, sometimes Apis 1M; FE: Rescue Remedy (Five Flower); open cigarette and moisten (e.g., saliva) tobacco, apply wad topically (with tape or Band-Aid).
Bipolar Disorder: B6 200mg a day with AA: L-phenylalanine in ascending doses (500 mg, > 3g a day) for depressive phases (2? |
Michael T. Murray, N.D.
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 In these studies, st. john's wort extract was found to enhance the exploratory activity of mice in a foreign environment, extend the narcotic sleeping time in a dose-dependent fashion, antagonize the effects of reserpine, and decrease aggressive behavior in socially isolated male mice.5 These activities are consistent with the expected effects of antidepressant compounds. |
Lita Lee, Lisa Turner and Burton Goldberg
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 If there is lack of nervous control of the bladder, try an infusion of one part each of st. john's wort, cornstalk, horsetail, wild oat, and lemon balm ('/> cup, three times a day).
?An herbal tea made of three parts horsetail, one part agrimony, and one part sweet sumac: for lack of tone in the sphincter muscle of the bladder or in the case of general muscle or nervous debility.
INFANT COLIC
Infant colic refers to spasmodic abdominal pain, accompanied by irritability, crying, and/or vomiting. |
Phyllis A. Balch, CNC
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| During this period, they can produce dangerous drug interactions with either MAOIs or certain herbal medications, such as st. john's wort.
Ll The discovery of the relationship between tryptophan and serotonin led to the beginning of an understanding of the relationship between food and mood. Tryptophan enters the brain more readily if blood-sugar levels are high. When the extra tryptophan reaches the brain, it is turned into serotonin that stops depression. Bingeing on sugar during depression—which is not recommended—is in fact a form of self-treatment for the condition. |
Gabriel Cousens, M.D.
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 The herbal action of st. john's wort enhances serotonin levels by artificially keeping the inter-neuronal levels high like Prozac does, but without the side effects of Prozac. Neither substance speaks direcdy to the core of the problem, although either may ameliorate it.
My approach to depression is holistic in that I look at all the contributing factors. A red flag goes up if the person has a parental history of drug or alcohol usage or any mental or emotional disorder, especially depression. There is a very high correlation between such a history and neurotransmitter deficiencies. |
Michael T. Murray, N.D.
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| The study measured the change in urinary metabolites of noradrenaline and dopamine following administration of a standardized extract of st. john's wort (0.14 percent hypericin content).14 Researchers found a significant increase in the metabolite 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol, a marker commonly used to evaluate the efficacy of antidepressant therapy. A follow-up study by the same researchers involved fifteen women with depression taking the same standardized extract. |
Michael T. Murray, N.D., Joseph E. Pizzorno, N.D.
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 Over twenty-five double-blind studies have shown st. john's wort to produce as good or better results compared to standard antidepressant drugs, but with significantly fewer side effects. while the dogs in the second group simply lay down and didn't even make an effort to jump over the barrier though they could see the shock-free side of the shuttle box. Seligman and his colleagues went on to show that many humans react in an identical fashion.
The adoption of Seligman's model was revolutionary, as it became an effective experiment for testing antidepressive drugs. |
Alan Keith Tillotson, Ph.D., A.H.G., D.Ay.
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 My favorite stimulating nerve tonics are ginseng root, shilajatu, bacopa, gotu kola, st. john's wort, and ginkgo leaf.
Following are my personal recommendations for treating specific conditions with nerve tonics:
• If a patient tends toward moderate to severe nervousness or nerve exhaustion, I choose skullcap and milky oat seed, both of which seem to cause an immediate calmness. This sometimes occurs within 30 minutes, partially because I use both herbs in the easily assimilated tincture form. |
Bill Gottlieb
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 JOHN'S WORT: An Uplifting Herb
Mild and moderate depression respond well to the herb st. john's wort, says Hyla Cass, M.D., assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of California, Los Angeles, School of Medicine.
What can you expect when you take the herb? "Within a week to 10 days, many people notice improved sleep, followed by improvements in appetite, energy levels, and physical well-being," says Dr. Cass. "By the second or third week, there may be a reduction in emotional symptoms, with less anxiety, a more positive mood, and a greater sense of peace. |
| John's Wort
Take four drops of st. john's wort flower essence a day for at least a month if you seem to be extra-sensitive to the sun or prone to symptoms of heat exhaustion. This flower essence, from the herb that is used to treat depression, can treat all maladies related to darkness and light, says Patricia Kaminski, director of the Flower Essence Society in
PROFESSIONAL CARE
Heat exhaustion means that your vital organs aren't getting enough blood. With less blood available, you will feel light-headed and weak. |
| As with st. john's wort, take four drops four times a day. You can use more than one remedy at a time.
• Scotch broom, for severe pessimism—the feeling of "What's the use? |
J. E. Williams, O.M.D.
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 John's wort (Hypericum perforatum): st. john's wort is best known as a natural antidepressant and is widely used for that purpose. However, it also has antiviral properties, and was at one time investigated
4 Homotoxicology Antiviral Alternatives
Echinacea compositum S Engystol N Gripp-Heel for use in HIV. Though a common flowering herb, its chemical nature is very complex, and contains hypericin, hyperforin, flavonoids, and xanthones. |
Michael T. Murray, N.D.
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| Johnson D: Effects of st. john's wort extract Jarsin. Paper presented at the 4th International Congress on Phytotherapy. Munich, Germany. September 10-13,1992. [Abstract SL53]; Woelk H: Multicentric practice-study analyzing the functional capacity in depressive patients. Paper presented at the 4th International Congress on Phytotherapy. Munich, Germany. September 10-13,1992. [Abstract SL54J; Sommer H. Improvement of psychovegetative complaints by hypericum. Paper presented at the 4th International Congress on Phytotherapy. Munich, Germany. September 10-13,1992. [Abstract SL55]
17. |
J. E. Williams, O.M.D.
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| If you are taking other antidepressants, anticoagulants, and/or digoxin for your heart, do not use st. john's wort while you are on these drugs. The standard dosage is 300 mg of the extract, taken three times daily.
In the homeopathic materia medica, dozens of remedies are listed for use in viral conditions, and since classical homeopathic prescribing focuses on the constitution of the patient and not the pathology of the disease, the repertory of possible remedies is immense. |
Michael T. Murray, N.D., Joseph E. Pizzorno, N.D.
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| However, while the lifestyle and dietary recommendations can be employed without physician supervision, due to the seriousness of this condition we do not encourage anyone with bipolar depression to self-medicate with 5-HTP, st. john's wort extract, or any other herbal medicines. Find a qualified psychiatrist or physician to supervise you if you wish to employ any of these natural supportive therapies. |
Alan Keith Tillotson, Ph.D., A.H.G., D.Ay.
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| St. John's wort was implicated in January 2000 in lowering the blood levels of AIDS drugs and cyclosporine, a drug used to prevent organ rejection. In both of these cases, the results could be deadly.
Grapefruit juice contains a compound called "bergamottin," which inactivates cytochrome P450-3A4, a digestive enzyme that metabolizes up to 60% of all drugs, including antihistamines and various high blood pressure medicines. This may explain why grapefruit juice increases the effects of many prescription drugs. |
Bill Gottlieb
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| He also advises that you use st. john's wort only under the supervision of a qualified professional.
MELATONIN: Small Amounts Work Best
The hormone melatonin can help reset your biological clock, thus decreasing the symptoms of winter blues. The trick is to take a very small amount in the afternoon, says Dr. Rosenthal. Use 100 micrograms (Mo milligram). If you can't find melatonin in this dose, Dr. Rosenthal suggests that you break a 200-microgram tablet in half. Do not take this supplement unless under the supervision of a knowledgeable medical doctor. |
Alan Keith Tillotson, Ph.D., A.H.G., D.Ay.
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| Tranquilizers and Antidepressants
Patients are always coming to me with questions about the use of herbs like st. john's wort and kava root with their prescription antidepressants or tranquilizers. This is to be expected, as drugs like Prozac are associated with significant side effects. About 20% of patients experience nausea or headaches and about 15% anxiety, nervousness, or insomnia, while 17% of patients are forced to discontinue use due to side effects. Most of our mood-oriented herbs like St. |
Michael T. Murray, N.D., Joseph E. Pizzorno, N.D.
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| The st. john's wort extract standardized to contain 0.3 percent hypericin (see Depression), at a dosage of 300 mg three times per day, has been shown to relieve SAD. reestablishment of the proper circadian rhythm—the natural 24-hour rhythmic release of hormones.
Light therapy consists of using full-spectrum lighting (Vitalite is a popular brand). The typical protocol used in clinical studies involved placing full-spectrum fluorescent tubes in regular fluorescent fixtures (eight tubes total). Patients were then instructed to sit three feet away from the light from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. |
| The main advantage of using st. john's wort extract as opposed to antidepressant drugs was found to be not so much a difference in therapeutic outcome, but rather a significant advantage in terms w of side effects, cost, and patient satisfaction. The double-blind studies with the highest methodological quality rating are listed in Table 9.
In the study with the highest quality rating, 135 depressed patients were treated with
TABLE 9 Summary of Clinical Trials with St. |
Bill Gottlieb
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| HERBS: Four Symptom Relievers
Jason Elias, a practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine in New Paltz, New York, recommends the following herbs to relieve PMS symptoms: sage for headaches, st. john's wort for depression or irritability, cleavers for breast tenderness, and dandelion leaf for bloating. Follow the dosage recommendations on the labels.
PROGESTERONE: For Desperate Times If a woman is truly desperate—overwhelmed by her PMS symptoms—she should consider adding the hormone progesterone to her remedy list, Dr. |
Dr. Vern Cherewatenko and Paul Perry
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 Other supplements that are mixed with the HCA, including chromium, other minerals, vitamins, and herbs like kava and st. john's wort.
Step 3: Prepare Yourself
Making lifestyle changes is not easy, and the full effect of the Diabetes Cure cannot be attained without making changes in the way you live. Read the rest of this book and ask yourself these questions:
• Am I willing to exercise at least thirty minutes every day?
• Am I able to put stressors in second place behind my good health? Will I apply the lessons in the chapter (7) on stress control to events happening at work? |
Stanley W. Jacob, M.D.
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 Now, MSM has the potential to join the growing array of natural substances such as melatonin and st. john's wort that can be used by a broad number of people to reduce common health problems.
MSM in Nature
In its natural state MSM is an inconspicuous sulfur molecule found in the atmosphere, in plants, animals, and the human body. Chemically, it consists of two hydrocarbon units (groups of hydrogen and carbon atoms) attached to a unit with one sulfur and two oxygen atoms. The molecule is one-third sulfur by weight. |
J. E. Williams, O.M.D.
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| Once you have established the foundational plan outlined in steps 1 through 4, have addressed inflammation (step 5), and are working
9 Antiviral Herbs
Boneset Echinacea Elderberry Witch hazel Lomatium Lemon balm Phyllanthus Sangre de drago st. john's wort with immune modulators (step 6), the next step is to directly target viral infection in your body. The medications involved may be taken short-term for active, chronic infections (a herpes outbreak) or for acute viral infections (a cold or flu). Some may be used long-term for chronic viral conditions, such as HCV. |
Bill Gottlieb
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| JOHN'S WORT: Another Nudge for Neurotransmitters
The herb st. john's wort increases a variety of neurotransmitters, Dr. Hughes says. Look for a product that is standardized for 0.3 percent hypericin, the most active ingredient in the herb, and take 900 milligrams a day in divided doses with meals. Do not take this herb if you are taking a prescription antidepressant.
KAVA KAVA: For Memory-Restoring Sleep
This mildly sedative herb from the South Pacific helps you sleep better and allows your brain to produce more growth hormone, which is a substance that protects and improves memory, Dr. |
Michael T. Murray, N.D., Joseph E. Pizzorno, N.D.
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| Totals
630
185/313 (59%)
63/322 (20%)
Trials comparing st. john's wort extract to an antidepressant drug
Bergman109
80
15.4
0.75
6
32/40
28/40 (amitriptyline)
Harrer110
102
19.4
2.7
4
27/51
28/51 (maprotiline)
Vorbach111
135
9.4
2.7
4
42/67
37/68 (imipramine)
Totals
317
101/158 (64%)
93/159 (58%)
* Responder rate: a decrease in the HDS of greater than 50% or achieving a value less than 10 either St. Johns wort extract (0.3 percent hypericin content, 300 mg three times per day) or imipramine (25 mg three times per day) for a period of six weeks. |
Glenn W. Geelhoed, M.D. and Jean Barilla, M.S.
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 John's wort For minor burns, many people use the oil form of st. john's wort, which can be gently dabbed on the injury to promote healing. slippery elm Slippery elm is a food and a medicine that American Indians used for a variety of ailments. Today, slippery elm powder is made from either the inner or outer bark of the red elm tree. Mix the powder with water to make a poultice and apply. The soothing, healing properties come, in part, from the high mucilage content.
Vitamin A Vitamin A is an antioxidant, which can speed healing. |
Sharol Tilgner, N.D.
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 One clinical trial had success using st. john's wort for seasonal affective disorder. 416 The constituent, hypericin, raises the concentration of melatonin, a hormone formed from serotonin that has a sleep-regulating function. 39Di 372 Hypericin was thought until recently to be the main active constituent in Saint John's wort. Recent research indicates that the constituents hyperforin and bioflavones are also involved. Hyperforin is a potent uptake inhibitor of serotonin, dopamine, noradrenaline, GABA and L-Glutamate. 41i 415 St. |
Maesimund B. Panos, M.D. and Jane Heimlich
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 This remedy, made from a plant called st. john's wort, has special healing powers for parts rich in nerves such as fingertips, toes, spine, palms, or soles.
I discovered Hypericum's healing powers when I was a small child and someone slammed a car door on my hand. This was at least fifty years ago, but I can still remember that it was my right fourth finger that took the brunt of that awful force and turned white. When I arrived home, my father, a homeopathic physician, quickly placed two tablets in my mouth, and the throbbing pain began to ease. |
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