| Reportedly, the FDA warning letter stated, "We note that ingredients such as echinacea, Ginkgo biloba, st. john's wort, cat's claw, kava kava, and spirulina are listed on the labels of several of your products. FDA has not issued a food additive regulation authorizing the use of these ingredients in food. Additionally, we are not aware of a basis for concluding that these ingredients are GRAS for use in conventional food."8 The FDA also had issued similar warnings to Plain's about its Kitchen Prescription soup line (shown in Figure 27). |
Robyn Landis
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 Chinese morinda root may relieve depression, but that's not its main claim to fame, so for depression you would be better off taking an herb like st. john's wort, whose best and most well known capability is against depression. To get the best result for your dollar and for your effort, choose the herb whose primary, not secondary, function is the one you need.
All herbs are not tonics; to the contrary, tonics are relatively rare in the wide world of botanicals. A common mistake is long-term use of herbs that are best suited to short-term use for acute conditions. |
| Topicals for pain that many people have found effective include cayenne oil, ginger oil, mustard oil, and castor oil. st. john's wort oil or ointment is a very typical European treatment for trauma and joint pain. You should experiment with small amounts and see which works best for you; the response is very individual and idiosyncratic, but once someone finds the topical that works for him or her, it can be very effective in providing relief.
Diet for RA
The ideal diet for long-term healing of RA should be as close to vegetarian as possible. |
James Green
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 I usually make my dried Nettle extract at 1:4, my fresh st. john's wort at 1:1.5, and my fresh Mullein flowers at a 1:1.1 often start out using the suggested standards, but frequently alter them as I prepare successive batches. My current preferences have evolved based on my experience with these plant extracts. View all these processes and standards as principles to use as initial guides, but ultimately do adjust them according to your own preferences.
It is important to note that, provided one is using good-quality herb, both methods, the folk and the w/v, make high-quality tinctures. |
Robyn Landis
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| Depression or mood swings: st. john's wort is an herb that has been useful for depression generally. Motherwort is another good one. Try red chilies and the amino acids tyrosine and phenylalanine as supplements too. See pages 291-294 for more on herbal and nutritional depression treatment.
Here's a fun one: Regular sex is thought to help slow the decline of sex hormones that heralds the onset of menopause. Rina Nissim's Natural Healing in Gynecology claims that the little-known but best way to counteract shrinking and drying of vagina is to continue to have orgasms. |
James Green
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| This is especially essential when harvesting plants like st. john's wort, which propagates itself primarily by casting its seeds and experiences a massively increased harvest due to a sudden rush of popularity. This has transformed its commercial reputation from one of a "noxious weed" to that of a "quick antidote" for human depression— foolish notions as those are.
Remove no more than 10 percent of a native plant community or 20 percent of a naturalized plant community; better yet, leave no particularly noticeable evidence you were there. |
Robyn Landis
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| Again, chilies and some herbs (such as st. john's wort, kava-kava root, nutmeg, and borage leaf) also boost endorphins.
Exercise may also be useful for many other reasons: It improves overall health and well-being, often results in a body that feels and looks more culturally acceptable, may involve social activity or contact, and provides a feeling of doing something—taking action and taking control. These factors may also play a role in the antidepressive effects of exercise.
Cigarettes, alcohol, caffeine, and refined sugar should be eliminated, as discussed above. |
Donald R. Yance, j r.,C.N., M.H., A.H.G., with Arlene Valentine
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 Besides the value of its components, hypericin and pseudohypericin, st. john's wort is also one of nature's richest sources of flavonoids, including quercetin.
Gotu Kola [Centella asiatica)
Gotu kola, native to India, is a popular medicinal plant in Ayurvedic medicine, the herbal tradition that has been practiced for centuries in India. Used for healing many skin afflictions, including leprosy, burns, eczema, psoriasis, and leg ulcers, gotu kola is also used to enhance mental concentration. |
| Another benefit of full-spectrum light is that it enhances the immune system by promoting a synergy between nutrients (such as st. john's wort) that possess photodynamic qualities. Exposure to natural light enhances the nutrients' functioning.
Gardening
A good way to bring the sun into daily life is by gardening, a major healing and stress-reducing activity. So many of my patients who garden have shared with me the wonderful healing effects it has had on them. |
| Using these fatty acids externally and at the same time taking plant antioxidants internally, such as green tea, turmeric, hawthorn, st. john's wort, lavender, or rosemary along with a full-spectrum carotenoid supplement, ascorbate vitamin C, dry vitamin E, and selenium, supplies the body with nutrients that are protection against skin cancer as well as other cancers and chronic illnesses. |
| Most over-the-counter varieties of this product are standardized to the hypericin content but, as recent information on this sacred plant indicates, hypericin is not the ingredient responsible for its antidepressant effects. st. john's wort has many constituents, including a number of flavonoids, that together with hypericin have a powerful healing effect. |
| Many herbs and other supplements can also be used, such as kava kava, passionflower, chamomile, skullcap, pulsatilla, st. john's wort, or oats, to name just a few. I sometimes suggest a single herb for sleep and at other times a compound based on the individual's needs. Depending on the herbs used and the individual situation, the dosage can vary from 5 drops to 1 teaspoon (about 120 drops) two to six times daily. Sometimes adding an herbal extract or compound to a cup of hot tea (perhaps a relaxing tea like chamomile) or water can help induce a restful and deep sleep. |
Ralph W. Moss PhD
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 Those of us who grew up thinking of herbs as "guerrilla medicine" did neck-wrenching doubletakes when we saw packages of st. john's wort and Ginkgo biloba piled high at Wal-Mart.
The majority of consumers (79 percent in one survey) feel that herbs are safe and probably effective for many conditions currently treated with pharmaceuticals or over-the-counter drugs. And there is not yet an end in sight. A 1998 MarketFacts survey showed that many more Americans would take medicinal herbs if they knew more about them. |
Earl Mindell, R.Ph., Ph.D.
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 Recently, according to a recent article published in the British Medical Journal researchers concluded that st. john's wort was as effective an antidepressant as many stronger prescription medications.
Siberian ginseng—For thousands of years, Asian healers have used ginseng as a tonic herb; that is, they do not necessarily prescribe it for particular ailments, rather they use it to maintain health and vigor. There are many different types of ginseng, and I personally prefer Siberian ginseng because, unlike some of the more potent forms, it does not cause insomnia. |
Robyn Landis
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| People using high doses of st. john's wort long term are advised to avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, but to maintain consistently shorter exposures to indirect, low-level sunlight.
Another herbal remedy showing some promise with depression is ginkgo. This circulatory tonic is used widely in Europe to prevent and treat disorders involving decreased blood supply to the brain (cerebrovascular inefficiency), and numerous double-blind, controlled studies have shown it to be effective in this regard. |
Dr. Julian Whitaker
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| The most well known are ginseng, st. john's wort, and kava.
Ginseng
Ginseng is a medicinal herb that has been used for thousands of years for its healing properties. It helps memory and cognitive function by modulating the harmful effects of stress. As such, it is classified as an adaptogen, a term coined in 1957 by Russian scientist Dr. I. Brekhman. It denotes substances that improve the body's ability to adapt to a broad range of physical and biochemical stressors.
Ginseng is an exceptionally adaptable plant. |
Schuyler W. Lininger, Jr. DC
See book keywords and concepts |
 Mullein (p. 446) st. john's wort (p. 461)
See also: Homeopathic Remedies for Ear Infections (p. 534)
Eczema
Eczema is a common skin condition characterized by an itchy, red rash. Many skin diseases cause somewhat similar rashes, so it is important to have the disease properly diagnosed before it can be treated.
Dietary Changes That May Be Helpful
Eczema can be triggered by allergies (p. 8).1,2 Most children with eczema have food allergies, according to data from double-blind research.3 A nutritionally oriented doctor should be consulted to determine if allergies are a factor. |
Andrew Chevallier
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 Lavender relieves irritation as well as being an insect repellent, aloe vera is soothing and healing, and both calendula and st. john's wort reduce inflammation. Echinacea stimulates the immune system, and nettle is antiallergenic.
General cautions Seek immediate professional attention if prone to, or if there are signs of, extreme allergic reactions, or if there is a sting in the mouth and the throat starts to swell. Some stings and animal bites are poisonous and may need inoculations and immediate medical attention. external remedies
Herb Lavender (Lavandula officinalis, p. |
Christian Ratsch
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 Preparations in which kava is combined with st. john's wort (Hypericum perforatum L.) are used as mild antidepressants (cf. Becker 1994, 3*). The essence or mother tincture (Piper methysticum horn. HAB34, Piper methysticum horn. HPUS88)
One English band from the early 1990s took its name, Kava Kava, from that of the inebriating pepper of the South Seas. The band's music incorporated both psychedelic and funk influences. However, the CD booklet does not tell us whether the band members were inspired by kava or by more traditional European psychedelics. |
| Acorus calamus), st. john's wort, gum arabic, Sapapenum, acacia juice (Acacia spp.), lllyric iris, cardamom, anise, Gallic spikenard, gentian root, dried rose leaves, poppy juice (= opium), parsley (Petroselinum crispum), cassia cinnamon (Cinnamomum cassia), sil, bearded darnel (Lolium temulentum), long pepper (see Piper spp.), storax, castoreum, turis, Hypocistis juice, myrrh, opopanax, mala-bathron leaves, flowers of the round rush, terebinth resin, galbanum, Cretan carrot seeds, spikenard, opobalsam, shepherd's purse, rhubarb root (Rheum sp. |
| The ongoing investigations into st. john's wort {Hypericum perforatum L.) and other Hypericum species394 as possible MAO-inhibiting admixtures are very interesting. Hypericin, the primary active constituent in Hypericum spp., "has been proven to be a monoamine oxidase inhibitor" (Becker 1994, 48*). Psychotria viridis and Mimosa tenuiflora have been looked at as sources of DMT, but numerous other possibilities also exist (see the tables on the following pages). The dosages are determined by the alkaloid concentrations in the various admixtures (DeKorne 1996; Ott 1994). |
| Numerous preparations and products (capsules, tablets, coated tablets, solutions, tinctures) are available in European and Western markets, including capsules containing kava extracts and the oil of st. john's wort (Hypericum perforatum L.; cf. Becker 1994*) for treating stress and capsules with extracts of kava and valerian (Valeriana officinalis) for relaxation. Each of the Antares® 120 tablets contains 120 mg of kavapyrones; these thus have one of the highest concentrations of all commercial forms (Schmidt 1994, 376). |
| Meier 1995b)
— Roots of Passiflora involucrata
— Fruit juice of Passiflora edulis
— Calyxes of Passiflora foetida
Preparation and Dosage
To make calmative teas, the dried herbage of Passiflora incarnata is best combined with valerian roots (Valeriana officinalis), hop cones (Humulus lupulus), and st. john's wort (Hypericum perforatum L.) or with valerian roots, balm (Melissa officinalis L.), anise (Pimpinella anisum L.), and mint (Mentha sp.) (Meier 1995b, 124 f.). The recommended daily dosage of the dried herbage of Passiflora incarnata is 4 to 8 g; as a tea, 2. |
Andrew Chevallier
See book keywords and concepts |
| Research
¦ Depression In a recent research study in Austria, 67% of patients with mild to moderate depression improved when given an extract of st. john's wort. This confirmed findings of earlier trials that showed the herb to be good for depression.
¦ Hypericin The red color of the oil is due to products of hypericin. This constituent is antidepressant and so strongly antiviral that it is being researched for use in treating Hiv and AIDS. m Whole herb Research shows that the whole herb is effective against many viral infections.
Traditional & Current Uses
¦ Nervous complaints St. |
Andrew L. Stoll
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 In natural, herbal, and complementary, as well as in conventhan one substance that is biologically active. In st. john's wort it is still unclear what molecular substance or combination of substances provides the mild mood-elevating action. Isolating the active compound(s) can be difficult. Western medicine has taken half a century to discover, separate, and begin to understand two crucial substances in fish oil, EPA and DHA. |
Andrew Chevallier
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| Even if the major pharmaceutical companies were able to find an herb such as st. john's wort, which proved to be more effective and safer than conventional medicines, they would prefer to develop synthetic chemical drugs rather than plant medicines.
Herbal Synergy
One word more than any other separates herbal from conventional medicine, and this word is synergy. When the whole plant is used rather than extracted constituents, the different parts interact, often, it is thought, producing a greater therapeutic effect than the equivalent dosage of isolated active constituents
St. |
Larry Trivieri, Jr.
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 Murray, "would be using st. john's wort, due to its antide-pressive qualities. Also, it doesn't have strong sedative effects like valerian."
Ayurvedic Medicine
Virender Sodhi, M.D. (Ayurveda), N.D, Director of the Ayurvedic & Naturopathic Medical Clinic, in Bellevue, Washington, practices Ayurvedic medicine, which asserts that each of the three body types has certain weaknesses, which for different reasons can lead to addiction. According to Dr. Sodhi, Ayurvedic medicine holds that an individual develops addictive behavior while attempting to cope with fear and anxiety. |
Dr. Julian Whitaker
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| Although the role of serotonin is more familiar as a mood regulator (both Prozac and st. john's wort target serotonin), this neurotransmitter is also vitally involved in regulating sleep. (Not surprisingly, one of the hallmarks of depression is insomnia.) Levels of acetylcholine, the neurotransmitter of learning and memory, rise during REM sleep and are likely the cause of the arousal pattern of brain waves that is so similar to our waking state.
Levels of certain hormones also change during the night. Perhaps the most dramatic changes occur in the hormone melatonin. |
| For depression, you might want to try 300 milligrams twice a day of st. john's wort (standardized to contain 0.3-percent hypericin). For anxiety, try 150 milligrams one to six times per day of kava (standardized to contain 30-percent kavalactones).
Step 8—Rejuvenate Your Brain With Sleep
Eliminate the most common sleep disrupters, including caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, and certain drugs, and create an environment that is conducive to sleep. If you have trouble sleeping, try taking one of the following thirty to forty-five minutes before going to bed: 0. |
Schuyler W. Lininger, Jr. DC
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| Efficacy and tolerability of st. john's wort extract LI 160 versus imipramine in patients with severe depressive episodes according to ICD-10. Pharmacopsychiatry 1997; 30(suppl): 81-85.
53. Blumenthal M, Busse WR, Goldberg A, et al. (eds). The Complete Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. Boston, MA: Integrative Medicine Communications, 1998, 214-215.
54. Chatterjee SS, Bhattacharya SK, Wonnemann M, et al. Hyperforin as a possible antidepressant components of hypericum extracts. Life Sci 1998; 63: 499-510.
55. Schubert H, Halama P. |
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