| But the same loyalty can be found for bright lights, st. john's wort, acupuncture and negative ion generators. In just minutes on the internet I found several examples. (See Box #8—4, Antidepressant Testimonials.)
Many of you will find it offensive if I suggest your overcoming depression was because the antidepressant worked as a placebo. You shouldn't. The placebo effect is powerful. It can even bring about physiological changes. I will share that research shortly. |
Mike Adams
See book keywords and concepts |
 The study found that the herb is actually much more effective than antidepressant drugs, since more than half of those taking st. john's wort in the trial experienced improvements in symptoms of mental depression. Conversely, only one-third of those taking the popular antidepressant drug showed such improvements. Not surprisingly, those taking the herb also showed significantly fewer negative side effects compared to those taking the prescription drug. |
Paula Begoun
See book keywords and concepts |
 Forest Essence Conditioning Shampoo above, and the arnica, comfrey, and st. john's wort extracts it contains can be scalp irritants. Further, the essential oils can cause an itchy scalp, especially for children, whose immune defenses are still developing. This is an OK shampoo for adults with normal to dry hair of any thickness.
© Hemp Enriched Shampoo for All Hair Types ($7.95 for 17.5 ounces) is an outstanding shampoo for dry to very dry hair of any thickness.
©Natural Aloe Vera 84% Shampoo, Hair Nourishing Formula ($6. |
Mike Adams
See book keywords and concepts |
| St. John's Wort Extract (www.LEF.org)
*" Baseline Nutritionals Warp Speed (www. BaselineNutritionals.com)
<*- GCW Organic Chia Seeds
(www.GoodCauseWellness.com)
***** okra ***** oily fish ***** brussels sprouts
***** passion fruit ***** borage ***** lavender ***** mate
** Cognitex with Pregnenolone 8c Neuroprotection Complex (www.LEF.org)
Baseline Nutritionals Colon Corrective (www. B aselineNutr itionals .com)
«*" L-Theanine (www. LEF.org)
<*" Spirulina
(www.Cyanotech.com)
Any fish oil products (www.NordicNaturals.com)
Some interesting recent headlines about depression
St. |
Dr. Timothy Scott
See book keywords and concepts |
 They do, but not any better than do bright lights, st. john's wort, negative ion generators and acupuncture, assuming you and your doctor are both convinced your treatment will work. The question then becomes, so why did the FDA approve these drugs? That is addressed by the following chapter. |
The Editors of FC&A
See book keywords and concepts |
| Other supplements may lift your mood
Dietary supplements by the aisle-full are fighting to edge out st. john's wort as the new wonder cure for depression. Before you load up your shopping cart, read on to separate fact from fiction.
Say hello to "sammy." S-adenosyl-methionine, better known as SAM-e, is no newcomer to the supplement arena. It has been prescribed in Europe for both depression and arthritis for over thirty years.
Your body naturally makes this compound and uses it to build serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, brain chemicals that help control your mood. |
Mike Adams, the Health Ranger
See article keywords and concepts |
 The real question is, is it st. john's wort that is dangerous or is it the drug?
There are times that drugs are needed, and there are times that doctors are needed. I am not naïve in this regard. I was lecturing in a real hospital, at Notre Dame in Indiana. Originally, the oncology department was calling me in. They wanted me to talk to them directly. They invited the cardiovascular department to the talk. Then they opened it to the hospital at large, and then they invited the public. At this point, I started getting very nervous. |
Patrick Holford
See book keywords and concepts |
 John wort (300 mg a day) is particularly effective for women who experience depression, irritability, and fatigue. st. john's wort, renowned for its antidepressant effects, has been demonstrated to relieve other menopausal symptoms, including headaches, palpitations, lack of concentration, and decreased libido. A medical trial in Germany found that 80 percent of women felt that their symptoms had gone or substantially improved after taking st. john's wort for twelve weeks.
Dong quai
The other "hot" herb for hot flashes is dong quai, botanically called Angelica sinensis. |
Mike Adams, the Health Ranger
See article keywords and concepts |
 Of course, once again, people in the know aren't going to be concerned about that because they'll be stocking up on elderberry extract and boosting their immune systems by taking herbs like astragalus, aloe vera, st. john's wort, lemon balm herb and many others that have powerful antiviral properties.
My impression of the statements from governments around the world on bird flu is that they are basically designed to calm people down and are largely false statements. I fail to see how any country can be stocking up on a vaccine that doesn't even exist. |
Frantisek Stary
See book keywords and concepts |
 Perforate st. john's wort, Common St. John's Wort
Hypericum perforatum l.
The genus Hypericum has a great many species, most of them found in the subtropical regions. Perforate st. john's wort is an exception. It is distributed throughout most of Europe, western and central Asia to the Altai and the Himalayas in the south, and has become naturalized on all the continents. The flowering top parts devoid of the lower, leafless, woody parts of the stems are gathered at the beginning of the flowering period. They contain di-anthrones, e.g. |
Eric R. Braverman
See book keywords and concepts |
 I tapered her paroxetine (Paxil) for this reason (this drug addresses serotonin-related depression and can often be replaced by progesterone, growth hormone, or mood-enl ancing supplements such as st. john's wort). Diethylpropion (Tenual t) was discontinued, as it addresses dopamine-related fatigue, and Nmcy's lethargy wasn't related to dopamine—I could tell because her bi ain voltage was normal.
To my mind, none ¦ if the conditions related to Nancy's acetylcholine deficiency were at a poi it that would require pharmaceutical intervention. |
| Chromium, rhodiola, and thiamine help to build dopamine, for example; manganese, lipoic acid, and huperzine-A address acetylcholine; inositol, B vitamins, and branched-chain amino acids are GABA-related; and vitamin B6, st. john's wort, and fish oils are used for serotonin-based therapies.
The diets and supplement programs listed in this book are designed to work together. Specifically, the diets promote the absorption of the supplements. Therefore, for best results, use both these programs together. lifestyle
The term lifestyle covers a broad spectrum of behaviors. |
| This formula contains thiamine, niacinamide, folic acid, vitamin B12, pantothenic acid, 5-hydroxytryptophan, and st. john's wort. Niacin is the best-studied vitamin for reducing cholesterol, but a variant called niacinamide is also used for mood stabilization and treatment of depression and alcoholism. This formula promotes brain-mind-body connectedness and balance among the four main brain rhythms: beta, alpha, theta, and delta. It is helpful for decreasing the symptoms of insomnia, sleep disorders, backache, headache, shortness of breath, PMS, and phobias. |
Russell L. Blaylock, M.D.
See book keywords and concepts |
 Now we're being told that st. john's wort is ineffective and Ginkgo biloba induces brain hemorrhages.
The vast majority of stories emanating from the media arise from single case reports, letters-to-the-editor, and poorly conducted research that would never be accepted by the guardians of knowledge occupying the seats of power in our medical universities, and who control the scientific journals. When those working in the area of nutraceuticals attempt to have a paper published in a traditional medical journal, they meet stiff resistance. |
Joseph E. Mario
See book keywords and concepts |
 St. John's Wort's Hypericin, activated by visible light and Oxygen, inhibits one leukemia retrovirus, increases Immunity, lowers fever, lowers lymph node swelling; improvesappetite,energy,andmorale. Increases T-cellcountinA.I.D.S.. Tannin polyphenols in Pine cones, and Green Tea which has EpiGalloCatechin Gallate
(EGCG) and EpiCatechin Gallate (ECG) inhibit HIV reverse transcriptase. Nettle roots and Cymbidium orchid have Proteins that inhibit HIV and influenza-A virus. |
Eric R. Braverman
See book keywords and concepts |
| Depression: tryptophan (500-2,000 mg.), st. john's wort (none established)
Difficulty metabolizing tryptophan: B6 (100-500 mg.)
Insomnia: melatonin (1-3 mg. before age forty; older patients can take up to 6 mg.)
Low mood or blues: fish oils (none established), zinc
Weight loss and appetite control: hydroxycitric acid (250-1,500 mg.)
SEROTONIN BOOSTERS (SUGGESTED DAILY SUPPLEMENTAL DOSES)
Minor
Deficit (0-5)
Moderate Deficit (6-15)
Severe Deficit (15+)
Calcium
500 mg.
750 mg.
1,000 mg.
Fish oils
500 mg.
1,000 mg.
2,000 mg.
5-HTP
100 mg.
200 mg.
400 mg.
Magnesium
200 mg. |
Michael Friedman, ND
See book keywords and concepts |
 Herbal Support:
Nervine and "calmative" herbs: st. john's wort (Hypericum), passionflower (Passiflora), valerian (Valeriana), skullcap (Scutellaria), and hops (Humulus lupulus)
Low dose adaptogens: Siberian ginseng (Eleuthrococcus senticosus), Withania (Withania somnifera) In cases of high Cortisol or low DHEA or low DHEA/cortisol ratio, consider using nervine and adaptogenic herbs with divided dosing throughout the day. |
The Editors of FC&A
See book keywords and concepts |
| Robert Califf of Duke University says, "Remember that a lot of people with other serious illnesses do become depressed and say, 'Well, I'll take a little st. john's wort to perk me up.'
For these people it can be the wrong thing to do without good medical supervision to check these medicines and make sure there's no bad interaction going on."
This perk-me-up becomes a problem when the herb weakens your lf vou alreadV take St.
.1 j. ,. rp,. ,j John's wort, tell your other medications. 1 his could . ^ . . |
Eric R. Braverman
See book keywords and concepts |
| We later added st. john's wort and fish oils, which would, in time, replace the paroxetine (Paxil).
LIFESTYLE
A serotonin-nature diet with supplements is part of a healthy lifestyle that can tether you so you don't completely drift away. Additionally, be sure to include regular aerobic exercise. Exercise is important for the serotonin nature because it resets the brain just as sleep does. Use the exercise in the GABA chapter as a starting point. Because serotonin natures enjoy physical activity, try different ways to modify the exercise to changes things around for you. |
James F. Balch, M.D. and Mark Stengler, N.D.
See book keywords and concepts |
 St. John's Wort for depression—An overview and metaanalysis of randomized clinical trials. British Medical Journal 313:253-58.
Diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic health problem that involves elevated blood sugar levels. The metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats directly or indirectly leads to the production of the substance glucose, also known as blood sugar. Glucose is needed to supply energy to every cell in the body. If glucose levels become too elevated then they become toxic to the brain and other body organs. With diabetes, two main problems can occur. |
Jack Challem
See book keywords and concepts |
 Prozac and other antidepressant drugs, as well as the herb st. john's wort, begin boosting serotonin levels almost immediately. By doing so, they should rapidly relieve depression. However, these therapies typically take two to four weeks to have a noticeable effect, suggesting that they work by another mechanism.
This delay in exerting an antidepressant effect has led some researchers, such as Rene Hen, Ph.D. |
C. P. Khare
See book keywords and concepts |
 Since this initial study, more than 26 double-blind controlled studies with the standardized st. john's wort extract (0.3 % hypericin) were carried out. The extract at a dosage of 300 mg 3 times a day was found to be as effective in relieving symptoms of depression as standard antidepressants (1992-1994)-
Research indicates that other constituents, such as xanthones and flavonoids also contribute to the medicinal actions of st. john's wort.
Studies have demonstrated that the antidepres-sive effect may be due to the presence of a monoamine oxidase inhibiting function in the active agents. |
Amarjit S. Basra
See book keywords and concepts |
 St. John's wort.
22. Palevitch. D., 1997, Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) as a prophylactic treatment for migraine: A double-blind, placebo-controlled study, Phytotherapy Research. 11: 508-511; Murphy, J.J., 1988, Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of feverfew in migraine prevention, Lancet, 2: 189-192.
23. De Weerdt, C.J., Bootsma, H.P.R., and Hendriks, H., 1996, Herbal medicines in migraine prevention: Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled crossover trial of a feverfew preparation, Phytomedicine, 3: 225-230.
24. |
| St. John's wort for depression—An overview and meta-analysis of controlled clinical trials, British Medical Journal, 313: 253-258; Di Carlo, G., Borrelli, F, Ernst, E., and Izzo, A.A., 2001, St John's wort: Prozac from the plant kingdom. Trends in Pharmacological Sciences, 22: 292-297; Barnes, J., Anderson, L.A., and Phillipson, J.D.. 2001, St John's wort (Hypericum perforatum L.): A review of its chemistry, pharmacology and clinical properties, Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 53: 583-600.
20. Hypericum Depression Trial Study Group, 2002, Effect of Hypericum perforatum (St. |
C. P. Khare
See book keywords and concepts |
| St. John's Wort extract standardized to 5 % hyperforin gave much better results in patients with severe depression. (Expanded Commission E Monographs, 2000). The drug is not recommended with other antidepressants.
German Commission E monograph on st. john's wort lists psychovegetative disturbances, depressive states, fear, and nervous disturbances as clinical indications for the extract. It recognized the drug's efficacy in the following areas:
> Anxiety
> Depressed moods
> Inflammation of the skin
> Blunt injuries
> Wounds and burns (first degree). |
Jonathan V. Wright, M.D. and Alan R. Gaby, M.D.
See book keywords and concepts |
 So, before (or at least at the same time as) you start on st. john's wort against depression or ginkgo to aid memory, make sure all the essential nutrients are not only being ingested, but absorbed, as well.
DR. GABY'S COMMENTARY j/\^s dr. wright pointed out, factors that improve overall health may also enhance mental function. These include eating healthful foods, avoiding excessive alcohol intake, dealing with digestion and absorption problems, exercising regularly, taking a high-quality vitamin and mineral supplement, and maintaining a positive attitude. |
Bryan Hanson, PhD
See book keywords and concepts |
 For many years it was thought that the antidepressant activity of st. john's wort was due to a molecule called hypericin, though now other molecules are under consideration (see Figure 1.1). My point is that even after identifying hypericin (or anything else) as an active ingredient, scientists will have many more questions, such as how to analyze a plant or a pill for its hypericin content.
So this book is about questions about medicinal plants, particularly questions about what's in them and how they work—in other words, understanding medicinal plants. |
Amarjit S. Basra
See book keywords and concepts |
| A recent three-way study claimed that st. john's wort has no effect in major depression but it has been pointed out that the standard drug used in the study also showed no significant effect.20 The chemical basis for the observed clinical effects is still not completely elucidated, although the monoamine oxidase inhibitory effects of the flavonoids, and possibly the naphthodione hypericin, and the serotonin reuptake inhibitor phloridzin, are considered to play major parts in the overall effect. |
| The most popular drugs are among the ones obtained by harvesting from the wild: yarrow, horsetail, nettle, rose hips, lime, and a large proportion of st. john's wort, chamomile, hawthorn, dandelion, and others originates from natural vegetation. Basically, the collectors are private individuals, especially villagers, often women, children, or people without any other official engagement. At best, collection and buying is organized by merchant firms or processing factories. In other systems, private enterprises deal with the purchase of medicinal plants and turnover is regulated by the market. |
Joe Graedon, M.S. and Teresa Graedon, Ph.D.
See book keywords and concepts |
 Emsam should not be combined with other antidepressants or st. john's wort. It is crucial to check with your pharmacist and your physician before combining any other medication when you are using Emsam.
In double-blind trials, scientists determined that Emsam is significantly more effective than placebo. The most common side effects include irritation where the patch is applied to the skin, rash, indigestion, headache, insomnia, diarrhea, dry mouth, and dizziness when standing up suddenly. Sexual side effects appear to be uncommon. |
Email this page to a friend
