Day 3

on my quest for happiness.

HA HA. totally kidding.

but, it is day 3 since i've started taking st. johns wort. i have high hopes this will work well for me, it's no sissy herb! i took it years ago during a very stressful and traumatic time in my life.. custody battles etc.. as much stress as i've got now, that tops it.. and it took the edge off what i was going through. it is said to work for mild to moderately severe depression, which i know i fall between. it's said to rival that of some of your commonly prescribed anti-anxiety and anti-depressants, that's what we need! here is some more info on it in case you're interested.. i'll post as time goes on and my experience with it's effectiveneess in my particular situation. I should start to notice some effects in 2 weeks time, but of course not feel the full effects for 6-8 wks.


St. John's wort ( Hypericum perforatum ), once thought to rid the body of evil spirits, has a history of medicinal use dating back to ancient Greece, where it was used to treat a range of illnesses, including various 'nervous conditions.' St. John's wort also has antibacterial and antiviral properties and, because of its anti-inflammatory properties, has been used to help heal wounds and burns.

In recent years, there has been renewed interest in St. John's wort as a treatment for depression and there has been a great deal of scientific research on this topic. St. John's wort is one of the most commonly purchased herbal products in the United States. Because St. John's wort interacts with a wide variety of medications, it is important to take it only under the guidance of a healthcare provider who is knowledgeable about herbal medicines.

Depression

In numerous studies, St. John's wort has been effective in reducing depressive symptoms in those with mild to moderate but not severe (called major) depression. When compared with tricyclic anti-depressants (medication frequently prescribed for this condition) such as imipramine, amitriptyline, doxepin, desipramine, and nortriptyline, St. John's wort is equally effective, and has fewer side effects. This also appears to be true for another well known class of antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) including fluoxetine and sertraline

More can be found here:
http://www.doctormurray.com/articles/worteditorial.htm