Sam-e and St. Johns Wort
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Sam-e and St. Johns Wort
| Mon, 01-31-2005 - 2:39pm |
Has anyone tried Sam-e or St. John's Wort for their depression? My doctor has already told me I should be on an anti-depressant and I was looking into something with less side effects. Some days I get so far down that I hate the thought of experimenting - so I was wondering if you or someone you know has had luck with the above medications.
Thanks!


My boyfriend picked up some St. John's for me and wants me to try it only because I do not have health insurance at this time and recently became a single parent. I was talking to my best friend and she sent me the following. Didn't really help me to much, but it may help your questions. If anyone else has anything to add, please let us know for those who want to take this route. I will be going to the doctor as soon as I get health insurance (won't be for another 3 mths after my employment starts). Thanks and I hope this helps some. Angie
All this information was taken out of the book "The Healing Herbs The ultimate Guide to the Curative Power of Nature's Medicines" By Michael Castleman (each herb can have more then one possible use)
ST. JOHN'SWORT
FAMILY: Hypericaceae; other members include rose & sharon
GENUS & SPECIES: Hypericum Perforatum
Also know as Hypericum
Parts Used: Leaves and flowers
St. John'swort has been used in herbal healinf for more then 2000 years, most notably for its ability to speed wound healing. And only recently scientists have gathered some evidence on the herb's possible effectiveness as an immune system stimulant.
But its most exciting potential medical use was discovered in 1988, when researchers at New York University and the Weizmann Institute found it has "dramatic"activity against a family of viruses that includes HIV, which causes acquired immune deficiency syndrom AIDS. Since then, some AIDS patients have reported "positive results" witht the herb.
Saint's Beheading
The leaves and flowers of ST. John'swort comtain special glands that release a red oil when pinched. Early christians named the plant in honor of John the Baptist, because they believed it released its blood-red oil on Aug. 29, the anniversary of the saint's beheading. (Wort is Old English for plant.)
In the first century, the Roman naturalist Pliny prescribed St. John's-Wort in wine as a cure for the bites of poisonous snakes. And the Greek phyysician Dioscorides recommeded it externally for burns and internally as a diuretic, menstruation promoter, and treatment for sciatica and recurring fevers (Malaria). the Greeks and Romans also believed the herb was a protector against witches' spells.
Christians adopted the pagan belief that St. John's-Wort repelled evil spirits and burned it in bonfires on St. John's Eve to purify the air, drive away evil spirits, and ensure healthy crops. This poem from around 1400 summed up the popular view:
St. John's-Wort doth charm all witches away if gathered at midnight on the saint's holy day. Any devils and wiitches have no power to harm. Those that gather the plant for a charm. Rub the lintels with that red juicy flower; no thunder nor tempest will then have the power to hurt or hinder your house and;bind Round your neck a charm of a similar kind.
A MOST PRECIOUS REMEDY
Under the Doctrine of Signatures - the medieval belief that a herb's physical appearance revealed their healing value - red plants wre believed to be good for wounds, and the "juicy red flower" of St. Johns-Wort was no exception. In the 16th century John Gerard recommended it as a "most precious remedy for deepe wounds." and worte the herb "provoketh urine and is right good against stone int he bladder."
The first LONDON PHARMACOPOEIA in 1618 advised chopping st. john's-wort flowers, immersing them in oil, and placing the mixture in the sun for three weeks. The resulting tincture was a standard treatment for wounds and bruised for several hundred years.
Seventeenth-century english herbalist Nicholas Culpepper called St. John's-Wort "a singular wound herb; boiled in wine and drank, it healeth inward hurts or bruises; made into an ointment, it opens obstructions, dissolves swellings and closes up the lips of wounds....(it)helpeth all manner of vomiting and spitting blood (tuberculosis)."
TREATMENT FOR WOUNDS
Early colonists introduced St. Johns-wort into North America but found the indians using the native herb in much the same way europeans used the Old World plalnt - as a tonic and treatment for diarrhea, fever, snakebite, wounds, and skin problems.
Nineteenth century botanical medicine authority charles Millspaugh, M>D> touted St. Johns'-wort's value as a wouwnd treatment during the civial war.
throughout the 19th century, homeopathy was as popular as orthodox medicine, and homeopaths prescribed the herb for a variety of ailments; wounds, asthma, bites, sciatica, diarrhea, hemorrhoids, and certain forms of paralysis. Contmeporary homeopaths continue this traditiion.
America's 19th century Eclectic Physicians slso considered St. John's-Wort a useful wound treatment and tetanus preventive and advocated the whole herb as a treatment for "hysteria" (menstrual discomforts) because of its "undoubted power over the nervous system and spinal cord"
A QUESTION ABOUT BLISTERS
Contemporary herbalists are divided on St. John's-wort because in 1977 the Food and Drug Administration declared it unsafe. After eating Large Quantities, cattle often became overly sensistive to the sun (photosensitization) and develop severe sunburn with blistering. Several sources say the same is true for humans, especially those with fair skin.
One recent herbal says; "Internal use of St. John's-wort should be avoided." Some herbals say those with fair skin should use St. JOhn'swort cautiously, but that other people don't ahve to worry. Meanwhile, most herbals either ignore the issue or dismiss it, saying the plant has been used safely in herbal healing for more hten 2,000 years.
Herbalists unconcerned about the safty issue recommend St. John's - wort externally for wound treatment and internally for ssciatica, insomnia, menstrual cramps, headache, colds, chest congestion, and as a tranquilizer.
HEALING WITH ST.jOHN'S-WORT
St. John's-wort has been intensively researched, mostly in Germany and the former Soviet Union. It contains high concentrations of some potential immune-modulating chemicals, known as flavonoids. St. John's-wort also contains another substance, hypericin, that has antiviral andanatifungal, and anti-infllammatory effects.
AIDS. One of St.John's-wort's most excitin effects is hypericin's apparent activity against the AIDS virus.
A study published in the PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES shows the herb has "dramatic activity and little toxicity" against viruses similar to HIV, the AiDS virus, in test-tube and animal tests. Mice were infected with viruses that cause leukemia, then given a single injection of St. John's-wort extract. It 'totally prevented disease." The herb was equally effective when the mice received it orally. Preliminary laboratory tests indicated similar action against the HIV virus. The herb also crosses the blood/brain barrier, which is improtant in AIDS treatment because the virus often attacks the brain. (My own words and thoughts on the above, there are very few medications that are able to cross the blood/brain barrier. That is way things like rabies are so hard/impossible to treat. Back to the book)
These findings caused some excitement among AIDS reseachers, some of whom launched tudies to test St. John's-wort in people with AIDS. As this book goes to press, those studies have not been completed. Since early 1989, however, the newsletter AIDS TREATMENT NEWS has published case reports and surveys of AIDS sufferers, some of whom have experienced 'significant improvement" using St. John's-wort, including incerased immune function, weight gain, improved appetite, and greater energy.
Such reports are heartening, but like all anecdotal information, they must be viewed cautiously until the scientific studies ahve been completed and replicated, St. John's-wort cannot be considered an AIDs treatment. Nonetheless, preliminary results look promising.
AIDs patients enrolled in St. Hohn's-wort studies do not use the bulk herb but rather a "standardized extract". Standardization is crucial to the scientific accpetability of research results.
WOUND HEALING.
Several studies have supported St. John's-wort's triditional use in wound healing. ther hypericin and other antibiotic chemicals in the herb's red oil may help prevent wound infection. In addition, the plant's potential immune-stimulating flavonoids help reduce wound inflammation. One German study showed that compared with conventional treatment, a St. John's-wort ointment substantially cut the healing time of burns and caused less scarring. (This product is not available in the United States.)
ANTIDEPRESSANT.
Hypericin appears to interfere with the activity of a chemical in the body known as momoamine oxidase (MAO), making it an MAO inhibitor. MAO inhibitors are an improtant class of antidepressant drugs. In a small German study, 15 women in treatment for depression obtained significant releif after taking St. John's-wort, including increased appetite, greater interest inlife, improved feelings of self worth, and more normal sleep patterns. Bur St. John's-wort is not an instant antidepressant. According to German medical herbalist Rudolph Fritz Weiss, M.D., the effect "does not develope quickly....(it takes) two or three months."
RX. FOR ST.JOHN'S-WORT
For AIDS treatment, consult a physician for help in obtaining the standardized extracts or in getting enrolled in a clinical trial of the substance.
for wound treatment, apply crushed leaves and flowers to the affected area after yu have cleaned it with soap and water.
For an infusion to help treat depression and possibly stimulate the immune sustem, use 1 to 2 teaspoons of dreid herb per cup of boiling water. Steep 10 to 15 minutes. Drink up to 3 cups a day. St. John's-wort tastes initially sweet, then bitter and astringent.
In a tincture, use 1/4 to 1 teaspoon up to three times a day.
St.John's-wort should not be given to children under age 2. for older children and people over 65, start with low -strength perparations and increase strength if necessary.
THE SAFTY FACTOR
In combination with certain foods and drugs, MAO inhibitors may cause dangerously increased blood pressure (hypertensive crisis). Symptoms include headache, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, and clammy skin. In recommended amounts, st.John's-wort in not as powerful as pharmaceutical MAO inhibitors. Nonetheless, those using the herb should follow certain precautions. While using St. John's-wort, do not take amphetamines, narcotics, the amino acids tryptophan and tyrosine, diet pills, asthma inhalents, nasal decongestants, or cold or hay fever medication. In addition, don't drink beer, wine, or coffee, or eat salami, yogurt, chocolate, fava beans or smoked or pickled items.
SHUN THE SUN
In livestock fed St. John's-wort, the hypericin concentrates near the skin and causes blistering sunburn.
Laboratory animals injected with large doses of hypericin have died after exposure to sunlight.
the scientific consensus is that in recommended doses, whole St.John's-wort causes little if any photosensitization except in fair -skinned people, who are generally more sensitive to sunlight. Those taking St. John's-wort (like those taking the antibiotic tetracycline, another photosensitizing drug should make an effort to stay out of the sun.
AIDS parients report drowsiness, sun sensitivity, nausea, and diarrhea.
OTHER CAUTIONS
The FDA can't make up its mind about ST. John's-wort. After declaring it unsafe in 1977, the agency partially reversed its ruling and now allows the herb in vermouths.
for otherwise healthy nonpregnant, nonnursing adults who do not hve hypertension and are not taking MAO inhibitors or any medications that interact adversely with them, St. John's-wort is considered dast in amounts typically recommended. It should only be used, however, with the consent and supervision of a physician.
St. John's-wort should be used in medicinal amounts only in consultation with your doctor. If St. John's-wort caused headache, stiff neck, or nausea, use less or stop using it. If symptonms persist, consult your physician promptly.
FLOWERS THAT "BLEED"
St. John's-wort is a woody, invasively spreading perennial that reaches 2 feet and has an aroma reminiscent of turpentine. Its leaves are dotted with glands that produce a red oil. Its striking star - shaped flowers bloom bright yellow in summer. They also contain the leaf oil, and when pinched, turn red.
St. John's-wort is best prepagated from root divisions in spring and fall. It grows in almost any well -drained soil under full sun or partial shade. Contain the herb to control its spread. although it is a preennial, St.John's-wort is not particularly long lived. Replant it every few years.
Harvest the leaves and flower tops as the plants bloom.
Dry them and sotre in airtight containers.
Herbs for:
Depersion: St. John's-wort
Anxiety: Balm Balm can interfer with a thyroid-stimulating hormone.
Bay
Catnip
Celery Long term use of celery can deplet potassium stores.
Chamomile
Motherwort
Passionflower
Skullcap
Wild Cherry
Yarrow
If you want info on the above I can send it to you. It won't be quick. But don't just start taking them. Some in certain amounts can be deadly. This book has a copyright of 1991 &1995
Welcome to the board! I hate to be vague, but there is no tried and true answer. Some meds work for some and some meds don't. Whether they are over the counter or from a doc.
These two are usually for mild depression.
I don't believe Sam-e has any drug interactions. But I know from personal experience that St. John's wart interacts with birth control pills. It has been ssen in the literature as well. Be careful with that.
Keep us posted if something works for you. It is a lock and key kind of idea. You are the lock and the med is the key. Wrong key....nothing. Right key...med that works.
Welcome again.
Sending hugs and good thoughts your way.
Take care,
Lisa-)
Co-CL Depression Support Board
I'm planning on going on it as soon as I get weaned from my current anti-depressant Effexor because I hate the sexual side effects of Effexor(loss of sex drive, difficulty climaxing). My psychiatrist supports the idea of SAM-e, which has virtually no side effects, but says it is more expensive than the other drugs because insurance doesn't pay for it.