Evidence-based review of the risks and benefits of St John's wort to treat low mood and depression. This quick summary outlines all the key information to help you decide.
I spent my whole life fighting cptsd. I'm a veteran, was actually addicted to alcohol and cigarettes. I suffered severe depression and mental disorder. Got diagnosed with cptsd. Not until my wife recommended me to psilocybin mushrooms treatment. Psilocybin treatment saved my life honestly. 8 years totally clean. Much respect to mother nature the great magic shrooms.
Can you help me with the reliable source 🙏. I'm 56 and have suffered for years with addiction, anxiety and severe ptsd, I got my panic attacks under control myself years ago and they have come back with a vengeance, I'm constantly trying to take full breaths but can't get the full satisfying breath out, it's absolutely crippling me, i live in Australia. I don't know much about these mushrooms. Really need a reliable source!! Can't wait to get them.
Ive done shrooms last month in my house. It taught me how severely traumatized I was from alcohol. I healed from many mental traumas from my past and was able to forgive, let go. Shrooms to me is a remedy not a vice. I even felt more refreshed the morning after. So no hangovers. No depression mood for days. No anxiety.I now have a more calm mind
Yes it really works excellent! I was horrifically depressed since childhood. It was relentless. I assumed it would ultimately end me somehow. About twelve years ago I randomly accepted the offer from a friend of a few doses of mushrooms. I did them two consecutive nights alone. First night was pretty mild. The second night? Wow. I saw my depression from every angle, realized much. Next day: depression totally gone. Never came back, never coming back. It's like it's a forest far away I can remember, and could probably find again with enough effort, but it has zero impact on anything in my life or mind. They honestly saved my life and improved it immensely. I never did them again, either. I wish there was a good, organized way to administer them to people who would benefit from them.
Honestly, st John’s Wort is the only thing that works for me. Prozac was poison, Sam E worked for a few months, then lost its effects. CBD oil was good for a few months, then made me cranky. Back to St. John’s Wort, but this time 2 pills a day. Finally feeling good again. Depression gone, energy improvements. Fantastic med.
@@angelabagni8710 I’ve used a few different brands, over the years. They all seem to work for me. In New Zealand I generally get Thompson’s. In Australia Blackmores. I’m now doing one a day again of a cheap brand I got from iHerb. Seems OK.
I don’t feel any dopamine release. St John’s wort just seems to take out the worst depression, smoothing things out without any buzz that I can notice.
Unfortunately, it’s difficult to make such bold claims due to its unregulated nature, making rigorous testing impossible. It’s up to each person to think through pros and cons and decide if it’s right for them to try.
@@DrSophieGP Taking SJW could also be a faith walk. It is said in scripture that God created the herbs of the field for our food and healing. One of the beautiful things about St. John's wort is that it help rebuild the nerves even relieving pain and helps strengthen the immune system. In my opinion... in good faith you can take SJW and feel safe in the arms of Jesus. John 1:5 1 Peter 2:9 Psalm 143:7&8 Proverbs 12:25 God Bless all who need a little Sonshine in their day!
Good advice Doc! I’ve found St John’s Wort to be very effective for my anxiety, and have barely noticed any side effects at all. It seems to be an excellent mood regulator and I seem to be more attentive with more energy and motivation. The downside I guess, is that no one really knows how long you can safely take it for, as no long term trials have been carried out.
Thanks so much for your comment and really interesting to hear how St John's Wort is helping you. I've just uploaded a new video on depression you might find helpful too.
did you tried antidepressants first or you directly started SJW...has it any side effects and after how long it begin to start working for you?how much you were taking it?
@@ahmedfraz8324 yes I didn't like prescription antidepressants. The side effects were not great. SJW is very effective but a bit milder and with barely any side effects. That said, everyone is different so you won't be sure until you try. I found the benefits started the same day, and then after a few days you sleep much better. I was on 300mg 3x a day.
@@Streuth22 me neither worst i ever felt was on antidepressants. My depression got worse when stopped taking. But oncr i started going outside and treatingmmy mental health im 10x better
I have osteoarthritis. Not long ago, I had a trapped nerve in my leg. I tried medication off the doctors, and they did not work. A friend suggested St John's wort , and to my surprise, I can walk a lot better.
I've used St John's wort for thirty years it certainly works for me whereas prescribed anti depressants did not. It does depend on the extraction method used as I've discovered through trial and error. Kira, a brand used in Germany is tested and prescribed in Germany as I discovered many years ago. I have lived in Spain for the past twenty years and take Hiperico by Arko (St John's wort) which uses the same extraction method as Kira. Here in Spain this is only permitted to be sold in pharmacies. Since I tried this wonder plant extraction I've never looked back. To those trying it for the first time give it a few weeks and then try a 'dose' that suits you, remember less is more and regularity is key. I disagree with the reasons put forward by NICE in the UK for not allowing prescriptions, I think a far more accurate reason would be follow the money trail and you'll have the answer. Good luck to all.
In this 30 years of SJW , did you ever feel photosinsitivity in the sunlight without wearing sunglasses . I mean any damage to your eyes health ? There is only a study that says it is unsafe for the eyes in the sunlight. Plz rply
Is it possible for you to provide some kind of photograph of Kira bottle? Here in USA, Pharma companies RULE and its a bit tricky to get quality herbal extracts
I have been prescribed antidepressants buy few doctors and none of them mentioned about the side effects neither the withdrawal which I would call " Addiction " And most of the doctors are pushing for them and never think about an alternative approach.
I’d hope the doctors also were keen to encourage non-pharmacological treatments too. Have a look at my video on depression for more info. I do think in the short consultations, sometimes GPs can miss explaining the side effects of anti-depressants properly, which I agree is so important.
@ciaran perry Overall, they’ve been shown to be significantly more effective than placebo in reducing symptoms in adults with moderate to severe depression compared to placebo. There are potential side effects and withdrawal symptoms, so each case needs to be discussed individually with patient and doctor. Hope that helps. Here’s some more reading if you’re interested: www.rcpsych.ac.uk/docs/default-source/improving-care/better-mh-policy/position-statements/ps04_19---antidepressants-and-depression.pdf?sfvrsn=ddea9473_5
Used all types antidepressants for ocd and depression for 9 years, tapered them off. Started feeling at high speed meaning angry, hyperactive, not at rest. Now its 5th day using st johnwort. Feeling low energy, introvert, low physical, increased smartphone usage but calm. I ll see what it do in 2 months
where u live ? In pakistan ? i also live in pak but i can not find this SJW in pak. I also used it but it should not be used in sun light due to photosinsitivity.
@@SM-by8mg No but i felt too lethargic, no energy physically. I felt it too abnormal. I am light brown skin so i think skin photosensivity will be low for me
Well that sounds like a beneficial side effect! There is research out there on it, but as it’s an unregulated herbal medicine, the standards can vary and therefore the evidence is not robust.
I dont take any medications or anything like that i tried st johns wort just to lift my mood more. And it made me have two periods in a month! I got scared and stopped taking it but i think im going to give it another try lol
Would it have any negative side effects taking famotidine aka pepcid with this herb. I don't want to start my anti depression meds cause I'm so worried of the side effects
St. John’s wort was dangerous for me. It sent me into a dark depression. I’ve never been depressed before! I took it for anxiety. But there are no studies to show it has effects on anxiety. I will never take this again or recommend it to anyone 😓
There’s no robust evidence to help advice how long to use SJW, but what we advise for anti-depressants is to slowly come off 6 months after you’ve been feeling better, so I would suggest the same. Hope that helps.
Hello I’ve been personally struggling that it has 100% helped my mood but the catch is that my sleep is horrible and the next day I feel bad cause of my sleep regardless of the St. John’s wort. I have tried mixing with my magnesium but it has only made it worse I want to be able to feel ok and also get sleep
I can’t give personal medical advice, but for any medication, there can be some side effects that settle in a few weeks. If these unwanted effects go on past that, it may be worth considering trying something else unfortunately. I have done a video on sleep you may find useful.
Good day Doctor, I just want to know, I want to try st John's wort for my ocd, but am scared for side effect, if I do get side effect, and I stop using the medication, will the side effects go away? Like sun sensitivity, will it be permanent?
Any side effects are likely to clear once the drug is no longer in the system, but we don’t have robust data on how long that will be, as it is unregulated. Hope that helps a little!
Hi there. I’m having to stop taking citalophram as I’ve just found out I’ve got drug induced Lupus. It’s going to take me a while to wean off but afterwards I want to give St John’s wort a try. How long / length of time would you recommend after I’ve finished citalophram to go onto St. John’s wort ? Many thanks x
Sorry, I can’t give personal medical advice, I think you should ask your doctor. It’s also really tricky to give a good answer, because we don’t really know (due to the lack of trial data)! Good luck with it and I hope you find SJW helpful.
Wait did citalopram give you lupus? I hate citalopram. Really messed me up. Swear it made my adhd worse and also stopped me feeling anything permanently
It sounds to me that this is more or less an SSRI that has less symptoms than other SSRIs for treating mild or moderate depression sold in 'supplement' form The only issue is that due to it being a supplement. It's not regulated, but it carries many of the side-effects other SSRI have, and the consistency of the active ingredient is not kept into account between manufacturers
Hey! I have OCD (impulsive thoughts followed by certain rituals), I don’t think that I have depression. Will this work? Does it have withdrawal symptoms? Thank you!
The limited evidence we have on SJW is on the benefits for anxiety and depression, so we just don’t know enough to say if it will be helpful for OCD, but it may be.
Good spot. I always add useful resources and references in my descriptions but looks like it is missing here, so I will add that. I always do a huge amount of research and then distill it down to give a concise overview.
You said almost nothing here about St John's Wort apart from it may interact with other drugs and herbal isn't necessarily safe - both of which I'd guess people already know.
Sorry you didn’t find this video helpful. I guess if folks already know about the induction and inhibition of cytochrome p450 metabolism and how this effects interactions then it’s not the video for them. I find in real life with patients, most of them are completely unaware of this and quite surprised to find out how dangerous these interactions can be.
@@DrSophieGP Even so, why haven't you delved a little deeper into SJW? By your own analogy, are the viewers literate about the benefits and ignorant about the side effects so you were compelled about the side effects of inhibition of cytochrome p450 metabolism - basically interactions with pharmaceuticals? So, your video heading, "Is St John's wort safe and effective to treat low mood and depression?", is a mis representation of what you actually covered here. If I'm not taking any pharma drugs, will SJW be still dangerous for me? SJW has been in use for thousands of years and like 90% of articles that came to my screen when I googled it, you have nothing else to say other than drug interactions? Not saying drug interaction safety info is not important. But what about the safety of SJW taken in isolation to treat low mood and depression? Because of warnings from professionals like you and representatives of drug companies, i ran away from SJW almost 2 years back even though i was not taking any medications. This year when i did come back and took the leap of faith, SJW changed my life. I just hope good intended people like you stop misinforming people by omission of info in the future.
@@Livenam100 I think the key point is that we just don’t know enough about the safety of it because it is unregulated, comes in different dosages etc. I did list the possible benefits and how they matched very highly against traditional prescribed anti-depressants, so I’m not sure it’s fair that I only focused on the drug interactions. It’s a brief video to highlight some important possible benefits, risks and interactions and also to point out that just because something is ‘natural’ or bought from a health food shop, it does not mean it is necessarily safe and free from risks. Hopefully I’ve given a brief, yet fair overview for folks considering using SJW. I hope you’re doing well on it yourself and best wishes for the future.
Oh I don’t know too much about it, but I believe therapy is the first treatment to try, perhaps graduated exposure therapy. Sorry I can’t be more helpful!
It’s not recommended to use St John’s Wort alongside prescribed anti-depressant medication. Discuss with your doctor about a washout period if you do want to switch.
Is it safe to use with librax I am using for ibs. Librax (chlordiazepoxide and clidinium bromide) is a combination of a benzodiazepine and an anticholinergic/spasmolytic used to treat stomach ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, and intestinal infections.
@@DrSophieGP thanks I was on it for a year then stopped for 6 months. I recently started back on for a week now. Was wondering if I stop it and the try sjw if this would work. What is your opinion
Hey I got a quick question! I recently started intermittent fasting. And have been on St. Johns for a little over a month now. If I take it while i’m fasting, will this affect the benefits you get from fasting? I tried doing research for it but can’t seem to find anything..
I’ve wondered the same thing, I’ve come to the conclusion on my end that it doesn’t effect your fast. No calories, won’t spike your insulin so your fast is good to go! BUT I’m not medically certified at all, just work at gnc!
5-HTP and St John’s Wort work in different ways. 5-HTP increases the amount of serotonin in your body whilst St John’s Wort tries to block the re-absorption of serotonin. It’s a personal decision which to try and the same caveats apply to 5-HTP as I explained about SJW
I have several depression, someone told me about this, but they told me a lot of side effects and headaches etc And I got more scared Does anyone has any effects or side effects? Did it work fast?
@@DrSophieGP thank you, I have a question, I can’t sleep sometimes and I take melatonin 1mg. If I take SJW in the morning is safe to take melatonin at night? I asked my Dr my he’s in Vacations he comes back sept 1st 😭
I completely forgot to think about my beta blocker interacting with it. It's just for hypervigilance and not for actual blood pressure issues, but still, glad I checked out your video.
I’ve heard and read that you shouldn’t take these while being on birth control! I’m currently taking these whilst being on the pill! Do you think this will effect me much as in it will reduce the effectiveness of the pill? At the moment i choose to be on birth control and also I choose to be take St.John wort as they do help me a lot due to anxiety and stress and feeling down! These tablets help me a lot! Is anyone else taking these whilst being on the pill? If so, would you say it effects being on the pill much? Has it increased the risk of you getting pregnant?
Eek, unfortunately, St John's wort interacts with hormonal contraceptives reducing the effectiveness and increasing the risk of unplanned pregnancy. Maybe use condoms too!
@@DrSophieGP thanks for your reply! This might be a dumb question but I will ask anyway! I don’t take St John’s Wort everyday I take it a couple times a week when I feel like I need it most! Do you still think it will reduce the effectiveness of my birth control if I don’t take it everyday ? Or would you still say it would?
All medication has side effects, but in regulated medication with accurate doses and ingredients, we can be assured we know what these are in order to make an informed decision.
I’ve seen something that said people who take SJW have to avoid food like certain cheeses, cured meats, and soy? Does anyone have experience of mixing these and did it effect you?
Johns wort and Ashwagandha made my anxiety worse-sent me into loopy loopy land. I'm highly sensitive. Didn't feel comfortable at all with these two. Mentally all over the place.
Lemon Balm and Theanine are a great combo. Search "Quick Relief from Anxiety and Stress Without Tranquilizer Drugs" This is a case study from Life Extension Foundation They make a theanine and lemon Balm in one capsule.. it works wonders
Hello Doctor.. when I face a problem. My body trembles, my heartbeat increases, and I feel difficult to speak. ..Do you recommend supplement to treat my condition..Please help my age 40 years
The difficulty is none of these types of interactions and contraindications have been tested, so we can’t say whether it is safe one way or another. I would probably be more concerned about potential liver damage than the gaba and serotonin receptors though. Perhaps speak to your GP / family physician for individual risk : benefit ratio discussion.
@@noamaanahmad1595 The problem with unregulated herbal medicines is that we don’t have good evidence on this. I would suggest taking regularly to gain most benefit.
@@DrSophieGP thank you so much, one last question. Would you recommend taking the tablets in the morning or some time in the evening or at night before bed?
Hi Dr Sophie I just started taking SJW for anxiety & depression, I noticed I am getting headaches, not excruciating, I want to stick with it, but curious as to how long the headaches may last,also can I take SJW and GABA the same time?🙏🏾
No medicine is safe. Each has a label working, like don't use if you are allergic to this or that ingredient. How the heck can a person know if they are allergic unless they try it first...? Also, if you want to be specific, nothing is really safe. Too much water drunk at once can kill a man, or too much salt eaten. The key is to find balance. I wish people making videos like this focused and saying something people don't know yet, instead of repeating same all frazes and hollow platitudes. What is the benefit to someone if you say, oh yes, this might be good for you, but way, it can actually mess you up or perhaps kill you..., what's the point. Do you give such a stern warning to each patient you recommend paracetamol...? Oh, by the way be careful because it can destroy your liver, or if you prescribe antibiotic, do you say, or be careful because it can cause Steven Johnson syndrome and you will die.... What's the point of making the video that is offering more warning than encouragement. People want to find something that works not something that does not work or works bad.
The reason is because we know when you buy paracetamol exactly what is in the drug, what additive and in what quantity; the same cannot be said for unregulated ‘health’ or ‘herbal’ supplements. People assume these terms used means they are safe and often have no idea of the potential interactions and side effects, which would be clearly indicated on the packet of paracetamol. As for allergies, some people may have an allergy to an ingredient used in an alternative medication. I would never claim any medicine is 💯 safe and am always careful to make this clear when recommending or prescribing anything to patients.
I guess it's all about putting things in context. Most people feel herbal remedies are safe because they are natural and not synthetic, and unless something has been discovered to be a poison, it is considered safe. I agree that nothing is 100 percent safe, not even water but I'd think the point of making video on st Johns wort would be to emphasise the benefits, and perhaps talk about drug interactions. Putting too much emphasis on the "unknown" "untested" side of things may put many people off trying it (including myself)@@DrSophieGP
I’d be interested to read the evidence behind this statement? Lots of pharmaceutical products are made from plants and herbs, including morphine which is derived from the opium poppy (Papaver somniferum).
No such thing as a ‘vowel mispronouncing accent’; an accent is by definition variations on pronunciation and everybody speaks in an accent. Mine happens to be a Yorkshire accent and I’m very proud of it!
