topic Anxiety - St Johns Wort in Treatments, health professionals and therapies

Anxiety - St Johns Wort

Jazzy1984 — Sat, 01 Mar 2014 04:02:08 GMT

Hi,

Just wondering if any one has tried St Johns Wort?? I have mild anxiety. NOT DEPRESSION. I actually want to live and enjoy my life, I believe I just have mild anxiety and fear that sometiems stops me from doing the things i want to do.

My doctor recommended it to me and im unsure. I have never been on any medication before as I don't believe in it - but I am at the stage now in my life where doing nothing is not working and I need to start trying some things to live a normal life and actually start to enjoy the things I do.

Over the past 2 years I have tried Acupuncture, Kinesology, Home path. I feel some 'natural' tablets i have taken from my home path have sent me on a roller coster ride and im getting worse. Getting worse as in - more headaches/time off work/nausea/fear/anxiety/panic attacks - i am getting better as in im more confident to try new things and more aware of it , but find it very hard to relax.

Any tips would be appreciated what actually works and how long does thing take to happen? If not St Johns wort, what else will or can help with fear/anxiety - sometimes i dont even know why or what im worried about???

Anxiety - St Johns Wort

optimistic — Sat, 01 Mar 2014 22:08:45 GMT

Do try Yoga, Meditation, Mindfulness or Tai chi.

Get hold a psychologist who can offer CBT.

Take care and God bless.

Anxiety - St Johns Wort

CarinaB — Thu, 27 Mar 2014 04:01:22 GMT

Hi, thank you for your posts, I have just joined these forums, somebody recommended them to me recently. I am having a bad time with anxiety at the moment, I'm exhausted.

It is interesting that your doctor recommended St John's Wort, no doctor that I have access to will mention anything "natural". I think I might try it and I like optimistics suggestion of yoga and Tai chi etc., I would really like to do that.

Anxiety - St Johns Wort

Mishka — Fri, 11 Jul 2014 06:46:33 GMT

Hi jazzy

I have taken swisse calming tablets which contain st. Johns Wort and they have worked for me for my anxiety.

Anxiety - St Johns Wort

Marie_Marie — Fri, 03 Feb 2017 01:40:36 GMT

Hi there,

I suffer from anxiety and panic attacks and have been taking st John Wort. Its amasing, after 3 days I noticed the difference. If I had to pick between antidepressants and st john wort definitely st john wort.

Anxiety - St Johns Wort

Sophie_M — Fri, 03 Feb 2017 02:12:53 GMT

Hi everyone, available evidence suggests that St John’s wort does not appear to
be effective for OCD or social phobia. No scientific studies have been conducted into its effectiveness for generalised anxiety disorder (GAD). There is also no evidence on whether St John’s wort works for PTSD, panic disorder or specific phobias.

When taken alone, St John’s wort has very few side-effects. However, St John’s wort interacts with many prescription medications, either affecting how these medications work or producing serious side-effects. Anyone who is taking any other medications and wishes to use St John’s wort is advised to check with their doctor first.

You can read more on this in the beyondblue resource A Guide To What Works For Anxiety: http://resources.beyondblue.org.au/prism/file?token=BL/0762

Anxiety - St Johns Wort

aegidius — Mon, 20 Feb 2017 09:45:48 GMT

Tried SJW for a depressive episode 20+ years ago. It had no discernible effect on the depression and just gave me nausea. SSRI was much more effective against the depression, but again the side effects were worse too: it completely wiped out my libido, and gave me a recurring skin rash that persisted months after stopping medication. So my brief foray into AD's was not something I'd care to repeat!

Anxiety - St Johns Wort

Guest_554 — Thu, 08 Jun 2017 09:57:55 GMT

Yes, I would love to go on st.johns wort, but I take prescription medicine for reflux. The chemist said it would interfere with the medicine.

😞

So I take blackmores executive B stress formula. Seems to help a tiny bit.

Anxiety - St Johns Wort

geoff — Mon, 17 Jul 2017 17:59:48 GMT

hello Jazzy, one thing that's good is that you're more confident, that's the strength you need to keep pushing you onwards.
It's hard to believe that your doctor has suggested St Johns Wort, although I did ask my psychologist about trying them, she said I could, but with my condition they may not help with my OCD and deep depression, however if you have mild anxiety then you could ask your pharmacist what they think, but they can't be taken with any prescribed AD's and that's what they will tell you. Geoff.

Anxiety - St Johns Wort

solabear — Mon, 17 Jul 2017 19:39:16 GMT

Hi Jazzy, if you're not taking any prescription drugs then it's worth a try. It did help me in the past when I wasn't on any meds. It did have a calming effect on me and I was sleeping better.

I hope this helped, take care

Hugs from Sola

Anxiety - St Johns Wort

PenguinMelon — Fri, 13 Oct 2017 14:18:09 GMT

I recommend approaching St Johns Wort as a medicine / Drug. It should be used for a period of time and stopped. It's not to be taken continuously as a supplement. Because it does have an affect on the mind (in my experience) and also it can interact with other medicines.

I took the recommended daily dose for around two months, I would say I felt affects after about two weeks. It made me feel 'different' in a numb kind of way..I believe it was the st johns wort, because I stopped and the feeling subsided.

Other things I started at this time but continue to this day are:Stopped drinking coffee completely, running or long walks every day. Small handful of walnuts every day.

My panic attacks subsided over about 6 months, replaced by a general fear of death.. which subsided and dissipated over another year or two. That was 9 years ago, I feel completely comfortable and fine now. I've probably strayed from the question-topic of St Johns Wort.. but yes, I would recommend it as an immediate mind altering treatment while you attend to long term permanent solutions that you may identify for yourself.

Anxiety - St Johns Wort

aegidius — Fri, 02 Feb 2018 07:25:37 GMT

Just to be a tease... do the usual prohibitions against discussing specific medications apply to SJW, Swisse calming tablets, and so on, apply here? I guess not, since this whole thread went to air. But how is the line drawn, when both SJW and prescription medications are regarded as effective against depression?

Anxiety - St Johns Wort

Rudugger — Sun, 29 Apr 2018 04:30:59 GMT

If anyone is still looking up this post, St Johns Wort has shown some efficacy with depression Vs. placebo but other studies have shown no efficacy. I'd also be consulting my doctor about interactions particularly with bith control medications.

My suggestion would be to seek out a good GP, particularly one that you can have a strong health care relationship with, who will assit with a mental health care plan and engage with a Cognitive Behavioural Therapy practising psycologist. The mental health care plan should assist in providing no / low cost sessions to help with anxiety.

This accompanied by some hebal remedies (soothing teas etc), looking at diet (stimulants / sugar) and relaxation techniques (ie. yoga, meditation) could also be beneficial.

Cheers,

Rusugger.

Anxiety - St Johns Wort

whose_da_man88 — Wed, 27 Mar 2019 03:40:58 GMT

Hi,

I just started St John's Wort yesterday, same as the OP - for anxiety.

How long before it takes effect?

How long have people been taking it for?

Thanks.

Re: Anxiety - St Johns Wort

Hopskotch22 — Mon, 01 Aug 2022 01:27:04 GMT

I have been feeling fried of late. Nerves are shot, anxiety feels like it's controlling me. Not had that sensation before. I took my first dose of cenovis SJW and went about my day. I had forgotten I'd taken it and then realised in the late afternoon (about 3 hours after I'd taken it) how calm I felt. It was the first time in years that my mind wasn't constantly churning. I actually felt like a normal person. I don't want to take synthetic pharmaceuticals and can't because of my work. Based on my experience and how noticeable the impact was, I would highly recommend giving it a try.