Posted by supersleepy on February 5, 2003, at 7:16:11
In reply to St.Johns wort: which brand and dosage are best?, posted by Lawrence S. on February 5, 2003, at 1:30:57
A convenient dosing size is a 300 mg capsule, standardized at .3 percent hypericin. Read the label carefully. I used it successfully in response to mild/moderate depression. It is probably not a good choice for severe depression. Start at the above dose 2x/day. If you don't feel improvement after a couple of weeks, go up to 3x. If that doesn't work, it's probably not the herb for you.
I began the St. John's Wort treatment after a particularly low period several years ago. I found it very effective. I never discounted the possibility of the placebo effect, but I do think it helped. After some time at 2x/day, I cut back to 1 capsule/day. Feel free to experiment. I knew when my dosage was too low. My MD always scolded me about it--"It's not regulated so you don't know what you're getting. I'll give you a prescription for something else if you want." Well, I resisted, until a death in the family sent me into anxiety/panic/depression beyond what I had previously experienced; obviously beyond what the St. John's Wort could handle. I'm on Effexor now, but hope to get off it and back to the Wort once I'm confident that the external triggers have calmed down.
As for brand--I have no clue. I bought the most inexpensive I could fine at the Whole Foods chain, and that seemed to be fine. My husband has used a variety of brands, and hasn't noticed any differences among them.
Good luck! Be aware that there are some contraindications--liver problems, any immuno deficiency, etc., but most people tolerate it without any side effects.
poster:supersleepy
thread:139495
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030204/msgs/139519.html