Posted by Larry Hoover on November 9, 2005, at 8:31:00
In reply to Augments to St John's Wort - any suggestions??, posted by Meri-Tuuli on November 9, 2005, at 6:25:33
> I've been taking the standard dose of SJW for a while now (hmm three weeks?) and it seems to be working, although nothing actually great, just a very small but noticeable change. I think. I find it hard to tell!!
It is a gentle med, in most people.
> Anyway I was wondering if there are any auguments out there that I could try with it to enhance its efficiancy?
Sure there are. The first one is more St. John's wort. There is no upper dose limit, no toxic effect, nothing to limit you except the experience of side effects. You may safely increase the dose until you experience adverse effects. Do so with caution, nonetheless. Reasonable dose increases might be 300 mg each week. There is a further caution below, however.
Also, I have always felt that Siberian ginseng Eleutherococcus senticosus went well with SJW.
> I suffer from moderate (and in the past) severe atyplical depression and feel that SJW might be good for me as it supposedly reuptakes in a broad way like a MAOI, which are meant to be the gold standard in atypical depression.
>
> (BTW My chances of going on a MAOI are virtually impossible -- I live in the UK!)Yes, SJW does have a broad effect. And I believe it is most appropriate for atypical depression.
One caveat. SJW induces the enzyme 3A4. It ramps up the activity of that enzyme rather dramatically. It is the exact opposite of the "grapefruit effect". I can't tell if a Meri-Tuuli is boy or girl, so be aware that oral contraceptives can fail with SJW intake. Use a reliable back-up.
Lar
poster:Larry Hoover
thread:577025
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20051025/msgs/577048.html