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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by JB on March 10, 2000, at 18:37:30
Cam, I was reading your reply the other day about the effects of stress on the brain and I was very impressed with your knowledge of the way that the brain works and the effect of the drugs that we use to help us feel normal. I've also been very impressed with JohnL's knowledge and ability to communicate. Over the last two months I've been taking SJW for SAD and dysthmia. At first the 900mg daily of 0.3% hypericin worked to alleviate the anxiety, insomnia, and mild depression that I had. When it seemed to stop working as well as it did. I then started taking 900 mg a day of Perika SJW with 5% hyperforin. It worked very well but over the last month that I've been taking it I have become more sensitive to it's effect's. Primarily it has become more stimulating to me and as a result I've cut down my dose from 900mg to 300mg and it's still maintained it's anti-anxiey, anti-depressive, and anti-insomnia properties.
My question is for the experts is, can you descibe what's going on in my brain as a result o
Posted by Cam W. on March 11, 2000, at 18:45:18
In reply to St John's Wort Question for Cam W and John L, posted by JB on March 10, 2000, at 18:37:30
JB - The reason you can cut down the dose is probably because the Perika has more antidepressant activity than the previous brand you were taking. Hypericin is not the only active ingredient in St.John's Wort. A study was done in which mild to moderately depressed people were given pure hypericin and their depression wasn't relieved as well as when they took SJW. I don't think we know what the other active ingredient(s) are. They may not even be active ingredients but work something like bioflavinoids do in vitamins. Bioflavinoids help vitamins work better (I can't remember if it is because they make the vitamin more available to the body's cells or whether they help with absorption). As for the longterm effects of SJW on the brain - I don't know, but it is probably as safe (if not safer) than conventional antidepressants. In the hundreds of years it has been available I have never heard of anyone growing an extra arm, or anything like that. Hope this helps - Cam W.
Posted by Brandon on March 11, 2000, at 19:42:15
In reply to Re: St John's Wort Question for Cam W and John L, posted by Cam W. on March 11, 2000, at 18:45:18
JB,
Do a search at medline under "hyperforin", should tell you everything you need to know.
Brandon
Posted by JohnL on March 12, 2000, at 3:34:48
In reply to St John's Wort Question for Cam W and John L, posted by JB on March 10, 2000, at 18:37:30
Sorry, I can't explain what's going on. The mechanisms of SJW are numerous, poorly understood, and disputable. I am very pleased however that it is helping you. Perhaps the stimulating effect is related to the norepinephrine reuptake and/or the dopamine reuptake and/or the disputed MAOI activity. Who knows.
Posted by JB on March 13, 2000, at 11:27:57
In reply to Re: St John's Wort Question for Cam W and John L, posted by JohnL on March 12, 2000, at 3:34:48
Thanks for everyone's answer's. I've been able to cur down now to one 300mg SJW taken a half at breakfast and a half at lunch and it seems to be working fine. The major change that's really helping for me is that the day's are getting longer and I'm spending more time outside. The recent article on Medscape concerning Seasonal Affected Depression found that light and SJW's seems to really help those of us with this seasonal depression.
Brandon, I already had searched Medscape for hyperforin and read the articles but I didn't really understand completely what they were talking about and needed a expert interpretation. The important thing for me is that all of them, SJW, hypericin and hyperforin seem to work well with few adverse side effects other than potential overstimulation over time.
Posted by JohnL on March 14, 2000, at 2:26:18
In reply to Re: St John's Wort Question for Cam W and John L, posted by JB on March 13, 2000, at 11:27:57
I don't think any of the researchers have completely agreed or fully understood SJW's mechanisms. Some say hyperforin is the MAO inhibitor substance in SJW, while others say it isn't. Some say hypericin is the reputake inhibitor substance and others say it is isn't. But they all seem to agree there are probably many modes of action, none strong enough by themselves, but effective synergistically. Similar to many small streams making a large river. That's the answer the folks at Kira gave me when I asked them about their hyperforin content. They admit they don't know SJW's true mode of action, but that there are many clinical studies supporting its efficacy regardless. And that its efficacy is probably due to hundreds of substances working in harmony.
For more cool reading (this paper is loaded with info) go to www.primenet.com/~camilla/STJOHNS.FAQ.
There is also a ton of good reading at www.hypericum.com.
Also, to view all the clinical studies, go to www.mentalhealth.com. Once you get there, follow the instructions to do research on a drug...any drug, doesn't matter. Once you get to the research page of that drug, you can erase the drug's name in the box at the top of page, and type in anything you want to research. Try hypericum. And hyperforin. St. Johnswort. Hypericin.
All this will keep you busy for hours, and you'll be an expert when you're done. :) JohnL
This is the end of the thread.
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