[Guest]

I'm wondering if anyone has had any experiencing using St John's Wort for IBS?I've heard that it can be effective for anxiety related issues.

 

[Guest]

I take a tablet if I feel particularly nervous about something. If I'm anxious, this results in me having to run to the bathroom about 8 times that morning. So I'll take a tablet early in the morning. I still have to go to the bathroom a lot, however, it eventually subsides and I can leave the house.Perhaps it is psychological, and it might have subsided anyway. What I should do is take one every day for awhile, and see what happens. I'm actually a "C" type most of the time. However, when I'm anxious/nervous I get "D".Nevertheless, I believe it lifts my spirits.

 

[Guest]

This is one of those supplements that you need to use with caution. I know here, when you go to the hospital, it's one of those questions they ask if you've been taking. Something to do with blood not clotting if surgery is required. I'm not sure I remember it exactly right so do some research. My point is, just read about it and don't abuse it.

 

[Guest]

No, SJW is not a blood thinner, but it can affect drugs they might give you at the hospital, so you need to tell doctors if you're taking it. I've had not side effects from it and have been taking it for a few years. It is more for depression than anxiety but it could help that too. Kave might be better to try for just anxiety and a calming effect.

 

[JeanG]

Hi ps:There are a few precautions with St. John's Wort, at everyone has said. This paragraph is from webmd.com: "Special Cautions With heavy use, St. John's Wort increases sensitivity to sunlight. To avoid a sunburn, minimize your exposure to the sun while using this medication. This herb can also cause bloating and constipation.Possible Drug Interactions Do not use St. John's Wort while taking a prescription MAO inhibitor such as Nardil or Parnate. At least in theory, a dangerous interaction is possible. If you are taking medications for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, it's best to avoid St. John's Wort. The herb is known to interfere with at least one HIV drug--Crixivan--and may reduce the effect of others, including Agenerase, Fortovase, Invirase, Norvir, and Viracept. St. John's Wort should also be avoided by people taking Neoral, a drug used to keep transplant patients from rejecting their new organs. It can inhibit the drug's life-saving effect."The url to the full article is: http://my.webmd.com/content/article/3187.13615

 

[scottyswotty]

On the plus side St John's Wort can work very well for a lot of people, just make sure you are not taking Anti-D's as well.It is best to get a liquid form of St Johns wort and take it on an empty stomach to maximise absorbtion.ScottySwotty

 

[Auroraheart]

Isn't St John's Wart also the one that hinders the birth control pill? Makes it so it is much less effective...I think I read that someplace....A friend of mine who was bipolar tried it for a bit...I think she found it okay but that her prescribed drugs worked better. Everyone is different though!

 

[JeanG]

Hi Aurora:You're right about the contraceptives and St. John's Wort. I just came across an FDA article, and one paragraph reads:"Based on this study and reports in the medical literature, St. John�s wort appears to be an inducer of an important metabolic pathway, cytochrome P450. As many prescription drugs used to treat conditions such as heart disease, depression, seizures, certain cancers or to prevent conditions such as transplant rejection or pregnancy (oral contraceptives) are metabolized via this pathway, health care providers should alert patients about these potential drug interactions to prevent loss of therapeutic effect of any drug metabolized via the cytochrome P450 pathway."The full article, which talks about other interactions also, is at: http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/advisory/stjwort.htm JeanG

 

[Guest]

I just logged on to the BB to ask about St. John's Wort! I've taken it (when needed) to deal with my depression spurred on by monthly hormonal changes. I absolutely love it. Two days ago I was having miserable IBS symptoms. After reading the article posted about the intestines having their own little brain and nervous system (I can't remember who posted it), I thought I would see if SJW would work for my IBS. All I can say is that within an hour my symptoms were gone and I have been fine for two days now. Of course I can't say it is because of the herb. I am planning on taking it when I notice my symptoms coming on (to experiment with it). Usually I don't do much of anything else to ease my symptoms other than ride it out, so I will know if it is the SJW that is working. Anyway, I'll keep everyone posted.

 

[jessie]

I started taking SJW about 2 months ago but after about a week started to get C, so I stopped taking it. I mentioned it to the doctor and he said it was quite a common side effect. I wish it didn't do this because I could really do with carrying on taking it.Jessie

 

[Guest]

I was C before SJW and am C now and haven't noticed a difference. I feel so much better with the SJW that I'm just going to keep doing what I'm doing to try to combat the C.

 

[babydoc_au]

I used SJW for about 2 years for depression with good effect. I don't think it particularly effected my IBS, but if your mood is good, you can cope better with your symptoms. I still got anxious and used passionflower (passiflora) and chamomile for that. It never caused my contraceptive pill to fail, nor did it cause photosesitivity for me. It can apparently cause stomach upsets though.

 

[Marier]

I thought SJW had a cumulative effect; that you had to take it for weeks before feeling anything? I wonder now if I wasn't taking the correct dosage. I have a whole bottle sitting in the cabinet. I started it a few months ago and didn't get any effect from it so stopped after buying another bottle. What dosages are you guys taking?

 

[Guest]

Marier - You know, that is what I always heard about SJW, that it had to be taken for about a month before it could benefit you. It has been my personal experience that I notice a shift in mood (it is supposed to increase the levels of seretonin in the brain) within 24 hours. I may be fortunate in that I can take it as needed. What I like about it is that when I feel under control again I can just stop taking it without any ill effects. I haven't had any IBS symptoms in 4 days, but next time I will try it first thing to see what it does. Maybe it's just me and I am sensitive to the effects of herbs. I was going to start taking Ginko Biloba to enhance my memory (I'm in college), but after I took one tablet within hours I had the WORST headache of my entire life. I swear, the pain made me black out and sleep for about an hour and a half. St. John's Wort has been used in Germany for years as the leading anti-depressant - 75% more than the use of Prozac. (This is what I read in a health magazine anyway)

 

[BQ]

Did not see this mentioned above, but it happened to me and I have since seen this side effect listed in one of those magazines that the insurance carriers send you all the time. It elevated my blood pressure big time. It was unfortunate because I really felt better on it, especially during PMS. Oh well, I guess it just isn't for everyone.BQ