St. John's wort and the Solstice

Top 2. Jun 24, 1998 3:01 PM

» LadyB - Josephine! You're right about the marketing whizzes! That USED t

Josephine! You're right about the marketing whizzes! That USED to be a site where you could order transdermal PATCHES for Echinacea, Ginkgo, and St.. J's!!!!!! Ah well, easy come, easy go.......

You bring up an interesting point about people wanting an 'herbal' version of whatever drug is OUT THERE. It really comes down to the "Dr. I have a headache...." syndrome. Herbal Viagra, oh please. Impotence means lots of different things to lots of different people. For some men, Ginkgo might be an answer as it increases circulation. For others, something simple like Nettle infusion to bring up their basic vitamin and mineral levels so that the glands are nourished and working properly might be all they need. And hey, for others......having the LADY in question taking Vitex Berry tincture just might make all the difference..... (not the guys, they don't call Vitex 'Monk's Pepper' or Chaste Tree' for nothing, but it seems to have the opposite effect on some ladies!)

Seriously, though.......I find the greatest problem in people wanting to substiture herbs for drugs is the whole 'drug' mindset, where people want to put a pill into their faces and have the 'drug' do it all FOR them. Wise Women Herbalists in particular are always striving to help a client's body come to eventually care for itself, and that comes from nourishment pure and simple.

I always feel nervous when the 'research' leads companies to isolating just the 'active ingredient' in a particular herb. I think there are complex interplays among the actual components of a whole plant that we have yet to understand and that's why I prefer to take a preparation made from the whole plant, as non-standardized as that may be.

In years and years of growing and gathering and teaching folks about the wonderful healing plants that the planet so willingly offers us, I have come to see that growing or gathering one's own medicine can often be as healing as actually putting it into one's face!

Lady B, Weeds and Wild Things Cold Spring, New York

-- posted by LadyB

Top 3. Nov 22, 1998 10:49 PM

» Sonni - Uh Oh - on my way to Florida

I've been one of the masses -- taking St. John's
Wort for about 5 months now. I didn't know what
to look for as signs of effectiveness, until I realized I wasn't going "ballistic" over everything. I was really TENSE for a while.

After reading your article and about Sun Sensitiveness... I'm a bit worried about being in that Florida sun after 5 mos of the herb through pillform.

Guess I won't know 'til I'm there? Yikes!

I also heard recently that St. John's wort and/or Ginkyo B could be treacherous when mixed with Tylenol. A friend said she heard that on the news the other night. i still have to verify that story.

I LOVE ginkyo because I've always loved the ginkyo tree.... and I guess I am affected by the mass interest in things. (I won't try to be "cool" -- I'm just like the rest of 'em I guess!)... although I do my early searching online and then hear about it in the news later.

Any signs BEFORE the sun to look out for? (like rashes, or whatever...)

:( Sonni

-- posted by Sonni

Top 4. Nov 23, 1998 4:56 AM

» LadyB - Sonni, thanks for bringing this up.

I've contacted a friend who has more experience with this 'side effect' of regular St. Johnswort use than I do. Best I can remember, she described it as feeling like she was sunburned 'from the inside out'.

My advice would be to be aware, and to take your sun exposure GRADUALLY. You might also want to cease taking the St. J's while you are there and try some Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca) tincture to take only when you are feeling 'tense'.

I've always considered St. J's to be more anti-DEPRESSANT and Motherwort to be more anti-ANXIETY. Motherwort is slightly blood-thinning which CAN be a problem for folks with easy bruising, folks already on blood-thinning medications and women who tend to 'flood' with their periods (so they don't take it just before or during those periods, other times are just fine.) Though it helps tremendously with anxious heart palpitations, I don't recommend it for folks with serious heart problems and not for pregnant women. I know that sounds like a lot of 'warnings', but if I'm going to suggest these things I have a responsibility to provide as much info as possible.

I personally will take a dropperful of Motherwort oh, just before a dentist visit, or before trying to catch trains and buses and planes on time, and I save the occasional dropperful of St. J's for the sunless grumpies (too many cloudy days for my little personal solar batteries)

Hope this helped.

-- posted by LadyB

Top 5. Nov 23, 1998 7:07 PM

» LadyB - Got the story from my friend

Posted with permission for A.Cruz:

"I used St. John's Wort to ward off depression during a time that I was on
a heavy heavy hormonal treatment. In fact, the treatment set me into
early menopause. I used to take 3-4 capsules per day. In the morning, at
night and whenever I remembered during the day. If I was in a
particularly sad place I would take it 4 times. Before this heavy
hormonal medication, and after my daughter was born I only used St. J's
tincture in the morning. It definitely helped my blues - post natal and
later early menopausal - kept it at bay, tho, I was always aware of the
shadow lurking there - which is what reminded me to take the herb. After
I started the tincture I noticed a blotchy reddness on my cheeks. People
thought my cheeks were "rosey". I knew it was a skin thing and since I am
easily susceptible to skin rashes (genetic, all my life) I just thought it
was "a particular soap or detergent or skin lotion or stress" all of which
set off skin "things." However, when I picked up the dose to capsules 3-4
times a day, the rash became severe. I went to the dermatologist who
remarked, "It looks as if you have a sunburn." It was a New York
February!!!! I suddenly remembered an herbalist's comment on how St. J's
was a way of having the "sunshine within." HMMMMMM. At this time, I had
just completed the "hormonal treatment" So, I decided to stop the St. J's
since my skin is so ultra sensitive. The rash went away. It definitely
looks like a "raised" sunburn - not blistery, but seemingly close. Now,
one could argue that it was the "hormonal treatment" and I would agree that
that could be a possibility. However, I had had early rosey cheeks while
on the tincture, way before the hormonal treatment - I do believe the rash
was due to the St. J's. Yet, I will still take the St. J's to ward off
that darkness that sometimes returns when winter is long and hard. Rash
or no rash - it does help the blues. I did not take the St. J's while in
the sun, I can only imagine that the sunburn would be worse. Much
sunscreen, lessen the dose or eliminate it during sun time, wear hats.
Don't take the St. J unless you need it."

Now, what I would glean from this is that this friend had the hormonal complication and has had a life-long skin sensitivity to a lot of things. Sonni, you've been on St. J's for, what, 5 months you said? So that took you right through the summer and surely you spent some time in the sun. If you've had no reaction so far, you may not at all, I would just be careful and mindful, that's all.

-- posted by LadyB