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.
poster:Cam W.
thread:26662
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000302/msgs/26711.html