NaturalPedia > Plants and Herbs > John's Wort

Quotes about John's Wort from the world's top natural health / natural living authors

 Email this page to a friend   |  Click here for FREE email alerts

page 1 of 9 | Next ->

"John's Wort (Hypericum) St. john's wort is an herb that can be used to make tea, or the "active ingredients" within the herb can be extracted and put in capsules. In Europe St. john's wort is widely prescribed as an antidepressant. No prescription is required in the United States, and many Americans use St. john's wort instead of antidepressant drugs. Pharmacies all over America—CVS, Osco, Rite Aid, Save-on, Walgreens—all stock various strengths and bottle sizes. Those who choose St. john's wort over antidepressants save lots of money, but the question should always be, "Does it work?" - Dr. Timothy Scott, America Fooled: The Truth About Antidepressants, Antipsychotics and How We've Been Deceived (Get the book.) "St. john's wort (Hypericum) St. john's wort is an herb that can be used to make tea, or the "active ingredients" within the herb can be extracted and put in capsules. In Europe St. john's wort is widely prescribed as an antidepressant. No prescription is required in the United States, and many Americans use St. john's wort instead of antidepressant drugs. Pharmacies all over America—CVS, Osco, Rite Aid, Save-on, Walgreens—all stock various strengths and bottle sizes. Those who choose St. john's wort over antidepressants save lots of money, but the question should always be, "Does it work?" - Dr. Timothy Scott, America Fooled: The Truth About Antidepressants, Antipsychotics and How We've Been Deceived (Get the book.)

"John's wort and its abundant light quality could be seen as a plant that dispels darkness and the "evils" that were perceived to go along with the dark, thus, the origin of its use for protection. St. john's wort is a plant of the sun, carrying this fiery element within it, holding an enormous amount of light—the essence of St. john's wort and the source of its many gifts. The heart of St. john's wort is known to relieve depression and so it is with the spirit of the plant as well." - Pam Montgomery, Plant Spirit Healing: A Guide to Working with Plant Consciousness (Get the book.)

"Another study, however, found that very high doses of the herb were helpful. St. john's wort can also relieve many of the mood and behavioral symptoms associated with premenstrual syndrome. In one study, virtually all PMS symptoms decreased, with the greatest improvements in anxiety, depression, nervous tension, confusion, and crying. Take 300 mg of a standardized extract of St. john's wort (such as Carlson Laboratories' St. john's wort, Nature's Way's St. john's wort, or Lichtwer Pharma's Kira product) three times a day. You can also take a comparable tincture (such as A." - Jack Challem, The Food-Mood Solution: All-Natural Ways to Banish Anxiety, Depression, Anger, Stress, Overeating, and Alcohol and Drug Problems--and Feel Good Again (Get the book.)

"Botanicals: Black cohosh: 40 mg standardized extract twice daily Saint john's wort standardized extract: 300 mg 3 times per day psychosomatic symptoms as well as a feeling of sexual well-being.130 As mentioned earlier, in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study using a combination of black cohosh and Saint john's wort, the study group was significantly superior to the placebo group on both a general menopause rating scale and a depression scale.111 Saint John's Wort Standardized extract of 3 percent hypericin: 300 mg 3 times per day Kava {Piper Methysticum)." - Tori Hudson, N.D., Women's Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine: Alternative Therapies and Integrative Medicine for Total Health and Wellness (Get the book.) "Saint john's wort {Hypericum Perforatum). Saint john's wort has shown promise in preliminary studies of its effectiveness at alleviating PMS mood dysfunction, but more research is still needed.79-81 In one observational pilot study, Saint-John's-wort standardized extract was given at a dose of 300 mg three times daily.81 Nineteen women with PMS underwent a preliminary screening interview and completed a daily symptom rating for one cycle. After talcing the Saint john's wort for two complete menstrual cycles, daily symptoms were rated again." - Tori Hudson, N.D., Women's Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine: Alternative Therapies and Integrative Medicine for Total Health and Wellness (Get the book.) "Chaste Tree Standardized extract capsules (175 mg of 75% agnuside): 1 capsule per day Standardized liquid extract: 30-60 drops per day Saint john's wort (Hypericum Perforatum). Saint john's wort is the most thoroughly researched natural antidepressant. The majority of these studies have not been conducted on menopausal women, but in 37 of 39 clinical trials, Saint john's wort was shown to be superior to the placebo or equal to the conventional prescription antidepressant medications. In general, studies have shown improvement in individuals with mild to moderate depression." - Tori Hudson, N.D., Women's Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine: Alternative Therapies and Integrative Medicine for Total Health and Wellness (Get the book.)

"John's Wort interacts with a lot of medications, so if you're on meds, check with a health professional knowledgeable about both St. john's wort and pharmaceuticals before beginning to take it. It also is known to make you more sensitive to the sun, so if you like to spend time at the beach, be careful if you're on St. john's wort. Saw Palmetto May Ease Acne and Female Hair Loss RECENTLY, SARAH HINER of Bottom Line Health one of my favorite editors in the world—told me about a letter from a reader, a thirty-year-old woman named Jessie." - Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., C.N.S., The Most Effective Natural Cures on Earth: The Surprising, Unbiased Truth about What Treatments Work and Why (Get the book.) "John's Wort: 300 mg, standardized for 0.3 percent Hypericin: Three times a day Note: All dosages are daily dosages and in pill or capsule form unless otherwise noted. St. john's wort is one of them. Back in 2002, the media gave a ton of attention to a study that was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). Typical headline: "St. john's wort Proved Ineffective for Depression." (You could practically see the anti-supplement brigade gloating over the latest "evidence" that we shouldn't bother with "natural" cures and instead stick with good old pharmaceuticals." - Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., C.N.S., The Most Effective Natural Cures on Earth: The Surprising, Unbiased Truth about What Treatments Work and Why (Get the book.)

"Saint john's wort Hypericum perforatum Why: Used to treat a range of illnesses, including various nervous conditions and depression, St. john's wort is one of the most commonly purchased herbal products in the United States. Because St. john's wort interacts with a wide variety of medications, it is important to take it only under the guidance of a healthcare provider who is knowledgeable about herbal medicines. Where to buy it: Vitamin stores, health food stores or your favorite drug store. How much to take: St. john's wort can be purchased in either capsules or tablet form." - Jan Lovejoy, Get Balanced-the Natural Way to Better Health with Superfoods (Get the book.)

"Saint john's wort has shown promise in preliminary studies of its effectiveness at alleviating PMS mood dysfunction, but more research is still needed.79-81 In one observational pilot study, Saint-John's-wort standardized extract was given at a dose of 300 mg three times daily.81 Nineteen women with PMS underwent a preliminary screening interview and completed a daily symptom rating for one cycle. After talcing the Saint john's wort for two complete menstrual cycles, daily symptoms were rated again." - Tori Hudson, N.D., Women's Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine: Alternative Therapies and Integrative Medicine for Total Health and Wellness (Get the book.)

"John's Wort is no cure for major, crippling depression, and I don't for a moment want to give the impression that it is. But for many people suffering with mild forms of this debilitating condition, it may indeed be helpful. Like most treatments for depression, it takes a while to work. The PDR recommends that you try it for four to six weeks; if no improvement is apparent, try something different. The best preparation seems to be the St. john's wort extract standardized to contain 0." - Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., C.N.S., The Most Effective Natural Cures on Earth: The Surprising, Unbiased Truth about What Treatments Work and Why (Get the book.) "John's Wort is one of them. Back in 2002, the media gave a ton of attention to a study that was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). Typical headline: "St. john's wort Proved Ineffective for Depression." (You could practically see the anti-supplement brigade gloating over the latest "evidence" that we shouldn't bother with "natural" cures and instead stick with good old pharmaceuticals.) As usual, the truth was far more nuanced. The Types of Depression Like the spicy sauces in a taco restaurant, depression actually comes in three "flavors." - Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., C.N.S., The Most Effective Natural Cures on Earth: The Surprising, Unbiased Truth about What Treatments Work and Why (Get the book.)

"John's wort, tell your other medications. 1 his could . ^ . . * doctor during each happen with cyclosporin, digox- visit so she knows in, warfarin, antibiotics, sedatives, what medications and birth control pills, and certain dosages to prescribe drugs for depression, heart dis- for other illnesses. ease, cholesterol, seizures, and some cancers. Interactions like these make it even more important to see your doctor before starting St. john's wort. Be prepared to wait. As with many prescription antidepressants, St. john's wort can take a while to work." - The Editors of FC&A, Unleash the Inner Healing Power of Foods (Get the book.)

"Listed in no particular order, all seem to work for me. St. john's wort It's the largest selling antidepressant in Germany, and does indeed work on mild to moderate depression by elevating the levels of serotonin in the brain, much like the SSRIs such as Lexapro and Prozac. You'll recall that sugar increases serotonin levels, making us temporarily less depressed; conversely, dieters get grouchy because their serotonin levels fall. When supplementing with St. john's wort, some of my patients—and I-report diminished sugar urges; others didn't notice such an effect." - Dr. Steven R. Gundry, Dr. Gundry's Diet Evolution: Turn Off the Genes That Are Killing You - And Your Waistline - And Drop the Weight for Good (Get the book.)

"John's Wort St.John's Wort contains many phytonutrients, called hypericins, that are helpful in the treatment of depression. It can be helpful in those with serotonin deficiency or with anxiety or sleep problems. Do not combine this with any other antidepressants or psychotropic medication (such as MAO inhibitors). The therapeutic dose is 300 to 450 mg twice a day. SAMe SAMe is an amino acid that is formed as part of your methylation cycle. It has been researched extensively and found effective for depression. Start with a dose of 400 mg four times a day, or 800 mg twice a day." - Mark Hyman MD, The UltraMind Solution: Fix Your Broken Brain by Healing Your Body First (Get the book.)

"Botanical Medicine St. John's Wort: One teaspoon of St. john's wort tincture t.i.d. has been shown to relieve neuropathy and prevent progression of the neuropathy. St. john's wort is a nervine herb that can strengthen the health of the nerves. Patients usually respond within a week to the above protocol. Essential oil of geranium has also proven to be effective in decreasing neuropathy pain. Essential Oils Essential or volatile oils are aromatic oils extracted from plants." - Michael Friedman, ND, Fundamentals of Naturopathic Endocrinology (Get the book.)

"St. john's wort appears to induce cytochrome P450 enzymes, specifically CYP1A2,117 CYP3A2120 and CYP3A4,121122 thus enhancing the metabolism of these (and potentially other) medications. St. john's wort has also been reported to reduce the expression of serotonin receptors.29 A 2-week washout period is recommended between usage of St. john's wort and a selective serotonin reuptake inhibito (SSRI) such as paroxetine or fluoxetine.98,15 In addition, it probably activates P-glycoprotein, which can further increase the elimination of many drugs." - Heather Boon, BScPhm, PhD and Michael Smith, BPharm, MRPharmS, ND, The Natural Medicine Guide to the 50 Most Common Medicinal Herbs (Get the book.)

"John's Wort extracts showed broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The organisms studied included S. aureus, S. mutans, E. coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Oil-based preparations of St. john's wort demonstrate anti-inflammatory action due to their high flavonoid content and antibacterial properties, when applied topically. Use in Western herbal In Western herbal, standardized extract of St. john's wort (with 0.3 % hypericin) is used as an antidepressant in dosage of 300 mg 3 times daily with meals. St." - C. P. Khare, Indian Herbal Remedies: Rational Western Therapy, Ayurvedic and Other Traditional Usage, Botany (Get the book.)

"Toss a fresh salad with mushrooms for selenium, and broccoli and tomatoes for vitamin C. St. John's wort: help or hoax? St. john's wort has been used for years as a folk remedy for depression, but the debate continues on how well it really works, and if it's as safe as it seems. Ancient healers treated everything from malaria to burns with this herb, but people today use it mainly for depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders. Small studies suggest it helps people with mild depression, perhaps by boosting their brain's serotonin levels the way some antidepressant medications do." - The Editors of FC&A, Unleash the Inner Healing Power of Foods (Get the book.)

"Glowing with our mingling flames, I proceed to pick the yellow flowers as my fingers become marked with the blood red of remembrance. St. john's wort is a beautiful yellow-flowered plant that begins to bloom around summer solstice, the third week in June. It was often associated with this festival and was used for divination, especially concerning matters of the heart. It was also used for protection against witches and was hung over doorways or worn upon the body during the solstice time. Once Christianity became entrenched, the solstice as a celebratory day became St." - Pam Montgomery, Plant Spirit Healing: A Guide to Working with Plant Consciousness (Get the book.)

"Results showed significant improvements in symptoms of depression and memory performance. St. john's wort for Depression—An Overview and Meta-analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials. Linde K; et al. British Medical Journal, 1996 August 3, 313(7052):253-258. Results of this meta-analysis involving 2 3 randomized studies, 15 of which were placebo-controlled, found that hypericum extracts proved significantly effective in the treatment of patients suffering from moderate to mildly severe depression. Cimicifuga for Depression. Frances D. Medical Herbalism, 1995 Spring/Summer, 7(l-2):l-2." - Gary Null and Amy McDonald, The Food-Mood Connection: Nutrition-based and Environmental Approaches to Mental Health and Physical Wellbeing (Get the book.)

"John's Wort with prescription medication without first asking a health professional (HerbalGram 2000). St. john's wort has been reported to aggravate mania, so it should be used with caution by individuals with bipolar disease. As with all antidepressants, St. john's wort does not work for everyone with depression. Critics of this herbal supplement point to a study where St. john's wort was no more effective than placebo in alleviating depression." - The Life Extension Editorial Staff, Disease Prevention and Treatment (Get the book.)

"Healing foods for depression ***** brewer's yeast ***** oats ***** mustard greens Healing herbs for depression ***** St. john's wort ***** ginkgo biloba ***** basil ***** black cohosh ***** gotu kola Products to consider for depression: Pure Camu (http://AmazonDreams. AmazonHerb.net) <•* Super EPA / DHA with Sesame Lignans 8c Olive Fruit Extract (www.LEF.org) *¦ SAMe (www.LEF.org) *" St. john's wort Extract (www.LEF.org) *" Baseline Nutritionals Warp Speed (www. BaselineNutritionals.com) <*- GCW Organic Chia Seeds (www.GoodCauseWellness." - Mike Adams, Natural Health Solutions (Get the book.)

"Saint john's wort (Hypericum perforatum) Dozens of studies have proved Saint John's wort's ability to relieve mild to moderate depression. It's been shown to be effective in 60 to 80 percent of people who take it. It compares well with the prescription antidepressants but without their side effects. It likely enhances serotonin, like the SSRI antidepressants, as well as dopamine and norepinephrine. Cautions: It may cause allergic reactions, rashes, gastrointestinal upset, or sun sensitivity in some people. It can cause anxiety or insomnia if taken too close to bedtime." - Hyla Cass, M.D., Supplement Your Prescription: What Your Doctor Doesn't Know About Nutrition (Get the book.)

"John's wort supplement, 300 mg taken three times daily, cut overall PMS symptoms by half and that two-thirds of the women in the study benefited from the herb. St. john's wort improves the liver's ability to break down chemicals, including hormones. It also contains many beneficial antioxidants, which may decrease pain and improve mood; however, the herb may diminish the effectiveness of oral contraceptives." - Jack Challem, The Food-Mood Solution: All-Natural Ways to Banish Anxiety, Depression, Anger, Stress, Overeating, and Alcohol and Drug Problems--and Feel Good Again (Get the book.)

"Saint john's wort (Hypericum perforatum) Dozens of studies have proved Saint John's wort's ability to relieve mild to moderate depression. It's been shown to be effective in 60 to 80 percent of people who take it. It compares well with the prescription antidepressants but without their side effects. It likely enhances serotonin, like the SSRI antidepressants, as well as dopamine and norepinephrine. Cautions: It may cause allergic reactions, rashes, gastrointestinal upset, or sun sensitivity in some people. It can cause anxiety or insomnia if taken too close to bedtime." - Hyla Cass, M.D., Supplement Your Prescription: What Your Doctor Doesn't Know About Nutrition (Get the book.)

"John's wort: help or hoax? St. john's wort has been used for years as a folk remedy for depression, but the debate continues on how well it really works, and if it's as safe as it seems. Ancient healers treated everything from malaria to burns with this herb, but people today use it mainly for depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders. Small studies suggest it helps people with mild depression, perhaps by boosting their brain's serotonin levels the way some antidepressant medications do. But experts worry that instead of going to their doctor, people will treat themselves for depression. Dr." - The Editors of FC&A, Unleash the Inner Healing Power of Foods (Get the book.)

"St. John's Wort: Nature's Blues Buster, Wayne: Avery Publishing, 1998. Ty Colbert, Broken Brains or Wounded Hearts: What Causes Mental Illness, Santa Ana: Kevco, 1996. -Depression & Mania: Friends or Foes, Santa Ana: Kevco, 1995. Dr. William Crook, Healing Depression: A Holistic Guide, New York: Marlowe and Company, 1999. -Help For The Hyperactive Child: A Practical Guide Offering Parents of Attention Deficit Disorder Alternatives to Ritalin, New York: Professional Books, 1991. Dr." - Gary Null and Amy McDonald, The Food-Mood Connection: Nutrition-based and Environmental Approaches to Mental Health and Physical Wellbeing (Get the book.)

"Fortunately, you can prevent oxidative damage—or at least slow it down considerably—by eating foods rich in antioxidants: vitamins C and E, the carotenoids (including beta-carotene), and the mineral sele- St. john's wort relieves mild to moderate depression about as well as the pharmaceuticals. Recently, researchers from Texas and Germany joined forces to analyze 23 studies of St. john's wort and its effects on depression. Among people who had taken placebos, 22 percent experienced significant mood elevation. Among those who had taken St. john's wort, 55 percent reported the same results." - James A. Duke, Ph.D., The Green Pharmacy Anti-Aging Prescriptions: Herbs, Foods, and Natural Formulas to Keep You Young (Get the book.)

page 1 of 9 | Next ->

FAIR USE NOTICE: The research quoted here is provided under the protection of Fair Use provisions and published by the 501(c)3 non-profit Consumer Wellness Center for the purposes of public comment and education. Authors / publishers may submit books for consideration of inclusion here.

TERMS OF USE: Read full terms of use. Citations of text from NaturalPedia must include: 1) Full credit to the original author and book title. 2) Secondary credit to the Natural News Naturalpedia as a research resource and a link to www.NaturalPedia.com

This unique compilation of research is copyright (c) 2008, 2009 by the non-profit Consumer Wellness Center.

ABOUT THE CREATOR OF NATURALPEDIA: Mike Adams, the creator of NaturalPedia, is the editor of NaturalNews.com, the internet's top natural health news site, creator of the Honest Food Guide (www.HonestFoodGuide.org), a free downloadable consumer food guide based on natural health principles, author of Grocery Warning, The 7 Laws of Nutrition, Natural Health Solutions, and many other books available at www.TruthPublishing.com, creator of the earth-friendly EcoLEDs company (www.EcoLEDs.com) that manufactures energy-efficient LED lighting products, founder of Arial Software (www.ArialSoftware.com), a permission e-mail technology company, creator of the CounterThink Cartoon series (www.NaturalNews.com/index-cartoons.html) and author of over 1,500 articles, interviews, special reports and reference guides available at www.NaturalNews.com. Adams' personal philosophy and health statistics are available at www.HealthRanger.org.