Has anyone used St Johns Wort for mild/moderate depression? How long does it take to work?

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Has anyone used St Johns wort for mild/moderate depression? If so how long did it take to work?
I have recently started taking St Johns Wort for mile to moderate depression. I am taking 1 x 1000mg (300mg hypericum Perforatum, 900mcg Hypericin) daily. How long should it take to notice a difference? And is this an ok dosage? The bottle says take 2 - 3 daily, however I have read and been told to take one a day??

Answer 1

In the past it has worked for me ( slight effect within hours, anti-depressant effect within a week or two), then I have reduced/stopped it as I have felt more able to use other methods such as increased exercise and healthy eating - so do not rule these methods out. I have always followed the dose recommended with the specific product I have bought, then with certain cheap but reliable brands such as Tescos I have increased it if it hasn't worked, but remember the companies that produce this do not recommend it.

It has worked in a biological way, in that it has changed my sleep pattern and my energy level. I am a great believer in St John's Wort. But I do not use it for more than six months at a time, I use it to get through the really bad times then accept that I have to bring in lifestyle changes.

When you are depressed people recommend all these changes, but I find that I do not have the motivation or energy to do this. When I feel down my priority is holding down a job, so I have little energy available for other things. St John's Wort helps me find this energy.

Answer 2

I do and it takes a few weeks. Take what your bottle says. Less concentrated bottles say take 2 3 times a day and some (more concentrated) say take 1 3 times a day. I also take 5HTP. It is working for me. At least I don't feel like blowing my brains out any more. I still get sad but not NEARLY as bad as before. I guess it's because what is making me depressed is my marriage. Good luck!

Answer 3

I've been taking it for about a month. I noticed it started to work after a couple of days. I can honestly say I've only been depressed once since I started and that was caused by anxiety. There's two kinds. One is called standardized and it's supposed to be stronger and that's what I take. It says take 1 capsule two or three times a day but I take all three in the morning because I also take vitamins and I don't want one to interfere with the other being absorbed. I take the vitamins in the evening.