Saint-John's-wort (also called hypericum) has a long history of use. Hippocrates prescribed it for anxiety more than two thousand years ago. Currently it's used in the United States and Europe to treat mild to moderate depression and anxiety.
Although its primary impact seems to be on depression, Saint-John's-wort can reduce mild to moderate levels of anxiety as a secondary effect. It is probably not effective in relieving panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. European studies have found it to have antianxiety properties comparable to tranquilizers, although this finding has not yet been confirmed in the United States. Research has found evidence that Saint-John's-wort enhances the levels of all three neurotransmitters implicated in anxiety disorders: serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine.
Saint-John's-wort is abailabe in health food stores and many drugstores. Be sure to obtain brands that are standardized to contain .3 percent hypericin, the active ingredient. The standard dose is 300 milligram capsules per day and then raise the doese to three 300 milligram capsules per day. Taking Saint-John's-wort with a meal may limit any stomach upset that it causes. Unless directed by a qualified doctor , you shouldn't exceed 900 milligrams per day. Remember that Sain-John's-wort takes four to six weeks to reach therapeutic effectivesness.
Unless instructed by your doctor, do not take Saint-John's-wort ans SSRI medications together. If you're takling an MAO-inhibitor antidepressant, such as Nardil (phenelzine) or Parnate (tranylcypromine), do not take Saint-John's-wort. For more information of Saint-John's-wort, see Hypericum & Depression by Harold Bloomfield, Maikael Nordfors, and Peter McWilliams.
-- Natural Relief for Anxiety, Edmund J. Bourne, PH.D. All Rights Reserved. Used With Permission
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