St John's Wart

[Guest guest]

I have two questions for the group here.

 

First, I live in Washington State (on the east or dry side of the

Cascade Mountains). There is a Hypericum (St John's Wart) that grows

here. It is not H. perforatum but, rather, Hypericum formosum. My

first question is, do they both perform the same in regards to

pharmacology? They are very similar species taxanomically.

 

Secondly, I have been using a store bought bottled drink for over a

year now. It has St John's Wart as one of the ingredients (also Kava

Kava, Brahmi (whatever that is) and " B complex " ). I struggle with

depression and have found this drink works tremendously for me. Not

only raising my spirits but increasing energy. I only drink a third

of one bottle every two or three days. One bottle lasts me nearly all

week. I am curious if others have had similar experiences? Was

wondering if the effect I am feeling is the Hypericum (St Johns Wart)

or the other ingredients? Any thoughts would be welcome on this.

 

Does anyone know of a website that would give me directions on how to

make a tincture (is that what I want) of the Hypericum? The stuff

grows very profusely here in some of the meadow areas of the Cascades

and I plan to pick some next summer. I have heard the best time to

pick is when the plant is in flower???

 

-Ken

[Guest guest]

Much of the good effect you describe from that drink could be the B

vitamins. I know a lot of folks do well with that. I always advise caution

with Kava Kava, because it can affect driving by making a person feel a

little " spaced out " . The B vitamins would tend to counteract that. Since

you're using such a small amount, it's hard to say what the other

ingredients are doing -- but if it works, and doesn't have any side effects,

that's great.

 

St. John's Wort was traditionally prepared with very complicated recipes,

usually involving steeping it in brandy for several days. These new

concoctions, in drinks, capsules, or as a straight tea, are not traditional

at all. That would include straight tinctures. It appears from the old

herbals i own that St. Johns Wort was very dependent on the other

ingredients in the elaborate preparations given, and was not considered very

effective by itself. There are also lots of cautions given, especially

against fair-skinned people taking it and against being out in the sun very

much. It occurs to me that most modern Americans spend very little time in

the sun anyway, so this would not be a problem.

 

As for the different species, sorry, i can't help with that. The name

" formosum " would seem to indicate that it's an Asian variety, and in working

with Chinese herbs i have often found that similar herbs work very

differently between the Chinese and European types.

 

At 03:48 AM 12/22/01 -0000, you wrote:

>

>I have two questions for the group here.

>

>First, I live in Washington State (on the east or dry side of the

>Cascade Mountains). There is a Hypericum (St John's Wart) that grows

>here. It is not H. perforatum but, rather, Hypericum formosum. My

>first question is, do they both perform the same in regards to

>pharmacology? They are very similar species taxanomically.

>

>Secondly, I have been using a store bought bottled drink for over a

>year now. It has St John's Wart as one of the ingredients (also Kava

>Kava, Brahmi (whatever that is) and " B complex " ). I struggle with

>depression and have found this drink works tremendously for me. Not

>only raising my spirits but increasing energy. I only drink a third

>of one bottle every two or three days. One bottle lasts me nearly all

>week. I am curious if others have had similar experiences? Was

>wondering if the effect I am feeling is the Hypericum (St Johns Wart)

>or the other ingredients? Any thoughts would be welcome on this.

>

>Does anyone know of a website that would give me directions on how to

>make a tincture (is that what I want) of the Hypericum? The stuff

>grows very profusely here in some of the meadow areas of the Cascades

>and I plan to pick some next summer. I have heard the best time to

>pick is when the plant is in flower???

>

>-Ken

>

-- Michael Riversong **

Professional Harpist, Educator, and Writer **

RivEdu ** Phone: (307)635-0900 FAX (413)691-0399

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