Passionflower, Valerian & St. John's Wort

[IronRanger]

[karen w]

I take Saint John's Wort in tincture form for depression and anxiety and it works great for me. But also go the whole route with good nutrition, vitamins, sunshine, exercise, plenty of rest and maybe finding a holistic counselor in your area to give more help.

I like Passionflower tea or tincture, too.

[sumar]

In reviewing this whole discussion of tincture vs pills, I'd like to suggest a really old-fashioned idea: Make tea! From all that I have read from ironranger, I really think that using an herbal infusion (tea) would be helpful. Passionflower, of the herbs being discussed, makes a nice tea. It could be blended with some mint and chamomile for a very nice evening brew. Perhaps use the tincture in the morning and noon, and then a tea in the evening? I think taking the time to blend and make a tea would be an excellent exercise in "owning" your medicine and provide a beautiful calming "ceremony" for you.

You said that you are in the northern U.S. I would strongly encourage you to not only engage in some talk therapy (most studies of depression have shown that people get better only with a COMBINATION of talk therapy and "medication")...but also to find an herbalist to work with. Darcy and Sean are in New England. Jim McDonald is in Michigan. Ask on this forum for an herbalist near you to find someone to work with.

And do the nourishment that you need to provide the precursors to the internal happy chemicals.

good luck, florida susan
_________________
"There are two spiritual dangers in not owning a farm. One is the danger of supposing that breakfast comes from the grocery, and the other that heat comes from the furnace." ~Aldo Leopold

[Indigo]

I thought tea too :-)

I made SJW tincture last year which helped me a lot in many ways, I also made oil. I find that if I make remedies myself from plants I've grown that they are much more energetically suited to my needs, it's fun too. First time I took it I took pills, didn't know any other way then.

Unless you have a very special doctor, your thyroid test is not likely to be accurate. Most thyroid testing is not. To be accurate, they have to test several things which are not normally tested for. As suggested, look at the symptoms and if you feel they apply to you, your thyroid may well be underactive. I add some kelp powder to my food to help mine. I don't like the fillers etc in tablets. You may prefer tablets which are easily available in health food stores.

Flower Essences can be great for emotional stuff as long as you pick the right one, but if you don't, no harm done.

I didn't find psychiatrists much good but we're all different.

[sumar]

I should have clarified my remarks, of course. I did not mean to suggest that the person needs to see a psychiatrist. They are MDs and, as such, are trained to pull out the prescription pad.

I would suggest finding a family counselor, spiritual counselor, or empathetic alternative health care practitioner who is willing to lend an ear in a meaningful way. I myself have found much significant healing with two different acupuncturists who made listening their business before determining treatment. It is very healing to experience the deep listening of a person who has the time to care. Herbalists can provide this depth of listening as well. Many alternative practitioners who listen will also be willing to develop therapies (like flower essences) and/or rituals/ceremonies that will help the person on the healing path.

-Susan
_________________
"There are two spiritual dangers in not owning a farm. One is the danger of supposing that breakfast comes from the grocery, and the other that heat comes from the furnace." ~Aldo Leopold

[IronRanger]

I've gone an entirely different route. I'm trying amino acids. I've had very good success, so far, with tyrosine and 5-htp (also tryptophan). I'm taking Vitamin C, B-complex, fish oil, and a multi-vitamin also.

Interestingly enough, I find the fish oil stimulating, but not overly so. I've read a lot of good things about high quality fish oils. I'm also Native American, so supplementing fish oil makes sense.

So far, balancing the tyrosine and 5-htp is the trick.

Thanks to you all for your input.

[Indigo]

I'm pleased you've found what works for you :-)

[wildflowerpowerwoman]

I'm pleased as well.

I was going to add to the conversation that while good diet and exercise are helpful, often when a person is going through severe depression it just is too long to wait. I take St. John's Wort tincture and have found it to be a lifesaver. The diet and exercise help a lot, too. Also just working at being positive and seeing depression as an illness.

Antidepressants are a last resort of course, but I do believe they have their place.

I'm so pleased you feel well again.
_________________
www.cyfaill.blogspot.com

[sumar]

IronRanger: In Duluth, you can hook up with the Lake Superior Herbalists Guild: http://www.diamon-naturals.us/Guild.htm They are a non-industry group of practitioners and people wanting to learn about herbs. They have also had Jim McDonald (a member of this forum) over from Michigan to teach in the past. I think you will find someone to help you locally through that group.

From your comments, I really think you should address the diet and nutrients before you do much more with the herbs. You say hypothyroid runs in your family, so even if your doc said it is "OK," you probably have a thyroid deficiency. (The docs usually only look at TSH and don't look at FreeT3 and FreeT4, the critical hormones.) And from your comment that beer affects you for "weeks" -- I am ready to say that you need to get off of gluten-containing grains right away (that would be wheat, rye, barley, triticale, spelt). I predict that a moderate low-carb diet with a focus on whole foods and healthy fats (grass-fed butter should be readily available in Minnesota!) and you will start to feel MUCH better after just 2 short weeks. And do the nutrients that Henriette mentioned -- you are likely depleted in those nutrients.

Good luck! -Susan
_________________
"There are two spiritual dangers in not owning a farm. One is the danger of supposing that breakfast comes from the grocery, and the other that heat comes from the furnace." ~Aldo Leopold