Does St. John's Wort lift Spirits?

Apr 12 03:26 UTC 2002

Does St John's Wort lift Spirits?
A sugar pill was more effective than either the herbal remedy or
anti-depressant Zoloft in treating major depression.  Critics labeled the Duke
University study confusing.  The study said Zoloft did produce improvements
on a secondary scale, while St. John's Wort didn't.  
-from Investor's Business Daily

response 2 of 125:

Apr 12 04:59 UTC 2002

(I wonder what this quantitative scale is for "minor" and "major"
depression. It does sound like a quibble so that the SJW aficianados
can keep their weed.)

response 4 of 125:

Apr 12 09:04 UTC 2002

I've also found that Zoloft causes weight gain (30-40 pounds) in most
patients, which I believe would add to any depression.  Two friends asked to
be put on a different drug, dropped the weight in about a month, and feel much
happier with their prescriptions.

response 6 of 125:

Apr 12 14:34 UTC 2002

#2> I've already indicated what the distinction is: Level of functionality.
If you're likely to go to a shrink and get told you don't need medication,
SJW is likely to be effective. If the shrink tells you you're bad enough for
drugs, SJW isn't. I'm not aware of any threats to make SJW illegal.
 
All I know is, it helps me get through my SAD. I'm tapering off it now.
Whether that's 100% placebo effect or not, I don't care, and I'm not sure why
anyone else would. Even if it *is*, it keeps me mindful to take a pill twice
a day that I have mood swing problems, so they don't sneak up on me as often.
I fail to see how that's a bad thing, worthy of your scorn, Rane.

response 8 of 125:

Apr 12 19:32 UTC 2002

Re #6: what you say *does* sound like a quibble so you can keep your
weed....  Just an observation.  8^}

response 10 of 125:

Apr 12 20:08 UTC 2002

#8> Um, ok. I'm glad that the contemporary psychological view between
functional and dysfunctional psychological malaise sounds like a quibble to
you, Rane. Perhaps you should hang up a shingle and start charging for your
sound psychological advice.
 
Again, you're acting like a hypocrite. In other places, you've claimed that
anything which doesn't cause harm to others and brings more contentment to
the world can't be a bad thing, and here you're disdaining it. (I'm probably
"misrepresenting" your words again, though. =P )
 
I don't find it to be a quibble, and I don't like being called a junkie.

response 12 of 125:

Apr 12 21:32 UTC 2002

What oval said.

response 14 of 125:

Apr 12 22:01 UTC 2002

rane just forgot to take his happy pill today.

response 16 of 125:

Apr 12 22:16 UTC 2002

        :)

response 18 of 125:

Apr 13 02:53 UTC 2002

Your middle finger may make *you* happy, but that's only because of where it's
generally located. ;}

response 20 of 125:

Apr 13 13:51 UTC 2002

i tried SJW for my *SAD*

whatever.

y'know what helped?  eating better and getting exercise.


more psychiatrists should prescibe exercise, but then they'd
lose the kickbacks from the med companies.


i once new a psychiatrist who wrote the following in the 
clinical reccomendations section on a consult form:

"Advised Pt. to split & stack at least one face-cord
 of firewood Q D."

"Advised Pt. that she's spending too much time
 hunkered down on the pity-potty."

response 22 of 125:

Apr 13 16:19 UTC 2002

One of the symptoms of depression is a big weight loss.  My 
psychiatrist was alarmed that I'd lost 20 pounds in about 2 months.  (I 
am obese; I started at 245.  I wasn't worried.  Not about that.)  I 
wasn't dieting or exercising; I just wasn't interested in things such 
as eating.

I haven't gained it back yet, though I am now taking Zoloft.  I haven't 
been losing more, though.  If I don't do something for exercise, I will 
probably be gaining weight soon.

The Zoloft helped me a whole bunch.  Ask anyone who's been around me 
much for the last couple of months.  For me, it has been worth it.

response 24 of 125:

Apr 13 19:39 UTC 2002

(Psst...chewing poison ivy leaves will also alter your mood.)