6 replies to this topic

[the_apollo]

For many herbs and nootropics i tried i've almost every time felt a negative response, or no response/effect at all.
St Johns Wort, rhodiola rosea and many other herbals, i for a strange reason almost never respond to any of the many herbal supplements I've tried over the years..
Maybe it's my anxiety and depressive emotions getting in between, or maybe it's nocebo effect. (the opposite of placebo)

For what i find strange with SJW, is that i should respond positive to the herb, with it's impressive antidepressant-like effects mentioned in studies is should work on me,
the negative effects i begin to notice of the herb after a few days (<7days) is increased moodiness, some more "vacant" feelings, kinda zoning out.. Hard to explain but it doesnt feel good. No positive effects. So i usually stop after a week or so.

 

But these problems, despite searching for answers and/or anything that could explain this weird negative response to the herb, i found nothing.

the last explanation i could think of is 'nocebo', which is the opposite to placebo..

Could there be another answer to this? For i want to try getting SJW to work, it having such impressive norepinephrine and serotoninergic properties (on paper),

i kinda want to make this work.

[Galaxyshock]

Which brand extract are you using?

[the_apollo]

Which brand extract are you using?

 

Source Naturals St John's Wort

http://www.sourcenat...products/GP1286

 

and

 

bulk powder from Pure Bulk.

http://purebulk.com/...extract-powder/

 

Those two is what i have tried, 500mg per day with the SJW from Pure Bulk, and one tab. 300mg per day with the SJW from Souce Naturals.

 

I first noticed my strange response to the herb a couple of days after i started taking the 300mg SJW, after i stopped i purchased from Pure bulk,

since i've tried their SJW before with no side effects at that time (ca 3-4 years ago).

But since the side effects i notice now is occurring regardless of which one i use, i find it strange that i respond so badly since i did not react the same way the last time before.

[Galaxyshock]

Both are standardized to hypericin, which does have antidepressive properties, but not the SNDRI effect of hyperforin. You're gonna want to take Perika (standardized to hyperforin) or Eclectic Institute SJW (standardized to both hyperforin and hypericin) for that, it's found to have superior antidepressant effect to other compounds in the herb. Not saying that it will definitely have impressive benefits for you, but would probably be worth a try before ditching St. John's.

Edited by Galaxyshock, 08 March 2015 - 05:54 AM.

[cylon]

What of the anecdotal reports about photosensitivity and SJW? Hard to know what to believe any more.

[the_apollo]

Both are standardized to hypericin, which does have antidepressive properties, but not the SNDRI effect of hyperforin. You're gonna want to take Perika (standardized to hyperforin) or Eclectic Institute SJW (standardized to both hyperforin and hypericin) for that, it's found to have superior antidepressant effect to other compounds in the herb. Not saying that it will definitely have impressive benefits for you, but would probably be worth a try before ditching St. John's.

 

That i should have seen,, stupidly i never checked to which extract the two different products of St Johns Wort had,, for what i've read about hypericin, it decreases MAOB activity as well as the dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DBH) enzyme,

i seem to respond negatively to MAO-B inhibitors, and i do have ADHD, in which ADHD one theory is decreased DBH activity..

 

So but hyperforin, i've looked for some SJW extracts with hyperforin, seems that only the branded product "perica" contain an extract with hyperforin, all other SJW is standarized for hypericin, stange..

Seems like i'll be going with the perica though.

[Synaptik]

I don't respond well either to SJW. The effect kind of sneaks up on you. I was only taking 50ml tincture once daily, but it makes me almost manic, simillar to Rhodiola except maybe not as harsh. I've come to the conclusion from many years of testing that I respond very poorly to non-selective supplements or adaptogen which hit multiple receptors. I'm also positive I'm not serotonin deficient, and SJW is counterproductive.

 

What is working nicely for me is lose-dose salvia extract. A couple puffs putting you on the edge of Alice in Wonderland then I'm not depressed from anywhere up to 48 hours. Nice mental clarity, verbal fluency and focus afterwards. Unfortunately, hit & miss for the mild co-morbid physical (social) anxiety, but nothing a little NOR can't fix.

 

 

Edited by Synaptik, 27 March 2015 - 02:13 AM.