I mentioned St. John's Wort briefly in an earlier post. I want to add some more information about this herbal remedy today.
It is the most herbal remedy for treating depression, and has been the subject of numerous studies, and been tested against pharmaceutical remedies; it has often worked at least as well as the pharmaceutical drugs in the study, and with fewer side effects.
(One caution, if you are taking any other medication, check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking St. John's Wort, or any other herbal remedy, to be sure there are no interactions between the drug and the herbal remedy.)
This herbal remedy is approved by the German Commission E to treat anxiety and depressive moods. (The German Commission E is the German Regulatory Authority's herbal watchdog agency, which conducted extensive assessments of scientific data about 300 common herbal remedies; they listed the uses for which the herbal remedies may be considered effective. Their conclusions are considered to be the best expert consensus on medicinal herbs currently available.)
St. John's Wort may increase sensitivity to sunlight, especially if there is a past history of photosensitivity (that just means sensitivity to light). For most people, this reaction is dose related, and would require a massive dose, about 8 ounces for someone weighing 150 pounds. The recommended dose is generally in the area of 300-900 mg daily, usually in several doses. Check the dosage recommendations from the manufacturer of any herbal remedy you may take, as different manufacturers produce products of different strengths. It is also a good idea to discuss the appropriate dosage with a professional herbalist, or your doctor or pharmacist.
If you are suffering from depression, I cannot urge you strongly enough to check with your doctor or other qualified health professional to rule out any major health problems.
The material presented in this blog is for informational use only and should in no way be used as a substitute for needed medical treatment. I am not a doctor, I do not diagnose or treat disease. If you need medical care, please consult the appropriate medical professional. And please discuss with your doctor if you are taking or planning to take any herbal preparations.
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Showing posts with label natural remedies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label natural remedies. Show all posts
Saturday, August 02, 2008
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Anxiety and Anxiety Disorders
Continuing with my discussion about sleeplessness, stress and anxiety, I'd like to say a few things about anxiety and anxiety disorders. Much like stress, a little anxiety is not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, it is a normal reaction in some situations, and can help us focus under stress.
Anxiety can become a problem if it becomes pervasive, or excessive and irrational. It can become a disabling disorder.
The National Institute of Mental Health lists five major types of anxiety disorder:
1. Generalized Anxiety Disorder, an chronic anxiety disorder characterized by exaggerated worry and tension, even when there is little or nothing to provoke it, and it seems there is no relief for the anxiety. It may include physical symptoms, such as headaches, tension, fatigue, irritability, or sweating.
2. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (Also known as OCD), an anxiety disorder characterized by obsessions such as recurrent thoughts and/or compulsions. Repetitive behaviors such as handwashing, counting, checking, or cleaning are often performed in hopes of preventing obsessive thoughts or making them go away. These repetitive behaviors provide only temporary relief, and not performing them can increase anxiety.
3. Panic Disorder, which manifests as unexpected and repeated episodes of intense fear or terror, which may be accompanied by physical symptoms including chest pain, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, or abdominal distress.
4. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, (PTSD) an anxiety disorder that may occur after exposure to a terrifying accident or event in which serious physical harm occurred or was threatened. Traumatic events that may trigger PTSD include violent assaults, natural disasters, accidents, or military combat.
5. Social Anxiety Disorder or Social Phobia, which manifests as overwhelming anxiety and excessive self-consciousness in social situations. Social phobia may be limited to a specific situation — such as a fear of public speaking , or eating or drinking with others — or, in its most severe form, a person may experience symptoms whenever there are other people around.
Each of these disorders has a range of severity, from barely noticeable, to absolutely debilitating. Anyone with a serious disorder should consult with their doctor, or an appropriate mental health professional.
Each of these anxiety disorders may contribute to sleeplessness and insomnia. I will discuss some herbal remedies which have been traditionally been used for stress, anxiety, sleeplessness and insomnia, beginning tomorrow.
The material presented in this blog is for informational use only and should in no way be used as a substitute for needed medical treatment. I am not a doctor, I do not diagnose or treat disease. If you need medical care, please consult the appropriate medical professional. And please discuss with your doctor if you are taking or planning to take any herbal preparations.
Technorati Tags:
herbal remedies, herbs, natural remedies, alternative remedies
Anxiety can become a problem if it becomes pervasive, or excessive and irrational. It can become a disabling disorder.
The National Institute of Mental Health lists five major types of anxiety disorder:
1. Generalized Anxiety Disorder, an chronic anxiety disorder characterized by exaggerated worry and tension, even when there is little or nothing to provoke it, and it seems there is no relief for the anxiety. It may include physical symptoms, such as headaches, tension, fatigue, irritability, or sweating.
2. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (Also known as OCD), an anxiety disorder characterized by obsessions such as recurrent thoughts and/or compulsions. Repetitive behaviors such as handwashing, counting, checking, or cleaning are often performed in hopes of preventing obsessive thoughts or making them go away. These repetitive behaviors provide only temporary relief, and not performing them can increase anxiety.
3. Panic Disorder, which manifests as unexpected and repeated episodes of intense fear or terror, which may be accompanied by physical symptoms including chest pain, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, or abdominal distress.
4. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, (PTSD) an anxiety disorder that may occur after exposure to a terrifying accident or event in which serious physical harm occurred or was threatened. Traumatic events that may trigger PTSD include violent assaults, natural disasters, accidents, or military combat.
5. Social Anxiety Disorder or Social Phobia, which manifests as overwhelming anxiety and excessive self-consciousness in social situations. Social phobia may be limited to a specific situation — such as a fear of public speaking , or eating or drinking with others — or, in its most severe form, a person may experience symptoms whenever there are other people around.
Each of these disorders has a range of severity, from barely noticeable, to absolutely debilitating. Anyone with a serious disorder should consult with their doctor, or an appropriate mental health professional.
Each of these anxiety disorders may contribute to sleeplessness and insomnia. I will discuss some herbal remedies which have been traditionally been used for stress, anxiety, sleeplessness and insomnia, beginning tomorrow.
The material presented in this blog is for informational use only and should in no way be used as a substitute for needed medical treatment. I am not a doctor, I do not diagnose or treat disease. If you need medical care, please consult the appropriate medical professional. And please discuss with your doctor if you are taking or planning to take any herbal preparations.
Technorati Tags:
herbal remedies, herbs, natural remedies, alternative remedies
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