(no subject)

[arguchik]

anyone else out there taking st john's wort? does it give you splitting headaches?

i've been taking it for a few weeks now, and getting these massive headaches in the afternoon/evening (i have one right now), and i'm just wondering whether these things could be related. i think i read somewhere that headache is a possible side effect of SJW... if this is what's causing my headaches, is there anything i can/should do about it (OTC pain relievers don't seem to do much good)? will the headaches eventually go away as my body gets used to the stuff? or should i just stop taking it?

Comments

[wondrousbeauty.livejournal.com]

I used it every day one summer in college and did not have any side effects. I'm sorry about the headaches!

[boutell.livejournal.com]

Eek, stop taking it and see if the headaches go away. Last I heard studies showed it was ineffectual anyway.

[arguchik.livejournal.com]

yeah, i think i'm going to try that. i get other headaches sometimes, but these are ridiculous. (st john's wort was shown to be ineffectual for major depression, but for minor-moderate depression it's helpful; i was taking it more for anti-anxiety properties rather than depression, so i'll probably just try something else.)

[xtingu]

I was told that drinking a cup of tea made with valerian wouldn't be enough to put you to sleep, but would instead provide anti-anxiety benefits. Haven't tried it myself, but my friend Ashley said she and her whole office have been doing this for months and everyone is so much happier.

Dunno.

[arguchik.livejournal.com]

hmm. hadn't heard about valerian tea. i have thought about using it to help me sleep on those nights when my insomnia kicks in.

i have also looked at kava, but the potential for liver damage puts me off a bit.

[glaucon.livejournal.com]

really? which studies?

[claudelemonde.livejournal.com]

yeah--i take it when i'm in a really bad downswing and it definitely helps...and my menopausal mom has been helped by it, too.

[arguchik.livejournal.com]

no headaches, tho? maybe i'm some kinda freak.

[claudelemonde.livejournal.com]

no headaches for me. but zinc supplements make me barf foam within 15 minutes of taking them, every time; we all have our weird sensitivities. try stopping taking them?

i also take all my vitamins and stuff at night, before bed, which works best for me... ???

[arguchik.livejournal.com]

how much SJW do you take per day when you're using it?

[claudelemonde.livejournal.com]

depends on how bad i'm feeling. i think the recommended dose is 2/day on the bottle i have but i'll take six or whatever (i'm, um, liberal with the supplements).

[glaucon.livejournal.com]

yeah, I've found it helpful too and know half a dozen other people who have also had good results.

I guess it could all be placebo, but 400+ years of herbalists might not be totally full of shit.