| Before I begin...I am a Post Viral Fatigue Syndrome / | | | | To find out how St Johns Wort works visit: SIDE |
| Chronic Fatigue Syndrome sufferer myself but I am | | | | NOTE ------Having said that, one of the most |
| not medically trained! I am merely passing on to you, | | | | common side effects of St John's Wort is fatigue, |
| things I have read and learnt which may interest you. | | | | which is obviously relevant when you suffer from ME |
| I am not a 'health expert', so please - if you come | | | | CFS! So if you do try St John's Wort, keep an eye |
| across anything in this article that you find interesting, | | | | on your energy levels. If they plummet even further, |
| do a little research on it yourself and contact your | | | | it may be a sign to rethink whether you should be |
| doctor or health professional about it before taking | | | | taking it or not.What's more, St John's Wort **has** |
| any advice from this article.Depression, anxiety and | | | | been found to interfere with some prescription |
| sleep disorders can all be symptoms of ME/Chronic | | | | medicines. Studies published in the Lancet and the |
| Fatigue Syndrome. Whereas some ME/CFS sufferers | | | | British Medical Journal have shown that St John's |
| may never experience depression and anxiety as | | | | Wort speeds up the breakdown of medicines in the |
| symptoms of their ME/CFS, others unfortunately | | | | body, leading to lower levels of the drugs in the |
| do.For example, according to Dr Shepherd in his book | | | | blood. So if you're taking other medication or |
| 'Living With ME', true clinical depression probably | | | | supplements of any kind, that's another factor for |
| affects between 25-33% of ME/CFS sufferers at | | | | you and your doctor to consider before taking St |
| some stage.Many ME/CFS sufferers are prescribed | | | | Johns Wort.------ SIDE NOTE ------ |
| antidepressants to help them sleep and to ease their | | | | There are other side effects and dangers of St |
| fatigue (even if they are not depressed). But | | | | Johns Wort. You can find out more about some of |
| although prescribed antidepressants do help | | | | these on this page: SIDE NOTE ------As with taking |
| **some** ME/CFS sufferers, others find that they | | | | any new substance for the first time, the best thing |
| experience bad side-effects.St Johns Wort (also | | | | you can do is to approach St Johns Wort with |
| known as Hypericum perforatum) is an interesting | | | | caution.In essence, you should **not** take St John's |
| natural alternative to prescription | | | | Wort until you have checked with your doctor that it |
| antidepressants.Many medics seem to say that it has | | | | is safe to do so. It's also often advised to start |
| far fewer side effects, yet it apparently works just | | | | slowly with a low dosage.Although sometimes it gets |
| as effectively as common SSRI antidepressants such | | | | remarkable results, sometimes St John's Wort does |
| as Prozac, Paxil/Seroxat and Zoloft. In fact, according | | | | nothing. It really is down to the individual. But |
| to Dr Charles Shepherd in his book 'Living With M.E.' | | | | research suggests that you do need to take St |
| (mentioned above), St John's Wort seems to have a | | | | John's Wort for a number of weeks in order for it to |
| lower incidence of side effects (around 20%) - much | | | | work.Bottom line?Always, ALWAYS check with your |
| lower than that seen with conventional | | | | doctor first before taking St Johns Wort. And if you |
| antidepressant drugs (around 60%).----- SIDE NOTE | | | | do decide to take it, keep an eye on your energy |
| ------ | | | | levels. If your fatigue worsens noticeably, then just |
| For more information about the 'darker side' of SSRI | | | | be aware that it might be the St Johns Wort that's |
| antidepressants visit: SIDE NOTE ------With a 2,400 | | | | causing it.And if you do decide to try St Johns Wort, |
| year history of safe and effective use, the use of St | | | | remember that research shows that you need to |
| Johns Wort has risen dramatically recently, especially | | | | take St Johns Wort for a few weeks in order for it |
| in Britain. And in Germany, they apparently use St | | | | to start working.-----Copyright, Claire Williams, |
| Johns Wort a lot to treat depression, anxiety and | | | | 2003-2005. All Rights Reserved.-------** Publication |
| sleep disorders, all of which, as mentioned earlier, can | | | | Guidelines **The article above may be freely |
| be symptoms of ME/CFS.St John's Wort has both | | | | reproduced provided that:(1) you only mail to a 100% |
| anti-viral and anti-depressive properties and has been | | | | opt-in list; (2) ALL links areLIVE hyperlinks (3) the |
| used by Europeans for centuries as a remedy for:- | | | | article is published in its entiretyincluding the title, |
| sleep | | | | copyright notice, & the author'sbio & resource box |
| - depression | | | | (which must be placed directly belowthe |
| - anxiety | | | | article).-----Claire Williams is editor of sleepydust.net |
| - PMS | | | | and has suffered from Post Viral Fatigue Syndrome |
| - menstrual cramps | | | | since 1995.She created sleepydust.net to help ME / |
| - menopausal stress | | | | Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia sufferers |
| - irritability | | | | deal with their condition - from handling their money |
| - neuralgia | | | | worries, to recovering from their illness. |
| - tension------ SIDE NOTE ------ | | | | |