I can't believe this- it is a miracle!I want to share it with all you ladies who are having a dreadful time with hot flashes-or flushes as we call them in UK particularly if you are having really bad anxiety with them. Some of you may know that I had endo cancer and surgery in March 2008. Since then I have had the most dreadful journey with horrendous hot flushes and crippling anxiety. No HRT for me as the cancer was estrogen related.Right up until two weeks ago I had tried so many things to alleviate the symptoms but nothing helped-not even soy. Anyhow after a series of events throughout this year my anxiety and depression had got really bad. My husband happened to see a news story about how trials had been done to prove if St John's Wort actually worked and the clinical findings were definite-it compares in effectiveness with anti-depressants but with very few side effects. I felt so desperate I decided to give it a try. I immediately started to feel better but stopped it after a few days as I was trying a bioidentical progesterone cream. That made me feel awful so I just stopped everything for a while to let things settle. Anyway 3 days ago I went back on SJW and I have not had any hot flushes for 2 days! Bear in mind that I was getting them every 20 minutes or so before-so its fantastic. I have just googled and actually found lots of stuff about SJW as a treatment for hot flushes and its the one darn thing I had never tried as I didn't know it could help them. The other wonderful thing is that my anxiety levels have dropped right down and now I am sleeping really well-whereas before I suffered from insomnia!
Hope this may help some of you!

Thanks for posting this as my naturopath wants me to start taking SJW for my insomnia and anxiety that I have been left with after weaning off an AD. I have been very reluctant to start the SJW as I have had a terrible time weaning off the AD with awful withdrawal symptoms and never want to go back down that path again. I am worried the SJW might be the same when it comes time to stop taking it also. I am very sensitive to meds and lots of supplements too so you can see why I am reluctant to go there.

Please keep me posted on your progress with it, I don't get hot flashes but I have the severe lightheadedness at times, have you had this symptom also and did the SJW help with it??

Rox

You would not get withdrawal symptoms when stopping SJW-that is one of the great things about it! I find that I usually get dizziness with hot flushes so I have not had any spells so far. I too am extremely sensitive to meds-I am even having trouble with estriol cream in tiny amounts and would not go near ADs ! I admit that with SJW I feel a little "woozy" at times-not dizzy but a bit slow-I am having trouble with typing correctly for example. I would suggest you get the liquid SJW -its much purer and more effective than the capsules, and try a small dose-in drops. I am not using the full recommended dose as it makes me feel too tired and VERY thirsty. Why don't you do what I have done and google it? There is lots of info about it on the web. Don't worry about it. If I can use it then anyone can-but you have to check its ok with any other meds you are taking-I know you can't use it if you are on the pill and there are certain drugs-I know warfarin is one of them.
Good luck!
janet c

SJW doesnt work for all but I am sure glad that it works for you!

Those with BP problems need to be careful with SJW.

UPDATE

I think I have been using too much and started feeling dreadful on Saturday! I didn't know that one of the side effects of too much is agitation and increased anxiety!It is not one of the more common side effects but I googled a SJW board and lots of people had mentioned it. Not really the effect I was aiming for I thought I was going crazy yesterday! I have cut it right down and feel better this evening but for a herbal remedy it is powerful stuff.
janet c

Thank you so much for this information Janet c. I don't know if it will work but it's worth a try. I have just recovered from having Breast Cancer and surgery. The hot flashes are killing me. Let's just say Hot Flashes, Anxiety and Insomnia. The Insomnia because of the Hot Flashes and Anxiety. I can't win for losen keep your fingers crossed for me and lets hope that the SJW works

That is why people with BP problems need to watch on SJW. The anxiety can be bad. I have to use a script from my dr. I tried to go natural. it just didnt work for me.
I feel better knowing my dr is there if needed.