Hi PS friends,

Well, I have had all of this depression that I can bear. I could not even carry on a conversation w/ my therapist on Thursday from crying and sobbing so badly. She is encouraging me to get on some med, but I keep telling her that I want to try everything natural FIRST. So I got some Perika St. John's Wort and took my first one this morning. I am going to take one a day for a week and then go to 2 for a week and then up to 3 the next week if I can tolerate it. I am SO med sensitive that everything gives me problems.

Anyway, please wish me luck and if you are a praying person, please say a prayer that I can tolerate this and that it will give me some relief.

Anyone heard anything about homeopathy or acupuncture for depression????

I know why my depression is so bad now. My thyroid is low again despite having a high T4 and taking this Synthroid (and of course along w/ this hormonal flux). I have found someone who will prescribe the more natural thyroid meds and have an appt. with her on August 4th. (this will be doctor number 18)... please wish me luck on that as well.

I love you all and could not get through this without you.

hugs,
mood_swinger

mood swinger

I hope you do have a good result with SJW. I, myself find it works really quickly for me and I recommend it to anyone who does not want to risk the bizarre effects of some of the ADs.
I have heard of Perika although I have never used it myself. I always use a liquid tincture because I can then be more flexible with the dose.
There is a great website you might like to look at called Kelly's St Johns Wort. It has lots of info about the different doses and brands and also message boards. Here is the link - http://www.sjwinfo.org/

I have also been having acupuncture for about three years for various menopause related complaints including anxiety and depression. I find acupuncture works excellently for any emotional problems-more sometimes than physical ones so it is certainly worth a try.
However if your depression is due to a low thyroid then surely that is what needs to be put right first? No amount of other therapies will work if your body is not producing an essential hormone.
Good luck anyway

janet c

Mood-swinger, I hope the St John's wort will help you. I tried it a long time ago but didn't stick with it so don't think it helped me. I think I only took one a day at that time, too. Let me know how your appt goes with this new dr for your thyroid. Take care! Pam

I STARTED SJW 5 DAYS AGO. I TAKE 300MG THREE TIMES DAILY. AT FIRST, I THOUGHT I FELT BETTER, BUT REALLY I DON'T NOTICE ANYTHING YET. OF COURSE IT WILL PROBABLY TAKE A FEW WEEKS ACCORDING TO MY RESEARCH. I'M VERY MEDICATION SENSITVE ALSO, SO I WAS SO SCARED. I GUESS FEELING NOTHING IS BETTER THAN TERRIBLE SIDE EFFECTS I WAS EXPECTING. GOSH, I HOPE THIS WORKS..........NEXT STEP BIRTH CONTROL PILL AND I DON'T WANT TO GO THERE!!! KEEP ME UPDATED.

Sending you positive thoughts and prayers that you will find some relief soon from the SJW.

(((HUGS)))
Di

Dear sweet friend
Am praying hard that you get the relief you so desperately need.
I did try the stuff but unfortunately it did nothing for me but there are many ladies who have posted great success using this.Many Doctors say it is as good as Prozac.
Yes I have heard great results from those who have had Acupuncture and sought help from Practising Doctors of Alternative Medicine.

I sincerely hope this works for you
We are all behind you so remember that's a pretty long line!

Keep us informed
God Bless
Warm Hugs
Elizabeth

mood_swinger.....your story is a lot like mine...the depression, the crying....that was 3 years ago. I'm med sensitive too....it was a nightmare. I did go on Lexapro and after 3 month developed side effects but it did get me through the "hump" so to speak. Try anything you can but give each one time to work. If it's not working after a reasonable amount of time then try something else. So many of us have been where you are and it's no picnic.

Will keep you in my prayers.

Hugs,
Karen

Thanks so much for your replies. Today is day 2 and like I said earlier, I am only taking one per day right now. I do hope and pray that I can tolerate it. I feel a little fuzzy headed and doped up plus a pretty bad headache. I am beginning to wonder if the Perika may be too strong and I should just try a "regular" SJW. It is supposed to be very standardized and a lot stronger. I cannot imagine what 2 would do to me. When one is depressed as bad as me, it is so hard to make any type of decision about anything. I so do not want to take this if it will make me worse. Do you think the doped up feeling will subside after I have been on it a while?

Thank you all for sticking with me. I am so desperate to get some relief. I did not expect peri/meno to take such a toll on my mind and emotions. I have never suffered like this in my life.

hugs to all,
mood_swinger

Mood swinger

The reason I gave you the link to the Kelly site is because I have read a lot of posts on there from people who used the Perika and found it was too strong for them. I didn't want to say anything to you because you may have felt ok on it.

Actually I always get a headache and a woozy feeling with regular SJW too. I don't think it will necessarily subside but you will get used to it. I never mind it because it proves to me that it is actually doing something. I find the headache usually only lasts for a couple of hours then fades.I also find I get very sore burning eyes.
Luckily for me I don't usually have to be on it for very long before I feel better!

Maybe if you are finding the side effects too severe you should try a regular SJW. I would recommend a liquid one that comes with a dropper. You just put the measured dose in water. If you find it is too much you can try starting off with a few drops and build up gradually.

I really recommend the Kelly's site. It will cover any question you might have about different side effects, brands, doses etc.

I hope you feel better soon

janet c