Can I Take St John's Wort?

Question

Would you recommend that a man with a little bit of depression use St. John’s Wort in America since there is no guarantee of what is actually in the pills? I read a study this week that said that in a significant percentage of capsules there was none at all of what was supposed to be in there? Is there any way to be sure that what you are buying is the real thing?

Rebecca Ashton · Accepted Answer

Hello and thank you for your question. I am afraid that I cannot advise on the use of medication-natural or otherwise.

However, what I can and will say is that before taking any medication at all-and that includes natural remedies-you should always see a Doctor who will advise you on what to take and how to take it so that you avoid creating further health risks.

For example, there has recently been a lot of attention on the potentially serious side effects of the interaction between certain medications and grapefruit. (More info here; http://www.nhs.uk/news/2012/11November/Pages/Prescription-pills-and-grapefruit-a-deadly-mix.aspx ) so as you can see, it really is important to be aware of what you are putting into your body as well as taking into account any existing conditions you have that could be exacerbated by taking the 'wrong' thing, so I cannot stress enough the importance of seeking medical advice when wishing to start-or stop-taking medication.

By seeing a Doctor, you can also be sure that you are getting the 'real thing' as they will either be able to prescribe you something or discuss in their professional capacity, the brands/types which they know to be better than others.

I hope this helps.

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