Customer Reviews

St. John's Wort: Nature's Blues Buster

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4 star:		(2)
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While trying to decide whether and how to use St. John's wort, I read three books on it and flipped through some others, and I liked this book the best. I appreciated that, although Dr. Cass seems to lean toward "alternative" treatments for depression--including St. John's wort and large doses of vitamins and minerals--she is not ideologically opposed to "conventional" antidepressants, which she also uses in her clinical practice, and so she is able to offer some helpful comments on the relative merits and appropriate roles of St. John's wort and synthetic antidepressants. The book includes chapters on what depression is, what St. John's wort is, how to use St. John's wort, the evidence for its efficacy, synthetic antidepressants, nutrition, and other elements of a "depression-free lifestyle."

(Two other recommendations on depression: Richard O'Connor's "Undoing Depression" and John and Andrea Nelson's "Sacred Sorrows.")

I bought this book (and a bottle full of St. John's Wort!) after two deaths in my immediate family pushed me over the edge of depression. It talks about the different forms of depression, how St. John's Wort helps with the symtoms and who should or shouldn't try the herb. It gives a lot of study cases of people Dr. Cass worked with and also offers some statistical information on research. All of it is put in a very readable and enjoyable form and I finished the book in a couple of bedtime reading sessions (definitely important when you're reading about something that you hope and pray will help you with your current state of depression!) I highly recommend both the book and the herb to anyone thinking they may suffer from depression.

Cass has done a great job of explaining how the natural supplement, St. John's Wort, can work to alleviate depression. A caution that I have is that not all St. John's Wort is made the same. Unless it is processed so that the finest hypericum is extracted, the molecules will be too big to cross into the membranes of the brain for the proper serotonin regulation. She explains the body's need and utilization of St. John's Wort in a comprehensive way. A link to this book would be the site iHerb which gives additional information about hypericum and offers a variety of products/dosages of the flower extract.

This is a great guide to the healing effects of an ancient medicinal plant that has gained great popularity in the last decade based on scientific findings. The author first looks at the problem of depression by discussing the biochemistry of the brain and the relationship between mental and physical health.

St John's Wort (hypericum) offers a gentle way of treating depression and other nervous disorders. Cass discusses the scientific proof of the efficacy of this herb as measured against synthetic antidepressants. The research is indeed encouraging and the plant's mild side effects provide a great advantage over the synthetic medicines.

The author explores the correct dosage for various problems like sleep and seasonal affective disorders (SADs) whilst pointing out the herb's anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and immune enhancing properties. Besides the well-known hypericin, St John's Wort also contains a host of other phytochemicals that play vital roles in protecting cells from damage, in repairing damage and in regeneration.

These ingredients include GABA, carotenoids, flavonoids, hyperforin, limonene, lutein, phytosterols, quercetin, quercetrin, rutin and xanthones. All parts of the plant, the flowers, leaves, stem and the oil are used in healing. One of the possible side effects of taking St John's Wort is sensitivity to the sun in certain people.

The book includes a bibliography, a natural medicine resources list, a protocol for switching a patient from an anti-depressant to St John's Wort and the regulatory status of St John's Wort in various countries. It concludes with an index. I also recommend Mind Boosters by Ray Sahelian and The A to Z Guide to Supplements by Phyllis A Balch for further information on herbal medicines.

This book contains just about everything one wants/needs to know about St. John's Wort. When I read the book, all of my questions were answered, and then some! Dr. Cass didn't miss a thing! In addition, I found the listing of Appendix B - Natural Medicine Resources to be most helpful.

This book provides excellent coverage of a potentially confusing topic. With many case histories drawn from the author's own practice, and detailed how-to information, it gave me, for one, the confidence I needed to use this herb appropriately (P.S.: it worked!).Besides a thorough coverage of St. John's wort itself and the research behind it, there is a great deal of usable information on other supplements and herbs for depression.There is even information on antidpressants, how they work (and don't work), and how to switch from them to St. John's wort.

This is a good book of you want to read about adecdotal and theraputic infromation regarding st johns wort. I found it helpful.

While I am more of a fan of 5HTP than St Johns Wort,this book goes beyond the plant. This book does a great deal to talk about depression and teach people natural ways of improving their minds and lives.

As the Alternative Health guru at Lifetips.com, I am constantly looking for books and products to share with visitors to my site that can help take the mystery or confusion out of alternative/natural healing. This is definitely one of those items.

If you're looking for an easy-to-understand and well-researched book on a natural approach to dealing with depression, then this is the book for you. Dr. Cass shares case histories many might identify with and she has done her homework in deftly explaining the important factors one must understand to deal effectively with depression. She also provides great tips on nutritional steps and lifestyle changes that must go hand-in-hand if one is serious about defeating depression. This wonderful book CAN offer help to those struggling to get a handle on dealing with depression naturally.

I have found this common sense guide to using & understanding St. John's Wort invaluable. This ancient herbal remedy for lifting mood without the high cost of prescription drugs & their often debilitating side effects is the best treatment available for those who will follow Dr. Cass's guidelines. I have shared this book with friends & family. I can't think of a better gift for loved ones who needlessly suffer from Depression!