The scoop on St. Johns Wort

[Jingleballicks]

I looked it up with fruitless results... I did, however find a quote, "it (St. John's Wart)is now becoming a popular alternative to the commonly prescribed medications such as Prozac and Diazepam"
http://www.vitaminandherbshop.com/stjohnswort.shtml

If this is the case, then does it help regulate seritonin? I'm kinda curious as to how it works...

(sorry, I hope this is the correct forum.)

[OneDiaDem]

Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology,
Universitatsklinikum Munster,
Munster, Germany.

ABSTRACT
Extracts of Hypericum perforatum L. (St John's wort) are now successfully competing for status as a standard antidepressant therapy. Because of this, great effort has been devoted to identifying the active antidepressant compounds in the extract. From a phytochemical point of view, St John's wort is one of the best-investigated medicinal plants. A series of bioactive compounds has been detected in the crude material, namely flavonol derivatives, biflavones, proanthocyanidines, xanthones, phloroglucinols and naphthodianthrones. Although St John's wort has been subjected to extensive scientific studies in the last decade, there are still many open questions about its pharmacology and mechanism of action. Initial biochemical studies reported that St John's wort inhibits the synaptosomal uptake of serotonin, dopamine and noradrenaline (norepinephrine) with approximately equal affinity. However, other in vitro binding assays carried out using St John's wort extract demonstrated significant affinity for adenosine, GABA(A), GABA(B) and glutamate receptors. In vivo St John's wort extract leads to a downregulation of beta-adrenergic receptors and an upregulation of serotonin 5-HT(2) receptors in the rat frontal cortex and causes changes in neurotransmitter concentrations in brain areas that are implicated in depression. In studies using the rat forced swimming test, an animal model of depression, St John's wort extracts induced a significant reduction of immobility. In other experimental models of depression, including acute and chronic forms of escape deficit induced by stressors, St John's wort extract was shown to protect rats from the consequences of unavoidable stress. Recent neuroendocrine studies suggest that St John's wort is involved in the regulation of genes that control hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function. With regard to the antidepressant effects of St John's wort extract, many of the pharmacological activities appear to be attributable to the naphthodianthrone hypericin, the phloroglucinol derivative hyperforin and several flavonoids. This review integrates new findings of possible mechanisms that may underlie the antidepressant action of St John's wort and its active constituents with a large body of existing literature.

[Jingleballicks]

...wow.. Damn One, thanks.. but could you speak english ... All I need do now is look up words like:
naphthodianthrone hypericin,phloroglucinol derivative hyperforin, proanthocyanidines, xanthones, phloroglucinols and naphthodianthrones... hehe thanks A LOT, since you were so learned on that... can I ask.. what about Ginko Bilboa... all I know about that is the skin of the fruit will kill you, but they say it has good medicinal properties...

[OneDiaDem]

Ginko

Andrew Purvis


Flanking boulevards and dotted around urban parks across America, the ginkgo tree - also known as the maidenhair tree - is the greenery of choice for American town planners. Not only is it tall, beautiful (with an abundance of fan-shaped leaves) and a shrewd municipal investment (life expectancy: 1,000 years), but it can cope with just about every environmental hazard that nature, industry or al-Qaida wishes to throw at it. Resistant to insects, fungi, viruses, pollution and even nuclear radiation, the ginkgo was the only plant to survive the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. It has existed unchanged in China for 250m years - from the time of the dinosaurs - and was described by Darwin as a "living fossil".

Given this robustness and longevity, it is hardly surprising that ginkgo biloba (to use the tree's full botanical name) is believed to imbue humans with precisely those qualities. In traditional Chinese medicine, the leaves and nuts have been used for 5,000 years to "benefit the brain" and treat conditions ranging from asthma and coughs to chilblains, stomach bugs and hangovers. In the West, ginkgo biloba extract (GBE), made from the dried leaf, is said to boost circulation, slow the effects of Alzheimer's disease, improve mental function, memory and reasoning, and protect nerve cells against the effects of ageing. Ginkgo is perceived as the wonder drug of the wrinklies - prescribed by 120,000 doctors worldwide.It is the best-selling herbal extract in America.

It is also the world's most widely researched herb. Hundreds of clinical trials have looked at everything from its antioxidant qualities to its effects on erectile dysfunction. One of the most conclusive studies was in 1997, when neurologists at the New York Institute for Medical Research found that ginkgo could improve mental function in patients with Alzheimer's and dementia caused by strokes. Intrials involving 309 patients, 27% of those taking GBE had improved, compared with 14% in a placebo group. The researchers concluded that ginkgo could stabilise or enhance mental function in a third of patients mildly impaired by Alzheimer's.

Meanwhile, scientists in Germany reported that ginkgo biloba could aid circulation and ease the pain of walking in patients with "intermittent claudication" - painful blockages of the arteries, also known as "smoker's legs".
All these effects are due to two groups of components: flavone glycosides and terpene lactones. The first are a type of bioflavanoid - crystalline compounds found in many plants, known for beneficial actions such as fighting viruses and reducing inflammation. In the case of ginkgo, the bioflavanoids act as antioxidants, limiting the damage done to the central nervous system by free radicals - compounds associated with ageing. Bioflavanoids also inhibit "platelet aggregation", or stickiness of the blood, and control the tone and elasticity of blood vessels.

The second component group, terpene lactones, increase blood flow to the brain and protect nerve cells. Research with animals suggests that one such compound - bilobalide - rebuilds damaged nerve cells. Together, these two groups of chemicals appear to have a positive effect on many conditions, from bronchial constriction, diabetes and kidney problems, to migraine, multiple sclerosis and depression. However, since ginkgo thins and lubricates the blood, it may be unsafe for those taking aspirin, warfarin or other anticoagulants for circulatory disorders.

In Europe, it is normal to prescribe smaller doses (40mg daily, as opposed to 120mg) to patients in this category. While the dried-leaf extract is considered safe at recommended doses, excessive use can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, skin problems, dizziness and restlessness. Unlike some herbs, which should be taken only for short periods, GBE only works when taken for four weeks or more, and may take 12 weeks to have an effect.

Confusingly, ginkgo biloba nuts (rather than the leaves) are mildly toxic and should not be taken in excess over long periods. However, they are a Japanese delicacy - particularly in steamed egg custard.
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[Tony Blair]

Being quite a herbal guy, (although I haven't really delved anywhere
into the Herbal - E thing), I'll give my experiences on these two..

<br style="text-decoration: underline;">
St. Johns Wort:</span> Makes
you flat. Absolutely flat. Yeah, things dont trouble you so
much, but you dont enjoy anything either. Not worth it.



Ginkgo:</span> Excellent
stuff.. If someone is going to go to Holland and Barrett Skeptical, get
them to try this stuff first. If you eat a bit more than
recommended on an empty stomach, you become quick, witty, and
sharp. 3 things which I like. A lot. Very VERY useful
for boring office meetings.



Another thing about St. Johns Wort: If you eat a lot of it and then eat
E soon after, your experience may be diminished.. IIRC, St. Johns Wort
almost works as an SSRI, so somewhat blocks MDMA.