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The Prozac Alternative: Natural Relief from Depression with St. John's Wort, Kava, Ginkgo, 5-HTP, Homeopathy, and Other Alternative Therapies
• A comprehensive guide to the use of St. John's wort and other alternative therapies for treatment of depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders
• Offers a comprehensive look at St. John's wort--the most significant natural remedy for depression--including its history in herbalism, current clinical uses, safety, and side effects
• Discusses other natural alternatives such as Kava, Melatonin, and 5-HTP as treatment options to depression
In the early 1990s the sale of Prozac exceeded the sale of all other antidepressant drugs in both American and world markets. But today St. John's wort is recommended 3 to 1 over Prozac as a primary treatment for depression in European countries such as Germany--and its sales continue to skyrocket in the United States. Safe, all-natural, and less expensive than synthetic drugs, St. John's wort is the ideal natural therapy for many people's depression, anxiety, and other related mood disorders. The Prozac Alternative offers a comprehensive look at St. John's wort, including its history in herbalism, current clinical uses, and safety and side effects, as well as how it compares with other natural alternatives such as Kava, Melatonin, and 5-HTP. It also discusses other uses of these natural substances as treatment alternatives to Western medicine for a variety of medical conditions.
• Offers a comprehensive look at St. John's wort--the most significant natural remedy for depression--including its history in herbalism, current clinical uses, safety, and side effects
• Discusses other natural alternatives such as Kava, Melatonin, and 5-HTP as treatment options to depression
In the early 1990s the sale of Prozac exceeded the sale of all other antidepressant drugs in both American and world markets. But today St. John's wort is recommended 3 to 1 over Prozac as a primary treatment for depression in European countries such as Germany--and its sales continue to skyrocket in the United States. Safe, all-natural, and less expensive than synthetic drugs, St. John's wort is the ideal natural therapy for many people's depression, anxiety, and other related mood disorders. The Prozac Alternative offers a comprehensive look at St. John's wort, including its history in herbalism, current clinical uses, and safety and side effects, as well as how it compares with other natural alternatives such as Kava, Melatonin, and 5-HTP. It also discusses other uses of these natural substances as treatment alternatives to Western medicine for a variety of medical conditions.
160 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1998
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May 23, 2024
AN OVERVIEW OF ST. JOHN’S WORT, AND REJECTION OF PROZAC, ETC.
Author Ray Knishinsky wrote about St. John’s Wort in the first chapter of this 1998 book, “St. John’s wort is already the favored therapy for depression in Germany, where it has been used therapeutically for centuries. Prepared as a tea, the herb was taken to calm frazzled nerves and revive a depressed spirit. It was also made into oil, which was sometimes used topically to relieve skim problems. True to its folklore, an assortment of new clinical studies report that St. John’s wort provides measurable relief to people with mild and moderate depression without the side effects of drugs like Prozac.” (Pg. 1)
He continues, “Prozac costs, on average, one hundred dollars a month, while St. John’s wort, on the less expensive side, costs only about fifteen dollars a month. For someone on a tight budget, the herbal remedy may be a lifesaver. In addition, it is easily accessible since it is readily available without a prescription.” (Pg. 2)
He explains, “In Germany, where the bulk of the research on St. John’s wort was conducted, the herbal remedy claims more than 50 percent of the antidepressant market, while Prozac claims only 2 percent. In stark contrast to the situation in Germany, Prozac currently dominates the $6 billion worldwide market for antidepressants. St. John’s wort is the first herbal treatment for depression that the medical establishment is taking seriously, and it has received the endorsements of several of the top medical and scientific journals.” (Pg. 5)
He states, “Herbs have always been an important part of medicine and were used by folk healers and physicians alike… Currently, approximately 25 percent of all prescription drugs are still derived from shrubs, herbs, or trees. The World Health Organization notes that 119 plant-derived pharmaceutical medicines, about 74 percent are used by modern medicine in ways that correlate directly with their traditional uses as plant medicines by native cultures. Some of today’s drugs are prepared from plant extracts, and others are synthetic derivatives that imitate the natural plant compounds.” (Pg. 7)
He acknowledges, “pharmacologists and doctors readily acknowledge that there is a notable lack of information available on [St. John’s wort]. No long-term clinical studies have yet been performed on the herb, so there is no information on the herb’s effectiveness over a long period of time, and whether the herb can function as a maintenance treatment is still in question. In addition, ideal dosage levels have not been adequately addressed, and the herb’s ability to treat severe forms of depression, such as bipolar disorder, is unknown. The matter of side effects also remains unresolved; St. John’s wort has at least one known side effect thus far, and increase in photosensitivity. But these unanswered questions are stimulating a fantastic number of new clinical studies and have not deterred people from purchasing the herb. Indeed, the number of people searching for an alternative remedy to depression has catapulted.” (Pg. 39)
Later, he adds, “Clinical studies have not recommended a specific time frame for treatment with St. John’s wort. Since no long-term research on hypericum has been conducted thus far, no doctors or scientists have been able to provide a definitive answer. Therefore, the length of treatment will vary from person to person.” (Pg. 75)
He states, “For thousands of years, traditional herbalists have not limited the use of St. John’s wort to its effect on the emotions and the brain. It has been widely used in the treatment of a variety of physiological disorders. Its most original and fundamental role in the healing process includes its employment as a natural antibiotic, wound healer, antiviral, cancer fighter, anti-inflammatory, and pain reliever. Additionally, the herb has potent cardiovascular effects and is useful in the treatment of chronic tension headaches. Today, St. John’s wort continues to be prescribed for these purposes, and science now confirms the various medicinal uses of St. John’s word previously recorded by folk healers.” (Pg. 91)
He explains, “Approximately 200 million years old, Ginkgo biloba is the last surviving member of the ginkgo family… Now dubbed by herbalists around the world as the ‘living fossil,’ ginkgo has been used in Chinese botanical medicine for over 5,000 years and has been cultivated as a sacred herb. The common name ‘ginkgo’ is a phonetic pronunciation of a Japanese word for tree. The species name ‘biloba’ refers to two distinct lobes of the leaves, which resemble a fan… For medicinal purposes, Ginkgo biloba has been developed into a standardized extract to ensure the potency of the major active chemicals in the ginkgo leaves… The reason for the herb’s popularity is its demonstrated influence on cerebral vascular insufficiency. In Germany, ginkgo is licensed for the treatment of cerebral dysfunction for symptoms including difficulty with memory, dizziness, tinnitus, headaches, and emotional instability coupled with anxiety.” (Pg. 111-112)
This book will be of keen interest to persons researching St. John’s wort.
Author Ray Knishinsky wrote about St. John’s Wort in the first chapter of this 1998 book, “St. John’s wort is already the favored therapy for depression in Germany, where it has been used therapeutically for centuries. Prepared as a tea, the herb was taken to calm frazzled nerves and revive a depressed spirit. It was also made into oil, which was sometimes used topically to relieve skim problems. True to its folklore, an assortment of new clinical studies report that St. John’s wort provides measurable relief to people with mild and moderate depression without the side effects of drugs like Prozac.” (Pg. 1)
He continues, “Prozac costs, on average, one hundred dollars a month, while St. John’s wort, on the less expensive side, costs only about fifteen dollars a month. For someone on a tight budget, the herbal remedy may be a lifesaver. In addition, it is easily accessible since it is readily available without a prescription.” (Pg. 2)
He explains, “In Germany, where the bulk of the research on St. John’s wort was conducted, the herbal remedy claims more than 50 percent of the antidepressant market, while Prozac claims only 2 percent. In stark contrast to the situation in Germany, Prozac currently dominates the $6 billion worldwide market for antidepressants. St. John’s wort is the first herbal treatment for depression that the medical establishment is taking seriously, and it has received the endorsements of several of the top medical and scientific journals.” (Pg. 5)
He states, “Herbs have always been an important part of medicine and were used by folk healers and physicians alike… Currently, approximately 25 percent of all prescription drugs are still derived from shrubs, herbs, or trees. The World Health Organization notes that 119 plant-derived pharmaceutical medicines, about 74 percent are used by modern medicine in ways that correlate directly with their traditional uses as plant medicines by native cultures. Some of today’s drugs are prepared from plant extracts, and others are synthetic derivatives that imitate the natural plant compounds.” (Pg. 7)
He acknowledges, “pharmacologists and doctors readily acknowledge that there is a notable lack of information available on [St. John’s wort]. No long-term clinical studies have yet been performed on the herb, so there is no information on the herb’s effectiveness over a long period of time, and whether the herb can function as a maintenance treatment is still in question. In addition, ideal dosage levels have not been adequately addressed, and the herb’s ability to treat severe forms of depression, such as bipolar disorder, is unknown. The matter of side effects also remains unresolved; St. John’s wort has at least one known side effect thus far, and increase in photosensitivity. But these unanswered questions are stimulating a fantastic number of new clinical studies and have not deterred people from purchasing the herb. Indeed, the number of people searching for an alternative remedy to depression has catapulted.” (Pg. 39)
Later, he adds, “Clinical studies have not recommended a specific time frame for treatment with St. John’s wort. Since no long-term research on hypericum has been conducted thus far, no doctors or scientists have been able to provide a definitive answer. Therefore, the length of treatment will vary from person to person.” (Pg. 75)
He states, “For thousands of years, traditional herbalists have not limited the use of St. John’s wort to its effect on the emotions and the brain. It has been widely used in the treatment of a variety of physiological disorders. Its most original and fundamental role in the healing process includes its employment as a natural antibiotic, wound healer, antiviral, cancer fighter, anti-inflammatory, and pain reliever. Additionally, the herb has potent cardiovascular effects and is useful in the treatment of chronic tension headaches. Today, St. John’s wort continues to be prescribed for these purposes, and science now confirms the various medicinal uses of St. John’s word previously recorded by folk healers.” (Pg. 91)
He explains, “Approximately 200 million years old, Ginkgo biloba is the last surviving member of the ginkgo family… Now dubbed by herbalists around the world as the ‘living fossil,’ ginkgo has been used in Chinese botanical medicine for over 5,000 years and has been cultivated as a sacred herb. The common name ‘ginkgo’ is a phonetic pronunciation of a Japanese word for tree. The species name ‘biloba’ refers to two distinct lobes of the leaves, which resemble a fan… For medicinal purposes, Ginkgo biloba has been developed into a standardized extract to ensure the potency of the major active chemicals in the ginkgo leaves… The reason for the herb’s popularity is its demonstrated influence on cerebral vascular insufficiency. In Germany, ginkgo is licensed for the treatment of cerebral dysfunction for symptoms including difficulty with memory, dizziness, tinnitus, headaches, and emotional instability coupled with anxiety.” (Pg. 111-112)
This book will be of keen interest to persons researching St. John’s wort.
January 26, 2015
An article stretched out into a book. Basically says that St John's Wort outscores placebos. No case histories. The scientific information more apropos for pre-med or above students; it's above average lay readers' level.
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