Home St. John''s Wort (in tea)

[CNOS128]

I was browsing in the tea aisle of the grocery store, and I grabbed a red tea (rooibos) without realizing that it also has St. John''s Wort and Rhodiola in it. (This tea is supposed to make me happy! We''ll see...)
I recall reading several years ago that St. John''s wort can have adverse health effects (or is it just that it can interact with medications?). Does anyone have more information? I''m not taking any medication, or herbal supplements, if that matters.

Thanks in advance!

 

[kama_s]

Date: 1/18/2010 3:16:29 PM
Author:TheBigT
I was browsing in the tea aisle of the grocery store, and I grabbed a red tea (rooibos) without realizing that it also has St. John''s Wort and Rhodiola in it. (This tea is supposed to make me happy! We''ll see...)
I recall reading several years ago that St. John''s wort can have adverse health effects (or is it just that it can interact with medications?). Does anyone have more information? I''m not taking any medication, or herbal supplements, if that matters.

Thanks in advance!

The amount of SJW in the tea is probably very very minimal. The main concern is with drug interactions. It increases a few liver enzymes - CYP3A4 and one other that I can''t quite remember right now - which inturn causes drugs to be metabolised (i.e. broken down and cleared out of your system) much faster. If you''re not on any medication or supplements, then it should be fine. I remember reading something about photosensitization in some people, but it would be with much much higher doses.

If you do begin to take any other medication, be sure you tell your physician about it.

 

[April20]

I know it can counteract birth control. A friend of mine's sister has the daughter to prove it!

 

[jewelz617]

Date: 1/18/2010 6:32:02 PM
Author: April20
I know it can counteract birth control. A friend of mine''s sister has the daughter to prove it!

Ditto. I took a few capsules a day for months after a bout of mild depression. This while on birth control resulted in my now beautiful daughter.

But I guess it worked out in the end, because now I''m so busy taking care of a toddler I have no time to be depressed

 

[kama_s]

Date: 1/18/2010 6:32:02 PM
Author: April20
I know it can counteract birth control. A friend of mine''s sister has the daughter to prove it!

Yes, that''s true. Ethinyl estradiol in most birth control pills is broken down by the same enzyme that SJW increases. So more enzyme, means more of the contraceptive pill that gets broken down and flushed out of your system, i.e., more chances of conception.

That enzyme actually breaks down over 50% of all medications.

 

[asscher_girl]

Date: 1/18/2010 6:55:29 PM
Author: kama_s

Date: 1/18/2010 6:32:02 PM
Author: April20
I know it can counteract birth control. A friend of mine''s sister has the daughter to prove it!

Yes, that''s true. Ethinyl estradiol in most birth control pills is broken down by the same enzyme that SJW increases. So more enzyme, means more of the contraceptive pill that gets broken down and flushed out of your system, i.e., more chances of conception.

That enzyme actually breaks down over 50% of all medications.

OMG that''s scary! I''ve been taking St. John''s Wort for at least 3 yrs and I''m on BC. Wow, PS is a wealth of knowledge

whew!

 

[kama_s]

Date: 1/18/2010 9:18:32 PM
Author: asscher_girl

OMG that''s scary! I''ve been taking St. John''s Wort for at least 3 yrs and I''m on BC. Wow, PS is a wealth of knowledge

whew!

Yikes! You''ve been extremely lucky! Feel free to ask me about any other meds re: drug interactions with SJW.

 

[asscher_girl]

Date: 1/18/2010 9:47:47 PM
Author: kama_s

Date: 1/18/2010 9:18:32 PM
Author: asscher_girl

OMG that''s scary! I''ve been taking St. John''s Wort for at least 3 yrs and I''m on BC. Wow, PS is a wealth of knowledge

whew!

Yikes! You''ve been extremely lucky! Feel free to ask me about any other meds re: drug interactions with SJW.

Thanks Kama! The only other vitamins/suppl I take are: 1 women''s one-a-day vit and sometimes an extra Vit C pill. The St. John''s wort was the only other thing I would take. Do you think there''s anything in the one-a-day vit that could interact w/ BC? Well at least I now know not to take SJW

 

[CNOS128]

Thank you so much for the info, Kama, PinkAsscher, and April!

As it turns out, I made a cup of this tea last night and tasted rather horrible. So, I guess it''s not going to be an issue for me after all -- but I will pass on this information to whomever I give the tea to.

 

[Lindy88]

Hey Big T -- Watch out with St. Johns Wort. While it may "make you happy" it has a lot of serious interactions with other herbs and drugs. Plus, its a blood thinner, so you don''t want it before you go for a minor operation, or it will turn out to be a major operation. Rhodiola rosea on the other hand . . . What an AMAZING herb that is. That''s the real "happy pill." So many people have dreamed of a safe, natural product that could help rid them of minor depression. But, the tiny quantity you get in a cup of tea won''t do it. I take Mind Spirit and Body (or Mind Body & Spirit, I can never remember which it is) which is the best one on the market. It''s pure Rhodiola rosea, and it''s been used for more than 2,000 years in humans without any adverse effects or problems such as St. Johns. I''ve also tried Energy Reserves, which is another one that is quite good. My point is this: Try Rhodiola on its own - just make sure it isn''t a "tea" or something bought at a store like GNC. There''s only a few good ones and most everything else will only give you a tiny taste of the goodness from this herb.