st johns wort while breast feeding?

[2SPUNKRATZ]

hi. i would prefer to try something natural for PND. i had a very bad reaction when trying to start anti-depressants so i am quite fearful of trying them again. my sister suggested st johns wort, but she couldnt remember if you can take it while breastfeeding. does anyone know?
also, has anyone tried it and found it affective?

a prompt response would be greatly appreciated as i want to start asap if it seems worth it.

thanks,
jess

[Miaow]

I was told by my chemist that sells a lot of herbal things that you shouldnt take it when breastfeeding as I was thinking of getting some myself. He suggested valerian to me to help relax as mine was more anxiety related - Dont know if that would help?

[faery]

hi
couple of things:
st johns wort can interact with other medications, so you need to discuss it with a herbal practitioner (herbalist, naturopath or integrative GP).
there is no evidence to suggest that it can't be used for PND.
my dp is a herbalist and has used it with good results with people with mild/moderate depression (not PND).
you should go see a practitioner as there is a big difference in quality with st johns wort bought over the counter and the practitioner quality. it would also be good to have to doses monitored and be under someones care to help you with it.
good luck with it. if you want a referral to practitioners in adelaide, pm me and I'll get one for you!

[reAllytee]

I have been using St Johns Wort they dont advise it through pg but b/f i havent been told yay or nay to so i think you would need to have a good talk with your g.p as faery has said.
I have found that because my depression etc has been more than the mild case that it normally helps with so has started to be ineffective so will be going back to antidepressants.
Just because you had a bad reaction to one anti-d doesnt mean this will happen with all & a good g.p will help work out whats best for you etc.
I hope you find the help you need :hugs:

[2SPUNKRATZ]

ok so i looked it up online and it says its been proven good for PND. but doesnt specify whether or not u can use it while breast feeding. i have an appt with my GP tomorrow so i am going to ask him about it then.

allyoo - did you use it while breast feeding? also, i know that i wouldnt necersarily have a bad reaction to all anit-depressants, but the whole experience was so traumatising that i would prefer to try something natural first before trying anything like that again.

i appreciate the repsonses.

if anyone else know more about it then please let me know.
thanks

love jess

[spiritedfamily]

My counsellor reccomended it for depression and when she realised I was breastfeeding, she suggested I ask the pharmacist and he said not to use it.....my counsellor said that a 30minute walk in the sunsine per day helped lift the spirits a little too :)

I also use a homeopathic product called nervatona...it helps ease the nerves and rescue remedy is great too:thumbsup: they can be found at health food shops

[reAllytee]

allyoo - did you use it while breast feeding? also, i know that i wouldnt necersarily have a bad reaction to all anit-depressants, but the whole experience was so traumatising that i would prefer to try something natural first before trying anything like that again.

No i havent i only started a few months ago but i would be wary just as i would with an anti-d.
I totally understand what you mean about the trauma it can cause i too had some bad reactions back a few years ago when on certain ant-d's & it wasnt fun.

Anyways this is what i found :


General information

St. John's Wort acts as a very weak antidepressant (SSRI) and has been shown
to be effective for treating mild forms of depression. There is no evidence that St. John’s Wort is effective for treating severe forms of depression. Toxicity is considered to be quite low and side effects include GI disturbances, headache, insomnia and (rarely) photosensitivity. Because St. John's Wort causes the liver to metabolize some types of drugs much faster, you should consult your health care provider or pharmacist before taking this herb to check for adverse drug-to-drug interactions. Some sources recommend that St. John's Wort should not be used during pregnancy due to its uterotonic effects.


Use during lactation

In a study of one nursing mother taking three tablets of St. John's Wort per day (Klier 2002), the levels of various components of the herb in breastmilk ranged from low to below the detection limits. No side effects were observed in the mother or infant.

Thomas Hale, RPh, PhD, author of Medications and Mothers' Milk, says that St. John's Wort appears to be relatively safe for nursing mothers, but recommends that caution be used. He suggests that other treatments (Zoloft, Paxil) are probably preferred.

Herbals and Breastfeeding (Nice 2000) says that no known contraindication to breastfeeding exists, but suggests that the nursling be monitored for potential side effects.

Ruth Lawrence, MD, in Herbs and Breastfeeding says that breastfeeding mothers should not take St. John’s Wort without consulting their physician first.

Herb expert Tieraona Low Dog, MD, in PDF Herbal Medicine - An Evidence-Based Approach does not list breastfeeding as a contraindication to taking St. John's Wort.

A Review of 12 Commonly Used Medicinal Herbs (O'Hara 1998), does not warn against its use during lactation, but says that it should not be used during pregnancy (uterotonic) or with other psychoactive agents. St. John's Wort can cause photosensitivity, especially in fair-skinned persons taking large doses.

[faery]

if you are looking for advice and don't want to go for a full consultation, try and find a pharmacy or health food shop that has a naturopath/herbalist that does mini consults or gives advice. it will be a free service.
pharmacists generally have little or no knowledge about herbs beyond a basic understanding of the products they stock.
there are some stores that stock a practitioner range of herbs and have qualified staff to help you.
I don't want to slam pharmacists or GP's, but their training is not in natural therapies and generally have a poor view so you may not get the whole story. definately seek out a nat. therapist to help you, even if only in a shop, to work with whatever advice you take from your GP.

I definately agree with you on wanting to use something natural first. it does work for people (despite what the "experts" say). but getting a practitioner range is really important as the quality is far superior to that of the stuff on the shelves
:hugs:

[becca74]

If you are worried about St Johns wort, maybe try taking a zinc tablet each day.....zinc deficiency is a big contributor to pnd.....and taking zinc wont hurt your breastmilk or bubs....it's worked for me :thumbsup: