ok. i am trying this compound out:
herb-pharm.com/catalog/product_info.php

if anyone wants to try it out that is med free it would be interesting to compare reactions.

ing:
St. John's Wort flowering tops
Ashwagandha root
Skullcap flowering herb
Prickly Ash bark


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St. John's Wort
nccam.nih.gov/health/stjohnswort/

Key Points
St. John's wort is an herb that has been used for centuries for medicinal purposes, including to treat depression.


The composition of St. John's wort and how it might work are not well understood.


There is some scientific evidence that St. John's wort is useful for treating mild to moderate depression. However, recent studies suggest that St. John's wort is of no benefit in treating major depression of moderate severity. More research is required to help us know whether St. John's wort has value in treating other forms of depression.


St. John's wort interacts with certain drugs, and these interactions can be dangerous.


It is important to inform all of your health care providers about any therapy that you are currently using or considering, including any dietary supplements. This is to help ensure a safe and coordinated course of care.
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a Conventional medicine is medicine as practiced by holders of M.D. (medical doctor) or D.O. (doctor of osteopathy) degrees and by their allied health professionals, such as physical therapists, psychologists, and registered nurses. To find out more, see the NCCAM fact sheet "What Is Complementary and Alternative Medicine?"

Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is St. John's wort?
St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum in Latin) is a long-living plant with yellow flowers. It contains many chemical compounds. Some are believed to be the active ingredients that produce the herb's effects, including the compounds hypericin and hyperforin.

How these compounds actually work in the body is not yet known, but several theories have been suggested. Preliminary studies suggest that St. John's wort might work by preventing nerve cells in the brain from reabsorbing the chemical messenger serotonin, or by reducing levels of a protein involved in the body's immune system functioning.

2. For what medicinal purposes has St. John's wort been used?
St. John's wort has been used for centuries to treat mental disorders as well as nerve pain. In ancient times, doctors and herbalists (specialists in herbs) wrote about its use as a sedative and treatment for malaria as well as a balm for wounds, burns, and insect bites. Today, St. John's wort is used by some people to treat mild to moderate depression, anxiety, or sleep disorders.

3. What is depression?
Information on depression is available from the National Institute of Mental Health. Here is a brief overview.

Depression is a medical condition that affects nearly 19 million Americans each year. A person's mood, thoughts, physical health, and behavior all may be affected. Symptoms commonly include:

Ongoing sad mood
Loss of interest or pleasure in activities that the person once enjoyed
Significant change in appetite or weight
Oversleeping or difficulty sleeping
Agitation or unusual slowness
Loss of energy
Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
Difficulty "thinking," such as concentrating or making decisions
Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide
Depressive illness comes in different forms. The three major forms are described below. Each can vary from person to person in terms of symptoms experienced and the severity of depression.

In major depression, people experience a sad mood or loss of interest or pleasure in activities for at least 2 weeks. In addition, they have at least four other symptoms of depression. Major depression can be mild, moderate, or severe. If it is not treated, it can last for 6 months or more.

In minor depression, people experience the same symptoms as major depression, but they are fewer in number and are less disabling. Symptoms last at least 6 months but less than 2 years continuously.

In dysthymia, a milder, but more chronic form of depression, people experience a depressed mood for at least 2 years (1 year for children) accompanied by at least two other symptoms of depression.

In bipolar disorder, also called manic depression, a person has periods of depressive symptoms that alternate with periods of mania. Symptoms of mania include an abnormally high level of excitement and energy, racing thoughts, and behavior that is impulsive and inappropriate.

Some people still hold outdated beliefs about depression--for example, that the emotional symptoms caused by depression are "not real" and that a person can merely "will" himself out of it. Depression is a real medical condition. It can be treated effectively with conventional medicine, including by antidepressant drugs and certain types of psychotherapy (talk therapy).

4. Why is St. John's wort used as an alternative therapy for depression?
Some patients who take antidepressant drugs do not experience relief from their depression. Other patients have reported unpleasant side effects from their prescription medication, such as a dry mouth, nausea, headache, or effects on sexual function or sleep.

Sometimes people turn to herbal preparations like St. John's wort because they believe "natural" products are better for them than prescription medications, or that natural products are always safe. Neither of these statements is true (this is discussed further below).

Finally, cost can be a reason. St. John's wort costs less than many antidepressant medications, and it is sold without a prescription (over the counter).

5. How widely is St. John's wort used for treating depression?
In Europe, St. John's wort is widely prescribed for depression. In the United States, St. John's wort is not a prescription medication, but there is considerable public interest in it. St. John's wort remains among the top-selling herbal products in the United States.

6. How is St. John's wort sold?
St. John's wort products are sold in the following forms:

Capsules
Teas--the dried herb is added to boiling water and steeped for a period of time.
Extracts--specific types of chemicals are removed from the herb, leaving the desired chemicals in a concentrated form.
7. Does St. John's wort work as a treatment for depression?
There has been scientific research to try to answer this question.

In Europe, results from a number of scientific studies have supported the effectiveness of certain St. John's wort extracts for depression. An overview of 23 clinical studies found that the herb might be useful in cases of mild to moderate depression. The studies, which included 1,757 outpatients, reported that St. John's wort was more effective than a placebo (here, a "dummy" pill designed to have no effect) and appeared to produce fewer side effects than some standard antidepressants (Linde et al. British Medical Journal, 1996).

Other studies conducted recently have found no benefit from the use of St. John's wort for certain types of depression. For example, the results of a study funded by Pfizer Inc., a pharmaceutical company, found that St. John's wort, when compared with placebo, was not effective for treating major depression (Shelton et al. JAMA, 2001).

In addition, several components of the National Institutes of Health (NIH)--NCCAM, the Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS), and the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)--funded a large, carefully designed research study to find out whether St. John's wort extract benefits people with major depression of moderate severity. This clinical trial (a research study in people) found that St. John's wort was no more effective for treating major depression of moderate severity than placebo (Hypericum Depression Trial Study Group. JAMA, 2002; for further information, view the press release online at nccam.nih.gov/news/2002 or contact the NCCAM Clearinghouse).


8. Are there any risks to taking St. John's wort for depression?
Yes, there are risks in taking St. John's wort for depression.

Many so-called "natural" substances can have harmful effects--especially if they are taken in too large a quantity or if they interact with something else the person is taking.

Research from NIH has shown that St. John's wort interacts with some drugs--including certain drugs used to control HIV infection (such as indinavir). Other research shows that St. John's wort can interact with chemotherapeutic, or anticancer, drugs (such as irinotecan). The herb may also interact with drugs that help prevent the body from rejecting transplanted organs (such as cyclosporine). Using St. John's wort limits these drugs' effectiveness.

Also, St. John's wort is not a proven therapy for depression. If depression is not adequately treated, it can become severe and, in some cases, may be associated with suicide. Consult a health care practitioner if you or someone you care about may be experiencing depression.

People can experience side effects from taking St. John's wort. The most common side effects include dry mouth, dizziness, diarrhea, nausea, increased sensitivity to sunlight, and fatigue.

9. What are some other possible problems with using St. John's wort?
Herbal products such as St. John's wort are classified as dietary supplements by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a regulatory agency of the Federal Government. The FDA's requirements for testing and obtaining approval to sell dietary supplements are less strict than its requirements for drugs. Unlike drugs, herbal products can be sold without requiring studies on dosage, safety, or effectiveness. For more information, see the NCCAM fact sheet "What's in the Bottle? An Introduction to Dietary Supplements."

The strength and quality of herbal products are often unpredictable. Products can differ in content not only from brand to brand, but from batch to batch. Information on labels may be misleading or inaccurate. For more information on safety issues, see the NCCAM fact sheet "Herbal Supplements: Consider Safety, Too."

10. Is NCCAM funding research on St. John's wort, including for depression and other mental illnesses?

Yes. For example, recent projects supported by NCCAM include:

Safety and effectiveness of St. John's wort for the treatment of minor depression
Safety of St. John's wort for the treatment of social phobia
Effectiveness of St. John's wort for the treatment of obsessive compulsive disorder
Effects of St. John's wort on how well birth control pills work
Possible adverse interactions of St. John's wort and narcotic pain medications
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Ashwagandha root -
www.ashwagandhaherbs.com/

Botanical Name: Withania somnifera
Common Names: Ashwagandha, winter cherry
Parts Used: Root (Dried)

Introduction: Ashwagandha is a sweet root with secondary bitter qualities. It is found in India and Africa. and is also called "Indian ginseng". There are no known side effects of this herb. Ayurvedic practitioners have been using Ashwagandha root for thousands of years as a powerful rasayana (a tonic for greater vitality and longevity). The herb has traditionally been used for calming the mind, relieving weakness, nervous exhaustion and arthritis, and for building sexual energy. Ashwagandha root is beneficial to people who do physical labor or exercise a lot to help the body adapt to physical stress. Ashwagandha herb has also been used for strengthening the female reproductive system.

Plant Description: Ashwagandha plant is native to India. The plant is cultivated as an annual crop and this herb can also be grown with in most home gardens. Ashwagandha plant is erect, 30-150 cm high with fleshy roots which is whitish brown in colour. Leaves are simple and ovate. Flowers looks like lucid-yellow or greenish and it contains small berries which is orange-red in colour. Fruits are orange-red, containing many seeds. Florescence occurs in fall and spring.



History: Traditionally, Ashwagandha herb has been used as a sedative, a diuretic, a rejuvenating tonic, an anti-inflammatory agent, and as an "adaptogen" (endurance enhancer). Many Western herbalists refer to this herb as "Ayurvedic ginseng" because of its reputation for increasing energy, strength, and stamina, and for its ability to relieve stress.

Chemistry: Withanolides are the most important bio-active constituents present in roots of Ashwagandha. Withanolides are believed to account for the multiple medicinal applications of Ashwagandha. These molecules are steroidal and bear a resemblance, both in their action and appearance, to the active constituents of Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng) known as ginsenosides.

Ashwagandha Research:
Ashwagandha is one of the oldest medicinal herbs; it was used for several discomforts throughout India.
The total alkaloids of roots have a variety of pharmacological actions. They exhibited prolonged hypertensive and respiratory stimulating actions in dogs. The hypotensive effect is mainly due to autonomic ganglion-blocking action and the depressant action on the higher cerebral centers. The total alkaloids produced a taming and a mild depressant effect on the central nervous system in several experiments on animals. The neuro-pharmacological activity was accredited to the acetone-soluble fraction of the total alkaloids.(Malhotra, Indian J. med. Res.,1961; Indian J. Physiol. Pharmacol.,1965; Prasad & Malhotra, 1968).

In an other experiment, the depressive effect of the alkaloids was attributed to the basic alkaloids in the roots, the neutral alkaloids (3-tropyltigloate and an unidentified alkaloid) showing no depressive effect on spontaneous locomotive activity.

The total alkaloids showed relaxant and antispasmodic effects against several spasmogens on intestinal, uterine, bronchial, tracheal and blood-vascular muscles. The pattern of smooth muscle activity of the alkaloids was similar to that of papaverine which suggested a direct musculotropic action, both as relaxant and spasmolytic. The alkaloids are, however, much weaker than papaverine. This pharmacological activity lends credence to the use of aswagandha in asthma and as a uterine sedative in the Ayurvedic system of medicine (Malhotra et al., Indian J, Physiol. Pharmacol., 1965).



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Skullcap flowering herb
www.mountainroseherbs.com/learn...ap.php

Also known as- Scutellaria lateriflora, Scutellaria, Scute, Blue Skullcap, Mad-Dog Skullcap, and Madweed.

Introduction
Skullcap is an herbaceous perennial mint with ridged leaves and tiny blue flowers, growing 1 to 4 feet (25 cm to 1 m) high. Various species of skullcap are important in Traditional Chinese Medicine as herbs that clear heat and dry dampness. The use of herb dates back at least two thousand years.
Traditional Chinese medicine teaches that skullcap is most useful for "draining fire" from the "upper burner," for patterns of symptoms including high fever, irritability, thick mucus, or hot sores and swelling. The herb is used to "dry dampness" from the stomach or intestines, treating any kind of digestive upset that stifling the urge to drink fluids or causes inflammation of the urinary tract. Skullcap also treats the symptoms of emotional excess "rising" in the body to cause blushing, flushing, irritability, or headache.

Constituents
Baicalein, baicalin, wogonin, wogonoside, neobaicalein, roxylin aglucurenoide, camphesterol, beta-sitosterol, and benzoic acid.

Parts Used
The above-ground parts of the plant, dried.

Typical Preparations
Traditionally used as a tea or tincture; can be used in capsule form. The tea should be drunk hot. Combined with heal-all (prunella) for treating nervous conditions, peony for treating tension in the abdomen during infection. Traditional Chinese Medicine teaches that skullcap should be "fried" (browned in a pan without oil) for use in stopping bleeding.

Summary
Over 100 scientific studies confirm skullcapÍs:
´ Antibacterial effect. The species of skullcap inhibits the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, among others. Skullcap may be useful when there is antibiotic resistance.
´ Bleary effect. Tinctures (but not teas) increase flow of bile and lower cholesterol.
´ Gastrointestinal effects. Teas and tinctures slow intestinal movement.
´ Hypotensive effect. Teas, tincture, and alcohol extracts are known lower blood pressure in dogs, cats, rabbits, and humans. The herb lowers blood pressure by dilating blood vessels, potentially lowering risk of heart attack and stroke.
´ Immunomodulatory effect. Skullcap contains compounds that inhibit the release of enzymes by mast cells, effectively acting as an antihistamine.
´ Temperature regulatory effects. As far back 1935, scientists have confirmed that skullcap can lower fevers.

Precautions
None found

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Prickly Ash bark

www.mountainroseherbs.com/learn...sh.php

Also known as- Zanthoxylum spp (fraxineum and americanum), Szechuan pepper, chuan jiao, Northern Prickly Ash, Ache Tree, Tooth Ache Tree, and Yellow Wood.

Introduction
About 1350, a book entitled the Ri Yong Ben Cao (Home Guide to Useful Medicines) first advised Chinese physicians of the medicinal benefits of prickly ash, also known as Szechuan pepper.
Before prickly ash was used medicinally, however, it was applied in the Imperial Court as the sole anesthetic for the operation by which the Emperor acquired his court eunuchs.
Traditional Chinese Medicine uses prickly ash to warm the "middle burner," the energies in the middle of the body that power the immune response and help digest food. Traditional herbal medicine also uses prickly ash to kill parasites and to alleviate abdominal pain, particularly when the source of the pain is a parasitic infection.

Constituents
Volatile oil containing geraniol.

Parts Used
The bark or the fruit, dried and chopped. The powder is better for poultices than the chopped bark. The chopped bark is better for making teas and tinctures than the powdered bark.

Typical Preparations
Teas or tinctures. Prickly ash powder may be used as a poultice applied to the abdomen to treat abdominal pain (recommended over teas or tinctures for this purpose). Although rare, may also be taken as capsule.
Chopped prickly ash bark can be used to make teas or tinctures when combined with:
´ Ginger and/or Panax ginseng for relieving chronic abdominal pain.
´ Ginger to treat nausea and vomiting in long-term illnesses.
´ Mume fruit and coptis or Oregon grape root for treating symptoms caused by roundworms (usually vomiting).
The seed or "eyes" of prickly ash are used in teas as an acrid, bitter, and cooling treatment for wheezing or swelling.

Summary
Taken internally or externally, prickly ash bark relieves chronic pain. Usually a prickly ash poultice applied to the skin over the area of pain is more effective than a prickly ash tincture or tea taken by mouth. Test the herb on a small area of skin first to make sure you are not among the very few people sensitive or allergic to the herb.

Precautions
Always seek a medical diagnosis when there is acute abdominal pain.
Traditional Chinese Medicine teaches that prickly ash should be avoided when there is fever with profuse sweating, and used with caution during pregnancy. Prickly ash can stop lactation, and should be avoided by mothers wishing to continue nursing.
Products made from the American prickly ash (Zanthoxylum americanum) can cause sunlight sensitivity. This effect is likely to be a problem only if the user (1) takes prescription ACE inhibitors for high blood pressure or (2) eats large amounts of celery or celeriac or takes St. JohnÍs wort. Sunburn can be avoided by avoidance of midday sun or by use of sun block.