Expert: Tonja Wells - 1/30/2006

Question
Hello Tonja,

I am an 42yr old, african amer. architectural draftsman residing in Los Angeles, I have no allergies (that I know) and am taking no prescrip. medicine. I "self diagnosed" myself with mild depression and ADD, and subsequently stumbled onto a book entitled "nutrition and the mind" which proposed that these conditions can be remedied with vitamins/herbs/supplements. Since then I started myself out with additional niacin mostly from bran cererals and then moved to a regime of taking the following: daily in the morning after a small meal.

1. St Johns Wort 900mg
2. Gingko Biloba 120mg.

this formula seems to keep me in good spirits with a nice felling of energy.

My Question is .......... the possible interactions between these two, the long term consequences, and are there other suggestions on diet or supplements to help me with with my "diagonsis"

Thank you
Tom Cole Jr.

Answer
Hello Tom,
I know of no interaction with these herbs. You will want to remember these are plants and not drugs so as a rule of thumb you don't have interactions with herbs or plants like you would a perscription from a doctor.

For depression I would suggest the following:
Chinese Mood Elevator - traditionally used to build liver which helps depression
Probiotic 11 - has been used cleanse off seratonin site.
Something for your thyroid (would need to know your energy level first thing in the Am to know what to suggest here)
and to help you more I would need to know your blood type.

Sorry it has taken so long as the link to this site would not work until now. I have tried for 4 days to send this e-mail and it would not work. Wrote all experts but have not heard back. Hoping at some point this will work as I keep trying every day.

Tonja, CNHP, NHC