Mona is a Registered Nurse. A graduate of McMaster University with loads of clinical experience and health education. She has designed and implemented various workshops on healthy sexuality, body image, mental health, breast health, and drug and alcohol abuse. Your mojo not going? Email mona@mybindi.com.

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"What is the relationship between St.Johns wort and depression. Also, what kind of vitamins are necessary for a 24 year old woman?"

- Health Curious

Traditional herbal medicine has definitely made it's way into mainstream Western health care. The literature has become so saturated with data that it can become a little overwhelming to understand even the most simplest point. What I have attempted to do for you is sum up this information, should you want a more in depth look at the use of St. John's wort, I would be more than happy to pass on some of my references!

The use of St. John's wort goes back for over 2000 years, and research does support it's effectiveness in the treatment of mild to moderate depression. However, it is important to mention that St. John's wort is available in 2 different preparations - aqueous alcoholic extracts and oil extracts. Of these two, only the aqueous-alcoholic preparation has clinical evidence supporting it's efficacy in the treatment of depression. In addition to it's effects on mood, research suggest that St. John's wort can provide significant improvements in the symptoms of fatigue, anxiety and insomnia. Also, St John's wort provides a relaxing rather than sedative effect, accompanied by an improvement in cognitive ability. From a toxicological point of view, a daily oral dose of 13mg/kg body weight has been proven to be a therapeutic dose for the average individual.

A fair skinned person on a very high dose of St John's wort (more than 1800 mg/day) should avoid prolonged exposure to UV rays and sun tanning because of a slight risk of photosensitivity (light sensitivity).

When compared to tradition Western remedies for depression (such as Prozac, Paxil or Zoloft), St. John's wort has been noted to have a significantly less frequency of side effects. Keep in mind that St. John's wort may interact with other medications such as antidepressants and digoxin - make sure you talk with your pharmacist or family doctor.

Now, about the vitamins! When questioning nutritional intake, The Canadian Food Guide truly is your best source. A 24 year old woman really should not need vitamin supplements unless her diet is lacking the nutritional needs outlined in the Food Guide. We all remember the four food groups right? The Canadian Food Guide tells you exactly how many servings of dairy, meat and alternatives, grains and fruits and vegetables your body needs. However, let's say that you're a vegetarian, living away from home - it may be hard for you to meet your protein requirements without that good old' dhal. That's when you contact your local public health department or family doctor to get in touch with a dietitian. I do have some contacts for you, but I really would need more detail on your diet. I hope this helps!

Mojo