St.John’s Wort; Ginkgo Biloba
St.John’s Wort; Ginkgo Biloba Does anyone have experience of using any of these herbal remedies? And if so, in what strengths? I have been taking Arimidex for 6 months now, and am definitely feeling effects of zero oestrogen, not just hot flushes (trying acupuncture for that, with only a little success so far) but cognitive difficulties - really bad problems with short-term memory and word-finding, which are seriously blighting my life. I saw a relative going through the onset of Alzheimers and these symptoms seem to mimic that. I’m not sure to what extent these problems might also be attributable to severe stress, mild depression, etc. The clin.psych.had suggested I try anti-depressants but I am not happy about that (nor is my husband).
I have read that St.John’s Wort is helpful for mild to moderate depression, and I am not taking any medication which contra-indicates it, so I am thinking of trying it. Also I have read about Ginko Biloba being helpful for memory problems of the elderly (I am 61!) so I am also wondering about trying that.
Meanwhile I am taking high strength Chondroitin/Glucosamine for painful joints which are definitely worse since being on Arimidex. No help yet, but I reckon it can’t do any harm and that it may help eventually.
Any help would be very much appreciated.
— Oh boy do I remember the joint pain on Arimidex! I tried acupuncture as I had ‘tennis elbow’ like pain in both arms - I think it did help a bit but so did not over-using the joints. Arimidex stopped working for me pretty quickly (10 months) and so i am now on Herceptin, over 2 years now.
I still have memory problems but my main problem is speech - I can’t find the right words (even although they are right there i cannot recall them) and I have difficulty with spelling when I write - i can look at a word, know it is wrong, but have absolutely no idea how to put it right!
I was a college lecturer so words were my tools of the trade and my inability to recall the right word hits me hard at times.
Sorry JPoet, no solutions and being off Arimidex for ages hasn’t helped me. Re the supplements - i was considering seeing a herbalist (especially since seeing the alternative therapy programme on TV) as I do not feel confident about what to take and how much etc and feel I need guidance. My skin is so dry I could do with help with that if nothing else. Has anyone else got a tame herbalist and benefitted?
Blondie
— —Ages ago there was a TV prog about researching an Alzheimer’s cure. The team found that vitamin B-specifically folic acid I think- produced improvement. Then Japanese research on elderly chaps found that Vit E supplement takers were mentally ahead of the non supplemented. Vit E is best from diet- carrot juice, ground almonds, wheatgerm etc . I do the lot and tho not getting up speed may be the slowdown [am74] is halted/reduced. The other thing is that many ladies complain about memory/word loss after meno and br ca chemo brings the meno on. My memory went phut after mastectomy op- was really frightened- difficulty reading because had forgotten begining of sentence before reaching the end and couldn’t remember five things at a time.Put it down to the amaesthetic. Worked hard at memory games, crosswords etc took supplements and lots came back…
Dilly Thanks for your contribution. (Also thanks for mentioning you are 74: makes me feel less lonely hereabouts at 61!) Rather amused though by your comment you could not remember 5 things at a time: on a bad day I have difficulty remembering ONE thing at a time! You are right about exercising the mind though: I feel more myself when concentrating on writing. Anyway, I am prepared to concede there may be an element of stress-related reaction in the memory impairment, so I am set to try out the St.John’s Wort.
A word of warning My breast care nurse said that St John’s Wort is an oestrogenic herb, and should not be taken if you have had an oestrogen receptor-positive cancer.
This probably needs looking into.
Mcgle
Phyto-Oestrogen? Mcgle
Thank you for your contribution. I must say I have not seen St.John’s Wort included in any list of phyto-oestrogens, including when I was researching quite extensively some months ago for the possibility of using phyto-oestrogen herbs to alleviate the hot flushes caused by Arimidex. However I shall look into this specific point and come back on the matter as others may be interested to know about the situation.
Furthermore… I took Black Cohosh, Dong Quai and Wild Yam through, what was, a very easy menopause, but ended up with ductal oestrogen receptor-positive breast cancer! Did these plant oestrogens contribute? Who knows? But they all hit the bin when I got the diagnosis…
Mcgle
Natures Dispensary jpoet.
I used a variety of herbal/complementary lotions and potions to get me through two bouts of treatments. On both occasions, I consulted Leslie Harris at Natures Dispensary in Oakham, Rutland. She is a qualified herbalist, and from Aloe Vera Juice to grapeseed extract whilst undergoing RT, I found that they really helped.
Here is a link to her and indeed also to other hebalists. Maybe there is one in your area, if not, then a trip to beautiful Rutland maybe on the cards for you!
business.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,10449-937263_3,00.html
St.John’s Wort Thanks for further contributions (and for the invitation to visit Rutland!) I am not looking for herbal supplementation in general as I am already taking quite a bit of that, but help with specific symptoms.
On the basis that it has been trialled successfully for mild to moderate depression, I have decided to give the St.John’s Wort a go, and, to the extent that the memory problem may be partially stress related, I hope it may also help with that.
NB: My further research confirms it is NOT within the phyto-oestrogen group. The nurse previously quoted may have been confusing it with other popular herbal remedies.
j poet Apologies if I didn’t make myself clear. Leslie at Natures is indeed a herbalist, BUT in order to find the right potions that will help particular symptoms, abd not adversely react with any existing medication, it is necessary to see a herbalist who will then be able to advise. The other thing of course, is to contact the Royal London Homeopathic Hospital in London.
I would caution against taking St John’s Wort without a prior consultation with a qualified herbalist/homeopath, indeed, I wouldn’t take any remedy, herbal or not without checking it out first with a professional. There are quite a number of contra-indications with St JW, I know this as I loooked to take it myself several years ago whilst on chemo.
Also… … my bc nurse may have meant that it should not be taken with any anti-oestrogenic prescribed drug.
Warrants more investigation, methinks…
Mcgle
contraindications Softlisa: Thanks for the warning. However I was aware of the need to consider contraindications and have carefully researched that point. I am not taking any substances within the warned categories and am quite satisfied I am safe to go on with it. I shall, of course, inform my doctors so that they are aware of the additional self-medication.
Softusa Hi - I think it was me that wanted the Herbalist not jpoet.
I agree with you that herbal remedies work on many levels as they are complex compounds and need to be handled with care. I too have heard that herbal remedies can lessen the effectiveness of chemo and the last think i want is to go through all the strife of taking that stuff and not get the maximum benefit!!
I have put the feelers out for a good person in the Essex area and will let you know how i get on.
Blondie
Blondie -I did post the names of some herbalists in your area, taken from the following article, but the post seems to have been removed!!
However, here is the link again, and BTW there are some in Essex!! Good luck!
Thanks Softusa
I have taken the details and will investigate. The problem is I would like someone on recommendation rather than just from a list - its a bit like going to the dentist or the hairdressers - you want proof from someone else that they are OK!
Blondie
Know what you mean. Blondie
That is true I guess, although I first went to Leslie in Oakham purely because she had the appropriate qualification and without any recommendation. I think any of the herbalists on that list who are properly qualified would be able to help you. I agree there are a lot of folk out there who simply open a health food shop, but whilst Oakham also sells Dead Sea Mineral shampoo and the like - very good by the way - she makes up ger own potions as well as selling other stuff by people like Solgar.
Some of the things I have had from her include: White Thistle and Artichoke for liver whilst having abdominal chemo. Cranberry capsules for bladder problems. Grapeseed extract, Schisandra, Reiki Mushroom whilst on Radiotherapy to help dispel free radicals. The purest Aloe Vera Gel for radiotherapy burns.
I just like her. She is never pushy, and if she isn’t sure will ask you to come back whilst she researches. If you get stuck, giver her a call, I’m sure she would post.
Why not do a bit of Googling on your symptoms, and see what herbal remedies it comes up with?