By Ed Edelson
HealthDay Reporter

MONDAY, Aug. 25 (HealthDay News) -- A new study identifies some women -- but not men -- who might be able to stop taking blood-thinning medication for the clotting condition called venous thromboembolism.

Current guidelines call for indefinite use of a clot-preventing drug, most often warfarin (Coumadin), for many people with the condition. But researchers report that they've identified a group of traits in women that indicate a very low risk of recurrent clots, so that medication might not be necessary after a few months.

St. John’s Wort (or Hypericum perforatum to the botanists, herbalists, and Latin lovers out there) is an herb commonly used to combat depression or serve as a ‘mood booster’. However, the herb will not work for every type of depression and is not recommended for use by everyone. In many ways, St. John’s wort presents a number of potential problems, especially for women.