Reduces Mood Swings
St. John's wort is well established as a remedy for mild to moderate depression. Since depression can lead to weight gain, and since medications with actions similar to that of St. John's wort have been used for weight loss, some people have proposed that St. John's wort can be useful for weight loss.
Restores Hormonal Balance
Take St. John's wort in the morning if this product causes you to have trouble sleeping. Do not take topical (for the skin) St. John's wort by mouth. Topical forms of this product are for use only on the skin. St. John's wort may increase your risk of serious heart complications or other problems during surgery.
Reduces Pregnancy Pains
The impressive health benefits of St. John’s wort include its ability to treat depression, improve mood swings, relieve anxiety, reduce the severity of pre-menstrual symptoms, ease addictive tendencies, regulate hormonal activity, prevent cancer, protect against viral infections, reduce inflammation, and soothe the nervous system.
Anti-depressant Qualities
John’s wort
- Cures Depression. Depression can be crippling, preventing the sufferer from living a normal, happy life. ...
- Hormonal Balance. As already expressed in the explanation of the antidepressant effects of St. ...
- Antiviral Agent. ...
- Menopausal Mood Swings. ...
- Sinus Congestion and Chronic Coughing. ...
- Keeps Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Under Control. ...
- Wounds and Bruises. ...
Relieves Anxiety
Can St. Johns wort help weight loss?
Should I take St. John's Wort?
What is St John Wort Good for?
What are the benefits of St John warts?
What does St John's wort do to the body?
Historically, St. John's wort has been used for a variety of conditions, including kidney and lung ailments, insomnia, and depression, and to aid wound healing.
What are the healing properties of St John's wort?
St. John's wort has antibacterial properties and may also help fight inflammation. Applied topically (to the skin), it may relieve symptoms associated with minor wounds and skin irritation. Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), social phobia.
What should you avoid when taking St John's wort?
John's wort in combination with any other drugs, especially prescription medications.Alprazolam (Xanax). Taking St. ... Antidepressants. Taking St. ... Barbiturates. Taking St. ... Bupropion (Wellbutrin SR, Forfivo XL). Taking St. ... Certain chemotherapy drugs. ... Certain immunosuppressive drugs. ... Certain statins. ... Contraceptive drugs.More items...
Can you take St John's wort everyday?
A normal dose range would be anywhere from 300 to 1200 mg a day. It's usually taken in divided doses (300 mg three times daily or 600 mg twice daily). The effects of St. John's wort on the body are not fully understood.
Does St John's wort make you gain weight?
John's wort is well established as a remedy for mild to moderate depression. Since depression can lead to weight gain, and since medications with actions similar to that of St. John's wort have been used for weight loss, some people have proposed that St. John's wort can be useful for weight loss.
How quickly does St John's wort start working?
As with other antidepressant medication, the herbal remedy may take up to four weeks to exert an effect. St John's wort should not be taken in combination with other prescription drugs, including antidepressants. If you are taking other medication, check with your GP first.
Does St John's Wort help sleep?
John's Wort can improve many psychological symptoms associated with depression including sleep disturbance, anxiousness, insomnia, apathy, and feelings of worthlessness. Researchers believe the active ingredients hypericin and hyperforin may be responsible for these benefits.
Should I take St John's wort in the morning or night?
It can cause some side effects such as trouble sleeping, vivid dreams, restlessness, anxiety, irritability, stomach upset, fatigue, dry mouth, dizziness, headache, skin rash, diarrhea, and tingling. Take St. John's wort in the morning or lower the dose if it seems to be causing sleep problems.
Can you drink coffee with St John's wort?
Caffeine intake should be limited as well. You should avoid or limit the use of alcohol while being treated with St. John's wort. Alcohol can increase the nervous system side effects of St.
What happens when you stop taking St John's wort?
The evidence on St. John's wort causing withdrawal symptoms is mostly anecdotal. Some people report symptoms like sickness, dizziness and anxiety after they stop taking it abruptly. To be safe, it's generally recommended to slowly reduce your dosage before discontinuing your use of St.
Is St John's Wort good for skin?
St. John's wort: calms and comforts dry and cracked skin, mild irritations and rashes, treats eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis and acne. accelerates healing process of wounds, minor cuts, bruises, bed sores, burns and sunburn.
Can I take St John's wort long term?
Although many people use St. John's wort as long-term treatment, there is little evidence of long-term safety or efficacy. All of the clinical studies have been short (24-26 weeks at the most), and most have been small.
Treats depression
Perhaps its most common use, St. John’s wort is used as a natural antidepressant. Several studies have shown the plant to be as effective as certain prescription medications in treating mild to moderate depression. However, more research is still needed to support the use of St. John’s wort in treating severe depression.
Eases symptoms of menopause
Many women experience undesirable symptoms in the transition to menopause, but St. John’s wort may be able to help. Taking St. John’s wort by mouth, whether alone or in combination with black cohosh, has been found to help reduce symptoms associated with menopause, including hot flashes.
Reduces anxiety
Chemicals in St. John’s wort, like hypericin and hyperforin, can provide sedative effects that work to lessen anxiety and reduce irritability. In particular, studies suggest that St.
Helps with migraines
While St. John’s wort alone has not been shown to reduce the frequency of migraines, early research has shown encouraging results in reducing migraine pain when taken three times daily. Other research has shown that when St.
Speeds wound healing
When applied topically, St. John’s wort can help speed healing of wounds and burns , thanks to the plant’s antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as its ability to stimulate collagen production. For example, research has shown that burns treated with St.
Provides anti-cancer effects
The flavonoids, hypericin, and hyperforin found in St. John’s wort provide the plant with its anti-cancer effects. In studies, hyperforin has been shown to inhibit tumor growth and cause tumor cell death. Likewise, in both in vitro and in vivo studies, St.
Offers antiviral properties
St. John’s wort has antiviral properties have led scientists to investigate the plant’s ability to help fight back against a variety of viruses including influenza and herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2. Studies have shown that the hypericin content in St.
Why is St John's wort called St John's wort?
A wild yellow flower regarded as a weed throughout most of the United States, St. John's wort has been used for medical purposes in other parts of the world for thousands of years. Named for St. John the Baptist (because it blooms around the day of his feast), St. John's wort is continually being studied to try to demonstrate its alleged benefits.
How long does St John'swort last?
Depending on the preparation, St. John’s wort can be taken in any of the following ways: 300 mg three times a day for up to six weeks; 250 mg twice a day for six weeks; 300 to 600 mg three times a day for six weeks;
Does St John's wort affect blood thinners?
St. John’s wort can weaken how well other drugs work, including antidepressants, birth control pills, cyclosporine (an anti-rejection drug), digoxin (a heart drug), HIV drugs, cancer medications, and blood thinners such as Coumadin. Taking St. John’s wort with antidepressants can cause a dangerous increase in levels of serotonin, ...
Does St John's Wort help with depression?
St John's Wort. Many clinical studies have been conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of St. John’s Wort in treating depression. If you surf the web or read your local newspaper, you've probably seen something about herbal supplements, such as St. John’s wort, and their role in treating depression.
Is St John'swort a good antidepressant?
According to several of these studies, St. John’s wort may be more effective than a placebo (sugar pill), and as effective as prescription antidepressants, in treating mild depression. Two studies in the United States found that St. John’s wort was no better than a placebo for treating moderate to severe depression.
Can you take St John's wort with antidepressants?
Taking St. John’s wort with antidepressants can cause a dangerous increase in levels of serotonin, a hormone that affect s mood. This condition is known as serotonin syndrome. Always tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking St. John's wort or any other herbal product. St.
What Are The Side Effects Of St. John's Wort?
This herb seems to be safe if taken by mouth for 12 weeks. Some evidence shows that it might be used safely for more than one year. It may cause some adverse effects such as vivid dreams, trouble sleeping, restlessness, irritability, dry mouth, stomach upset, dizziness, skin rash, headache, tingling, and diarrhea.
Where And How To Buy St. John's Wort?
You can find St. John's Wort in the form of tablets, dried flowers, capsules, tea bags, tinctures, and extracts at many herbal food stores. When buying its extract, choose one that is actually extracted from St. John’s wort flowers and contains at least 0.3% of hypericin.
What is St John's Wort?
John’s Wort is named after St. John the Baptist, the herb contains a rare combination of antidepressant chemicals that can benefit and help improve mood, regulate hormone activity, and alleviate anxiety. If you're struggling with finding your happiness, and have more more bad days than good, then the yellow flowered cluster of joy could be exactly what you’re looking for to improve your mood.
Is St John's Wort good for depression?
As one of the most extensively studied medicinal plants, research indicates that St. John’s Wort can benefit and is effective as an anti-depressant. The exact mechanism of action, works by changing neurotransmitter concentration mainly serotonin, in areas of the brain, that fight depression. Studies have indicated that St. John’s Wort is a valuable remedy for the treatment of mild to moderate depression, and can help enhance mood. Depression affects 3-5% of the world’s population and as opposed to prescribed antidepressants, St. John’s Wort is a natural remedy, which is competing for status, as a standard antidepressant therapy [ R ].
Is St John's Wort antibacterial?
St. John’s Wort is also known to have great antibacterial properties. Used in traditional medicine as a topical wound and ulcer salve, studies have shown that Oleum Hyperici an oil macerate of the flowering aerial portions of the plant reduces both wound size and healing time. Of its active constituents, the naphthodianthrone hypericin and phloroglucinol hyperforin are effective antibacterial compounds against various bacteria [ R ].
What is St John's wort?
St. John’s wort, also known as hypericum perforatum, is a flowering plant of the genus Hypericum and has been used as a medicinal herb for its antidepressant and anti-inflammatory properties for over 2,000 years.
How long can you take St John's wort?
Extensive research supports that St. John’s wort uses are safe when taken by mouth for up to three months, and some evidence suggests it can be used safely for over one year. St. John’s wort side effects include trouble sleeping, vivid dreams, restlessness, anxiety, irritability, stomach upset, fatigue, dry mouth, dizziness, headaches, skin rash, diarrhea and tingling.
How much St John's wort should I take for PMS?
For PMS, take 300–900 milligrams of St. John’s wort by mouth daily for two menstrual cycles. For irritable bowel syndrome, take 450 milligrams twice daily for 12 weeks. For nerve pain, take three 300–900 microgram hypericin tablets by mouth for two treatment periods of five weeks each.
How long does St John's wort ointment last?
For psoriasis, use St. John’s wort ointment two times daily on the skin for four weeks. For wound healing, use 20 percent St. John’s wort in petroleum jelly on affected skin three times daily for 16 days. For menopausal symptoms, take 300 milligrams once daily for 12 weeks.
How long does it take to take 450 milligrams of St John'swort?
For obsessive-compulsive disorder, take 450–900 milligrams by mouth daily for 12 weeks. If you are taking a dosage above 300 milligrams, three times daily, consult your healthcare professional first. Also, it is best to reduce your dose slowly over time, instead of stopping St. John’s wort suddenly.
What are the two compounds in St John'swort?
St. John’s wort produces dozens of biologically active substances, but two compounds found in the plant, hypericin and hyperforin, have the greatest medical activity. Other compounds, including the flavonoids rutin, quercetin and kaempferol, also appear to have medical activity.
Why is the plant wort called "wort"?
And the name was given to the plant because it blooms around June 24, the birthday of John the Baptist, and the word “wort” is an old English word for plant.
Significance
- St. Johns wort has become extremely popular in recent decades as a potential cure-all herbal remedy for many health issues. Unlike other herbal treatments, many of its health benefits have been verified by the scientific community and its herbal supplements are commonly prescribed …
Chemistry
- St. Johns wort can be found in capsule, tincture, oil or raw form. The chemical constituents of St. Johns wort include bioflavonoids and a range of antioxidants that can have a significant impact on the hormonal, physical, and chemical behavior of the body. While the components can be very valuable to human health, there are also a number of side effects or complications that can aris…
Pharmacology
- Perhaps the most well-known effect of St. Johns wort is its anti-depressant nature. It has been widely used to relieve symptoms of depression for generations and is now a popular natural solution that doctors and psychiatrists often prescribe to their patients. It contains a rare combination of antidepressant chemicals that inhibit or delay the reuptake of certain neurotrans…
Uses
- As we already know about the antidepressant effects of St. Johns wort, the active ingredients also have strong effects on hormone regulation in the body. Hypothyroidism is one of the most common thyroid disorders and this herb has been shown to reduce its symptoms and help the thyroid gland release normal levels of hormones again.
Prevention
- During pregnancy, hemorrhoids and other stretched out areas of the body can become very painful. Although it is not recommended to take oral supplements throughout the pregnancy, topical application of St. Johns wort salves and paste are highly recommended for women suffering from these pregnancy-related conditions.
Research
- Cancer research has recently begun putting more faith in the role that St. Johns wort could play. Laboratory research conducted by Susan J. Murch and Praveen K. Saxena, Department of Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada has also shown a definite correlation between the prevention and treatment of leukemia with consistent use of St. Johns Wort supple…
Adverse effects
- Word of Caution: The most common negative effects of St. Johns wort are dizziness, nausea, fatigue, and confusion. These effects generally occur in people with diagnosed bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. St. Johns wort can also be a dangerous mix with a variety of medications. It is essential to discuss your current conditions with a physician before adding this herb to your sup…