St John’s Wort Benefits and Uses
- St John’s Wort for Depression. ...
- St John’s Wort for Anxiety. ...
- Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) It reduces chronic fatigue and aching muscles and joints when it is used along with Ashwagandha and fennel seeds.
What are the traditional uses of St. John's Wort?
St. John's wort has several traditional uses. Greek and Roman medical sources report the use of St. John's wort as a topical treatment for healing wounds and for treating kidney stones, sciatica, menstrual problems and snakebites. During the Middle Ages, St. John's wort was prescribed for diarrhea, fever, gout and rabies.
Does St Johns wort really work?
St. John’s wort was no more effective than placebo in treating major depression of moderate severity, an NCCIH- and NIMH-funded study of 340 participants reported in 2002. The placebo effect is when patients’ health improves because they think that an intervention—a pill, procedure, or injection, for example—will help.
What is St John Wort Good for?
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.
Can you get St. John's Wort naturally from foods?
There are no natural food sources of St. John's wort. What are the risks of taking St. John's wort? Side effects. At recommended doses, St. John's wort generally does not cause side effects. Uncommon side effects of St. John's wort include anxiety, dry mouth, sensitivity to sunlight, dizziness, stomach upset, headache, sexual problems, and fatigue.
Where does St John's wort grow?
What are the chemical components of St John'swort?
Does St John'swort have antiviral properties?
Is St John's wort good for menopause?
Is St John'swort a cure all?
Is St John's wort dangerous?
Can you take St John's wort while pregnant?
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How does St John's wort make you feel?
John's wort are generally mild and include stomach upset, hives or other skin rashes, fatigue, restlessness, headache, dry mouth, and feelings of dizziness or mental confusion. St. John's wort can also make the skin overly sensitive to sunlight, called photodermatitis.
Can you take St John's wort everyday?
When taken orally for up to 12 weeks in appropriate doses, St. John's wort is generally considered safe. However, it may cause: Agitation and anxiety.
How does St John's wort affect the body?
It contains many active substances, including hypericin and hyperforin, which are thought to affect mood. Today St John's wort is mainly used as an over-the-counter remedy to treat mild or moderate depression.
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.
Who shouldn't take St John's wort?
It can also interfere with anti-rejection medications, heart medications, and some drugs used for heart disease, HIV, and cancer. One 2011 study indicated the herbal supplement can reduce the effectiveness of Xanax, an anxiety medication. Wolf noted that pregnant or breastfeeding women should avoid St. John's wort.
What does St John's wort do to the brain?
St. John's wort is thought to work by keeping the brain from using up neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, GABA, and norepinephrine. As a result, the neurotransmitters are more effectively used in the brain. This can have an antidepressant and overall feel-good effect in the brain.
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.
Can you take St John's wort long term?
Therefore, St. John's wort extract ZE 117 is a safe and effective way to treat mild to moderate depression over long periods of time, and therefore seems especially suitable for a relapse prevention.
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 you stop St John's wort suddenly?
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. John's wort.
Can I drink alcohol with St John's wort?
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. John's wort such as dizziness, drowsiness, and difficulty concentrating.
Does St John's wort raise blood pressure?
Additionally, St. John's wort may cause problems with liver function and raise blood pressure. It has been shown to be responsible for an uneven heart rate and an increase in cholesterol levels. It can even lower the seizure threshold and cause other neurological problems.
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 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.
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.
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.
Overview
St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) is a flowering shrub native to Europe. It gets its name from the fact that it often blooms on the birthday of the biblical John the Baptist.
Our take
St. John's wort can be effective for treating mild to moderate depression. However, the supplement interacts with many medications and can cause serious side effects. Consult with your doctor before taking St. John's wort if you take any other medications.
Safety and side effects
When taken orally for up to 12 weeks in appropriate doses, St. John's wort is generally considered safe. However, it may cause:
Interactions
The list below includes some recognized interactions. However, other drugs may also interact with St. John's wort. Check with your doctor before using St. John's wort in combination with any other drugs, especially prescription medications.
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 ].
1. Acts an Antidepressant
The studies believed that St. John Wort effectively manages mild to moderate stress and anxiety, including antidepressant compounds.
2. Reduce PMS signs
Except with antidepressant quality, St. John Wort is far better than a placebo to cure PMS symptoms, adding stress, hormonal imbalance, and mood swings.
3. Improve Mood Disorders during Menopause
John Wort can cure behavioral and mental health, especially depression and anxiety that women face during their menopause period.
4. Relieve Skin Disorders
John Wort has been using it as a remedy to treat skin disorders for thousands of years due to its anti-bacterial and anti-microbial properties.
5. Improve OCD
Thousands of people suffer from obsessive-compulsive disorder as they can’t control their emotions and thoughts. It’s a kind of debilitating condition for a person that must be diagnosed on time.
6. Prevent Cancer
A unique component has been found in St. John Wort during a study capable of curing nonmelanoma and melanoma and acts as a defender by stopping cancer or tumor growth in the body.
7. Good for the Immune System
John Wort has antioxidants with needed compounds that your immune system requires the most. It also fixes the damage done by free radicals causes weak immunity and poor body functioning.
Where does St John's wort grow?
St. John’s wort is a small flowering plant from the Hypericum genus that has the scientific name of Hypericum perforatum, and it grows wild in Europe, but has since spread to the Americas, Russia, Asia, China, and the Middle East. You might know St. John’s wort by a different name, such as rosin rose or goatweed, but they all have the same impact.
What are the chemical components of St John'swort?
The chemical constituents of St. John’s wort include bioflavonoids and a range of antioxidants that can have a significant impact on the hormonal, physical, and chemical behavior of the body.
Does St John'swort have antiviral properties?
New research has recently come to light saying that St. John’s wort has certain antiviral capabilities, which reduce the risk of AIDS, hepatitis, and other serious viral conditions. The only problem with this is that very high doses of it are required for this sort of antiviral effect, which would also cause a range of unpleasant side effects.
Is St John's wort good for menopause?
There are two distinct periods of feminine sexual health that can be challenging in terms of mood swings: pre-menstrual syndrome and menopause. St. John’s wort is widely recommended for women in both these periods, as its chemical constituents have been shown to reduce mood swings and anxiety in menopausal women.
Is St John'swort a cure all?
St. John’s 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 by medical professionals. St.
Is St John's wort dangerous?
These effects generally occur in people with diagnosed bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. St. John’s 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 supplement regimen. References.
Can you take St John's wort while pregnant?
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. John’s wort salves and paste are highly recommended for women suffering from these pregnancy-related conditions. [11]
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 by medical professionals. St. Johns wort is a s…
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 arise with the use of St. Johns wort in combination with certai…
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 neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine.
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 supplements. According to the study, melatoninrich germplasm l…
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 supplement regimen.