What is St John’s Wort?

Extracts of Hypericum perforatum L. (St John’s wort) are now successfully competing for status as a standard antidepressant therapy. Because of this, great effort has been devoted to identifying the active antidepressant compounds in the extract. From a phytochemical point of view, St John’s wort is one of the best-investigated medicinal plants. Researchers in Europe have studied St John’s Wort for decades. They discovered a combination of elements in the plant, foremost of which is “hypericin”, react with specific chemicals in the brain to temper emotional discomfort, lift depression, and calm the nerves. Working very much likes the common synthetic prescription antidepressants (maprotiline hydrochloride and imipramine), natural extracts from St. John’s Wort have shown to relax and soothe the psyche with minimal side effects. Now let’s talk about st john’s wort benefits.

Works as an Antidepressant

Many studies show that St. John’s wort may help fight mild to moderate depression and anxiety and has fewer side effects than most other prescription antidepressants, such as loss of sex drive. However, there are St. John’s wort drug interactions, so the herb should be taken only under the guidance of a healthcare professional, especially if you already take medications for depression.

In a 2017 meta-analysis including 27 clinical trials and over 3,800 patients, researchers concluded that St. John’s wort has comparable efficacy and safety to SSRIs.” Studies show that St. John’s wort uses seem to work as well as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), a popular type of antidepressant that doctors often prescribe first to treat depression, such as Prozac, Celexa and Zoloft.

Researchers aren’t exactly sure how St. John’s wort works for depression; some have suggested that the herb acts similar to a SSRI because it makes more serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine available in the brain. These neurotransmitters help improve your mood and can be responsible for treating symptoms of depression.

In studies using the rat forced swimming test, an animal model of depression, St John’s wort extracts induced a significant reduction of immobility. In other experimental models of depression, including acute and chronic forms of escape deficit induced by stressors, St John’s wort extract was shown to protect rats from the consequences of unavoidable stress.

St. John’s wort uses also include improving mood in people with seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a type of depression that occurs during the winter months because of lack of sunlight. SAD is usually treated with light therapy, and there is some evidence that using St. John’s wort together with phototherapy works even better as a way to beat the winter blues.

Relieves Anxiety st john’s wort benefits

One of The health st john’s wort benefits extends beyond depression, as they help people suffering from anxiety and mood swings as well. By helping to regulate the hormonal balance in the body, St. John’s wort is able to get the metabolism and internal clock back in line, providing help for sleeplessness, irritability, and chronic fatigue. Eliminating chronic stress hormones from the body can also improve overall health and cognitive function, as excess stress hormones can affect various organs.

Reduces Mood Swings st john’s wort benefits

Another st john’s wort benefits is reduced mood swings. 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. Moreover, they reduce the severity of cramping and pre-menstrual irritation and depression.

Eases Withdrawal Symptoms st john’s wort benefits

It’s perhaps one of the most important st john’s wort benefits. Early indications show that the use of St. John’s wort can be very helpful in easing cravings and withdrawal symptoms after quitting cigarettes, alcohol or other addictive substances. This could prove very useful, as recovery from addiction is challenging. However, additional research on this particular benefit is still ongoing.

Antiviral Agent st john’s wort benefits

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.

Restores Hormonal Balance st john’s wort benefits

As we already know about the antidepressant effects of St. John’s 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.

Anti-inflammatory Agent st john’s wort benefits

The soothing nature of St. John’s wort and the rich concentration of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds make it perfect for easing the pain of arthritis, gout, joint discomfort, and muscle ache. Just as it helps to ease inflammation on the skin and in the gut, St. John’s wort also lowers inflammation in the cardiovascular system, thereby helping lower blood pressure and decrease stress on the heart.

Skin Care st john’s wort benefits

If you use St. John’s wort for topical application in the form of a salve or tincture, it can speed the healing process of burns, bruises, and scrapes by stimulating circulation of oxygenated blood to damaged skin cells.

Reduces Pregnancy Pains st john’s wort benefits

It is yet another one of st john’s wort benefits. 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.

Prevents Cancer st john’s wort benefits

Cancer research has recently begun putting more faith in the role that St. John’s 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. John’s Wort supplements.  According to the study, melatonin‐rich germplasm line of St John’s wort may ease fundamental studies on melatonin biosynthesis, metabolism and new developments in natural products for treatment of cancer.

What Are St. John’s Wort’s Uses?

St. John’s wort was used to treat wounded soldiers during the Crusades, and drive out the “inner devil” in people during Medieval times.

However, St. John’s wort’s history of medicinal use dates back to ancient Greece, where it was believed to possess “magical powers.”

It was also recommended to be used against hallucinations by Paracelsus, a Swiss man considered “the father of chemistry and the reformer of material medica” (among many other nicknames).

The use of St. John’s wort is prevalent in some European countries, such as Germany, against mental health issues like depression. St. John’s wort can be found in other forms such as tinctures, oils or balms that may help promote healing of burns, wounds, insect bites and bruises.

You may also encounter St. John’s wort products such as supplements, liquids, powders and teas.

st john’s wort uses as tea

St. John’s wort leaves and flowers can be used to make tea that may assist in:

• Boosting your mood, relieve tension and alleviating depression and anxiety
• Providing relief against neuralgia
• Alleviating insomnia
• Lessening physical pain caused by localized nerve pains
• Combating inflammation linked to strains and sprains, such as tennis elbow
• Tackling urinary problems like incontinence and bed wetting in children
• Alleviating gallbladder issues
• Addressing menstrual cramps
• Removing mucus from the lungs, stomach, kidneys and bladder

Remember that if you have high blood pressure levels, are taking anti hypertensive or antidepressant medications, or would need to undergo surgery; drinking St. John’s wort tea may lead to adverse effects.Also, do not take St. John’s wort without consulting a health care practitioner if you are on prescription medications of any sort including birth control pills.

st john’s wort uses as oil

• st john’s wort uses to alleviate wounds and burns

Authors of a 2014 Planta Medica article noted that when used topically, St. John’s wort oil or tinctures may help relieve minor wounds and burns, sunburn, abrasions, bruises, contusions, ulcers and myalgia. It’s also possible to use this oil to help relieve cold sores and viral skin lesions.

• st john’s wort uses to combat inflammatory skin conditions

If you’re diagnosed with eczema, psoriasis or lupus, carefully and neatly applying St. John’s wort oil on the affected area may promote a soothing sensation.

• st john’s wort uses to Control oily     skin

Using infused St. John’s wort oil may help you combat naturally oily skin.

• st john’s wort uses to Relieve     muscle and joint pain and inflammation

Rubbing a few drops of St. John’s wort oil onto sore muscles may help alleviate discomfort caused by conditions like sciatica, low back pain, neuralgia, arthritis, rheumatic pains, and tendinitis or nerve pain.

If you plan on using this oil, consult a physician and take an allergen patch test to check for potential side effects. Dilute the essential oil with carrier oil like sweet almond, olive, jojoba or coconut, or add it to other oil blends, since it can deliver a warm, balsamic, herbaceous and sweet scent.

St. John’s wort oil blends well with clary sage, cedar, lavender and lemon balm oils. Precautions and Possible St. John’s Wort Side Effects

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.

Keep in mind that it generally takes weeks or even months for St. John’s wort uses to become noticeable. It is not a fast-acting treatment for conditions like depression and increasing your dose isn’t going to make it work immediately.

You need to give it time. When taken in large doses, St. John’s wort may cause severe reactions to sun exposure, so be sure to wear sun block outside, especially if you are light-skinned.

Taking St. John’s wort is not recommended for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding; it’s most likely safe for children between the ages of 6 and 17, but they shouldn’t take it for more than eight weeks.

Precautions Regarding St. John’s Wort uses

There are a number of health cautions pertaining to St. John’s wort uses that need to be considered before use. Recent research shows these interactions result from the ability of St. John’s wort components to produce intestinal or hepatic enzymes that either remove drugs from the body or metabolize them to inactive forms.

Some cases have found that it can interfere with conceiving a child, worsen the symptoms of ADHD when taking medication already, lead to manic episodes in people who are bipolar or suffer from major depression, contribute to dementia in people with Alzheimer’s disease, and bring on psychosis in some people with schizophrenia.

If you are taking St. John’s wort, be mindful if you notice an allergic reaction, feelings of fatigue or restlessness, increased blood pressure, increased sensitivity to the sun, and an upset stomach.

It’s important to tell your doctor if you’re taking St. John’s wort because it does interact with several medications, including birth control pills, allergy medications, and sedatives, medications for migraines and heart disease medications. Consult your doctor before taking St. John’s wort if you:

• have a bleeding disorder
• are suicidal or severely     depressed
• have a weak immune system
• take drugs for HIV/AIDS
• have high cholesterol
• have seizures
• have a weak nervous system
• are prone to swelling
• have stomach or intestinal     problems
• have cataracts
• have diabetes