St. John’s Wort
What exactly is St. John’s Wort? It is mainly known as an anxiety herb or depression herb. You may not of heard of it before or you just don’t know anything about it. It has become extremely popular in the U.S., especially for treating anxiety. However, there are many other benefits that this herb can provide. Kidney problems, digestive problems, viral diseases, infections, menstrual cramps, influenza and rheumatoid arthritis are some cures from the herb. Using the oil form of the herb is also said to help in healing ulcers. The oil from the flower can also be used externally to treat burns, cuts, wounds, insect bites as well as help with bruises and ear infections. St. John’s Wort goes by many different names. Besides the botanical name of Hypericum Perforatum, some of the most popular are Johnswort, Rosin Rose, Klamath Weed, Amber, Touch-and-heal, Hardhay, as well as Tipton. Since it is taken mostly to cure mild cases of depression people have been known to also call it “Nature’s Prozac”. At one time it was thought to be effective in ADHD but with recent studies the research does not support the claim and is not recommended to treat ADHD.
The plant can be found growing in North America as well as Europe. In both places it is known for helping with the effects of depression and anxiety. Studies and research show that this herb can increase levels of existing serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine which can elevate your mood and can give you a feeling of euphoria. The plant grows to three feet and produces yellow colored flowers. The flowers along with the stem are used in the preparation of this herb. St. John’s Wort can be used in many forms…tea bags, tinctures, oils and capsules. Instead of finding these in the market as antidepressants, they are more commonly marketed as dietary supplements. Among the other herbs, St Johns Wort is at the top of the list in treating with depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders. Even though it is used in the U.S. it is not a prescribed medication. But it is considered a prescribed medication in Europe. Just to give you an idea of how much more often it is used vs Prozac, there are 200,000 prescriptions filled a month for Jarsin (an extract of St Johns Wort) vs 30,000 filled a month for Prozac. Going into more detail we will go into these different forms of taking this herb. Lets start with tinctures. For this the flowers are used in preparing a tea. Start by adding 1 or 2 cups of St. John’s flowers to a cup of boiling water. Let simmer, then strain and drink. In tea form it is recommended to be taken 3 times a day.
Capsules are another form of administering this as an antidepressant. 300MG is to be taken three times a day with meals. But it can be taken up to 500MG per day. You should evaluate the effectiveness after 4-6 weeks to see if St. John’s Wort will work for you. Just know herbs affects everyone differently so if it does not work, there might be a different herb that will work for you.If you decide to take this as an antidepressant you must be aware of some side effects that they may cause. One of these include photo sensitivity (an increased sensitivity to sunlight). So if you are taking this take extra caution in exposing yourself to sunlight. Moderation is the key. Some other side effects may include nausea, headaches, dizziness and a lack of sexual drive in some. If you suffer from high blood pressure make sure you contact your doctor before using St. John’s Wort because it can have a tendency to increase blood pressure. You should contact your doctor regardless when deciding to take any herbs, especially if you have a serious health condition.
Know that St John’s Wort should not be taken if you are taking any prescription drugs. It is possible that the herb may give you a bad reaction if mixed with the drug and either increase or decrease the effectiveness of the drug. A few that have been reported to be affected are Digoxin, Warfarin and Indinavir and birth control pills. Also, not enough studies have been conducted so it is strongly recommended that pregnant, nursing woman or young children do not take herbs.
Where To Get St. John’s Wort
There are many different St. John’s products and many people that sell them. A couple places I’ve shopped that have a nice little selection and good prices are my two favorites Herbal Remedies and HerbsMD. They both have capsules, tablets, tinctures, teas, and powder.
A You Tube Video About St. John’s Wort