St. John's Wort

The medicinal herb St. John's Wort as an alternative herbal remedy for mental disorders and nerve pain. - St. John's wort is a plant with yellow flowers.Common Names--St. John's wort, hypericum, Klamath weed, goat weed

Latin Name--Hypericum perforatum Picture of St. John's Wort Flower What St. John's Wort Is Used For St. John's wort has been used for centuries as an herbal remedy to treat mental disorders and nerve pain. In ancient times, herbalists wrote about its use as a sedative and a treatment for malaria, as well as a balm for wounds, burns, and insect bites. Today, St. John's wort is used by some for depression, anxiety, and/or sleep disorders.

St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum) is listed as a safe and effective herb with the German Commission E. There are many clinical trials which support the effectiveness of this herb in maintaining stable healthy levels of neurotransmitters responsible for healthy mood, sleep, concentration, libido, and general feelings of well-being. (Shelton, R. C., Keller, M. B., Gelenberg, A., Dunner, D. L., Hirschfeld, R., Thase, M. E., Russell, J., Lydiard, R. B., Crits-Cristoph, P., Gallop, R., Todd, L., Hellerstein, D., Goodnick, P., Keitner, G., Stahl, S. M., and Halbreich, U. "Effectiveness of St John's wort in major depression: a randomized controlled trial." JAMA 4-18-2001;285(15):1978-1986.)

How St. John's Wort Is Used

The flowering tops of St. John's wort are used to prepare teas and tablets containing concentrated extracts.

What the Science Says about St. John's Wort

There is some scientific evidence that St. John's wort is useful for treating mild to moderate depression. However, two large studies, one sponsored by NCCAM, showed that the herb was no more effective than placebo in treating major depression of moderate severity.
NCCAM is studying the use of St. John's wort in a wider spectrum of mood disorders, including minor depression.
A 2009 systematic review of 29 international studies suggested that St. John’s wort may be better than a placebo (an inactive substance that appears identical to the study substance) and as effective as standard prescription antidepressants for major depression of mild to moderate severity. St. John’s wort also appeared to have fewer side effects than standard antidepressants. The studies conducted in German-speaking countries—where St. John’s wort has a long history of use by medical professionals—reported more positive results than those done in other countries, including the United States.
Two studies, both sponsored by NCCAM and the National Institute of Mental Health, did not have positive results. Neither St. John’s wort nor a standard antidepressant medication decreased symptoms of minor depression better than a placebo in a 2011 study. The herb was no more effective than placebo in treating major depression of moderate severity in a large 2002 study.
Preliminary studies suggest that St. John’s wort may prevent nerve cells in the brain from reabsorbing certain chemical messengers, including dopamine and serotonin. Scientists have found that these naturally occurring chemicals are involved in regulating mood, but they are unsure exactly how they work.

Side Effects and Cautions of St. John's Wort

St. John's wort may cause increased sensitivity to sunlight. Other side effects can include anxiety, dry mouth, dizziness, gastrointestinal symptoms, fatigue, headache, or sexual dysfunction.
Research shows that St. John's wort interacts with some drugs. The herb affects the way the body processes or breaks down many drugs; in some cases, it may speed or slow a drug's breakdown. Drugs that can be affected include: Indinavir and possibly other drugs used to control HIV infection Irinotecan and possibly other drugs used to treat cancer Cyclosporine, which prevents the body from rejecting transplanted organs Digoxin, which strengthens heart muscle contractions Warfarin and related anticoagulants Birth control pills Antidepressants
When combined with certain antidepressants, St. John's wort may increase side effects such as nausea, anxiety, headache, and confusion.
St. John's wort is not a proven therapy for depression. If depression is not adequately treated, it can become severe. Anyone who may have depression should see a health care provider. There are effective proven therapies available.
It is important to inform your health care providers about any herb or dietary supplement you are using, including St. John's wort. This helps to ensure safe and coordinated care.

Herbal Products with St. John's Wort as part of its ingredients

Serenite-LT™ - Herbal remedy to promote healthy sleep patterns for restful nights & refreshed mornings
- Supports ongoing sleep health, naturally
- Maintains a healthy sleep cycle and regular deep, satisfying sleep
- Supports emotional well-being and a positive outlook
- Maintains a healthy balance of serotonin levels
MindSoothe™ - Herbal remedy proven to relieve symptoms of depression such as lack of sleep & appetite, plus promote emotional health
- Relieves feelings of depression
- Improves low self-esteem
- Reduces excessive tearfulness
- Regulates disturbed sleep patterns (insomnia or hypersomnia)
- Improves loss of libido
- Lessens fatigue and boosts motivation
- Reduces irritability and anger
- Improves disturbed appetite (loss of appetite or binge eating)
BladderWell™ - Homeopathic remedy relieves urinary tract infection symptoms including burning sensation & frequent urination
- Relieves the sensation of burning while urinating
- Eliminates the urge for frequent urination while passing minimal urine
- Lessens bloating and assists the body with natural water balance
- Decreases lower back pain
- Supports the muscles of the bladder to retain bladder strength

St. John's Wort and Depression

Depression is a serious medical illness. Low spirits or vitality. Gloomy or Sad. Deep dejection characterized by withdrawal and lack of response to stimulation. It is a serious medical illness. It’s more than just feeling "down in the dumps" or "blue" for a few days. It’s feeling "down" and "low" and "hopeless" for weeks at a time.

Symptoms or signs of Depression

Low self esteem
- Few of the synonyms of depression are the lack of self-esteem, self-worth, self-regard, self-respect, self-love, and self-integrity.
Excessive tearfulness
- Feelings get hurt almost without reason. Sadness sets in without warning.
Disturbed sleep patterns (insomnia or hypersomnia)
Disturbed appetite (either loss of appetite or binge eating)
Loss of libido
Fatigue and loss of interest and motivation; Low spirits or vitality.
- No motivation to do chores. Loss of interest in favorite hobbies.
Irritability and anger
- There are many reasons for feeling angry, frustrated and depressed. Fluctuating hormones or lack of sleep can be some causes, while having too many responsibilities and not enough time to get everything done is another. For mild cases of irritability there are exercises, supplements and herbs (MindSoothe) that can calm runaway emotions, but for more severe cases prescription medication and counseling may be the best bet.
Anxiety and Panic attacks
- Sufferers of panic attacks often report a fear or sense of dying, "going crazy", or experiencing a heart attack or "flashing vision", feeling faint or nauseated, heavy breathing, or losing control of themselves.
Obsessive thoughts and other symptoms of OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder).

News About St. John's Wort

Weekly Dose: St John’s Wort, the flower that can treat depression

Source:http://theconversation.com/weekly-dose-st-johns-wort-the-flower-that-can-treat-depression-56066

By Joanna Harnett

St John’s Wort, botanical name Hypericum perforatum, is considered a weed in temperate climates outside its native homelands of Europe, Asia and North Africa. The flowering tops and aerial parts of the plant are used medicinally in the form of tinctures and tablets to treat a number of conditions affecting the nervous and immune systems.

Records of the medicinal use of St John’s Wort date back to ancient Greece. It is believed Dioscorides and Hippocrates used it to cleanse the body of evil spirits. Since the times of the Swiss physician and botanist Paracelsus (1493-1541), St John’s Wort has traditionally been used to treat nerve pain, anxiety, neurosis and depression and externally for bruises, wounds and shingles.

Weekly Dose

How is it used today?

In modern times, St John’s Wort has been shown to be as effective as placebo and standard antidepressants in the treatment of mild to moderate depression.

In Australia, St John’s Wort is mainly purchased through pharmacies and health food stores with or without the guidance of a health-care professional.

The St John’s Wort products vary in the amount of key constituents they contain. Only a few products actually match what was trialled in the studies with positive clinical outcomes. Variations in the active constituent content will affect the strength and effectiveness of the medicine and its possible safety.

It has become more common for complementary medicine manufacturers to include a standardised amount of the herb constituents on the label. The daily dose range for total hypericin content is 0.75mg to 2.7mg of hypericin daily. The published studies generally used standardised extracts to contain 0.3% hypericin and 2-5% hyperforin.

In 2000, St John’s Wort made up 25% of all antidepressant prescriptions in Europe. A more recent Australian study reported 4.3% or 17,780 patients who had visited a GP for depression had taken or were taking St John’s Wort.

How does it work?

St John’s Wort has been reported as containing many constituents and demonstrating multiple and simultaneous mechanisms of action.

While individual key constituents have been identified as hypericin (a naturally occurring substance with a few different applications including antidepressive), pseudohypericin and hyperforin (a phytochemical produced in some plants), collectively they exert a number of pharmacological effects including antidepressant activity.

The hypericin and flavonoids (namely hyperforin) and other flavonoid molecules that are found in some fruits and vegetables are thought to play a role in exerting an antidepressant effect by altering nerve chemical messengers known as neurotransmitters. It is considered important available products contain standardised amounts of these components.

St John’s Wort has been shown in non-human studies to assist in keeping the circulating levels of four key neurotransmitters (serotonin, noradrenaline, dopamine and gamma-aminobutyric acid) at levels that improve depressive symptoms.

This is a very distinctive feature of St John’s Wort. No other drug has been demonstrated to affect all four of these chemical messengers with similar potencies. Studies comparing the effectiveness of St John’s Wort with different classes of other anti-depressants that target these neurotransmitters support the proposed multi-targeted mechanism of action of St John’s Wort.

Antidepressants Citalopram (Celexa) and Sertraline (Zoloft) belong to a class of antidepressants known as selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs). These block the reabsorption of the neurotransmitter serotonin in the brain, making more serotonin available to assist the brain cells to send and receive chemical messages. This in turn boosts mood.

A high-standard systematic review conducted in 2009 concluded St John’s Wort extract was superior to placebo in patients with major depression and similarly effective to standard treatment with SSRIs. They also found fewer people taking St John’s Wort discontinued their treatment. This was due to them experiencing fewer side effects.

The same review also found no significant difference in the effectiveness of St John’s Wort and the older class of antidepressants known as “tri-cyclic”. These work by blocking the absorption of serotonin to improve their availability for sending and receiving chemical messages that improve our mood.

St John’s Wort was reported as more effective in German studies compared to those in non-European-based populations, but it is thought these results were over-optimistic.

Safety and side-effects

Like standard antidepressants, it may take up to four weeks to judge how effective St John’s Wort has been. It is generally well tolerated, but adverse effects may occur. These include mild gastrointestinal symptoms, skin reactions, increased sensitivity to sunlight, fatigue, sedation, restlessness, dizziness, headache and dry mouth.

St John’s Wort affects enzymes in the gastrointestinal tract and liver that are involved in drug metabolism. It can reduce how much of a drug is available in the body by reducing how much is absorbed and excreted. Therefore the potential effectiveness of many drugs can be limited.

This includes drugs used to treat serious conditions such as AIDs, cancer and epilepsy. St John’s Wort can also reduce the effectiveness of the oral contraceptive pill. It should not be taken along with standard antidepressant drugs.

Anyone suspecting they may have symptoms of depression should consult their doctor to ensure a correct diagnosis is made. The use of St John’s Wort should be guided by a health-care professional who is knowledgeable about the quality of available products, effective dosing and safety considerations, including known drug interactions associated with its use.

Your health: St John's Wort and the Pill

Source:http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=11537651

By Sandra Clair

"I liked your column last week and want to try plant medicine. I'm stressed and have low moods. Can I take St. John’s Wort? I take the pill and have heard some conflicting information."

The safety of St. John's Wort is a very topical question as it is one of the most used medicinal plants worldwide. In European countries it is available as a prescription medicine and outsells pharmaceutical anti-depressants.

Numerous studies have shown that it is equivalent in effectiveness to synthetic selective serontoin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in mild to moderate depression but has a better safety profile and is very well tolerated. Nevertheless, this herb has had a lot of attention due to its alleged ability to interact with pharmaceutical medication.

One of the most common concerns that people have is if it is OK to take St. John's Wort alongside other medication, such as the oral contraceptive pill. Considering that millions of people worldwide take St. John's Wort, many of them women on the Pill, reports of actual herb-drug interactions and side effects are very rare.

Many of the initial and even current concerns raised were based on theoretical considerations, test tube experiments or studies that used chemically purified single constituents of St.

John's Wort instead of testing the whole plant in real people.

Interestingly, the herb-drug interaction issue only became prominent in the late 1990's, when some German manufacturers artificially stabilised and concentrated the hyperforin content of their St. John's Wort tablets, as they believed that this active constituent was responsible for the anti-depressant action. All other remedies did not any show herb-drug interactions.

High levels of hyperforin can induce cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes, a detoxification system which the journal Science nicknamed the 'garbage disposal' system of the liver and small intestine.

The job of these enzymes is to protect the body against toxins and xenobiotics - that's a good thing! However, they also clear out certain synthetic drugs with a therapeutic narrow window faster than intended, which leads to lower blood concentrations of the drug and compromises its efficacy.

Hyperforin is a constituent which degrades quickly, and the amount needed to induce the P450 enzyme pathways are not found in traditional preparations such as medicinal teas or ethanol extracts used in oral liquids. There is also no interaction between a topical formulation, for example a herbal cream or oil containing St. John's Wort and a pharmaceutical drug.

It is the type of preparation (standardised tablet versus traditional tea or liquid), the dosage, and the concentration of hyperforin that will determine if the St. John's Wort remedy has herb-drug interaction potential or not. Scientific studies confirmed that there are not safety concerns in remedies with less than 3.5mg of hyperforin, which means that they can be safely taken in conjunction with pharmaceutical drugs.

Because reliable contraception is crucial for the peace of mind of many women, further scientific studies were undertaken to test contraceptive cover in women who took concurrently the Pill and St. John's Wort.

They established that St John's Wort does not change hormonal levels or reduce the effectiveness of the Pill, meaning that all women in the trials maintained full protection when taking a low-dose pill and St John's Wort together. However, there was a higher rate of breakthrough bleeding in the St. John's Wort groups. Women should always take their pill, even if breakthrough bleeding occurs. There is no evidence of a mass outbreak of unwanted pregnancies in women taking St John's Wort.

In March of 2014, Medsafe New Zealand confirmed that St John's Wort, which is low in hyperforin is unlikely to produce interactions. The Swiss government made the same declaration in 2002.

Unfortunately, Medsafe also stated that "...most products contain 3 per cent [this should have said 3mg] hyperforin", however this is not the case in the New Zealand market.

Registered medical herbalists are well versed in the safe use of St. John's Wort and can be contacted via the official website of the New Zealand Association of Medical Herbalists.

St John's Wort is one of the most widely used and researched herbs in the world. As a traditional preparation, it has an excellent safety and efficacy record. You can feel confident using this stress relieving, energising and uplifting herb, even when you are on the Pill.

Is St. John's Wort Safe During Pregnancy?

Source:https://www.verywell.com/is-st-johns-wort-safe-during-pregnancy-1066690

By Nancy Schimelpfening

Question: Is St. John's Wort a safe alternative to prescription medications during pregnancy?

Answer: Right now it's simply not known if the herbal antidepressant St. John's wort, also known as Hypericum perforatum, is safe during pregnancy. The data that are available are from in vitro studies (those performed outside a living animal, for example, in a test tube), animal studies, or isolated case reports of women who took it during pregnancy.

Some in vitro studies have shown genetic damage to mammalian cell lines exposed to high Hypericum extract concentrations. Others have shown impaired sperm motility, decreased sperm penetration of the egg, and denaturation of sperm DNA with exposure to very high concentrations of Hypericum extract.

Two controlled trials in mice demonstrated a significant reduction in birth weight of mice exposed to St. John's wort in the uterus, but no difference in neurobehavioral development or reproductive capacity. Another similar study in rats showed that female rats exposed to Hypericum prenatally required more time to learn a new maze task. The clinical relevance of this, however, is uncertain. One randomized, blinded trial on rats showed reduced size and reduced number of somites in rats exposed to hypericin, a substance found in St. John's wort. There is also some evidence that St. John's wort can cause birth defects in unborn rats.

The two human case reports of women self-treating with St. John's wort reported no ill effects to either mother or infant.

Given the limited data regarding the safety of St. John's wort during pregnancy and the wide availability of other treatment options, such as psychotherapy and prescription antidepressants, St.

John's wort is not recommended for pregnant women at this time.

Health benefits of St. John’s Wort

Source:https://www.healthbenefitstimes.com/health-benefits-of-st-johns-wort/

(Health Benefit Times)

St. John’s Wort, commonly known as hypericum perforatum, Tipton’s Weed, or even Klamath Weed, is really a yellow-colored flowering herb. It includes numerous powerful compounds like hyperforin and hypericin which display antidepressant, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory as well as antioxidant properties.

St. John’s wort is really a perennial plant indigenous to Europe, however discovered through the entire US and parts of Canada. The plant is definitely an aggressive weed perfectly located at the dry ground of roadsides, meadows, woods, as well as hedges. It usually reaches a height of 0.3 to 0.61 m, except on the Pacific coast of the US exactly where it’s achieved heights of 1.5 m. The plant has got oval-shaped leaves as well as produces golden-yellow flowers. The petals include black or even yellow glandular dots and lines. There are approximately 370 species within the genus Hypericum, that is produced from the Greek words, hyper as well as eikon meaning “over an apparition,” alluding to the plant’s historical use to ward off evil spirits. Perforatum signifies the leaf’s appearance. Whenever held up to light, the translucent leaf glands resemble perforations. Harvest of the plant for therapeutic purposes should occur in July and August; the plant should be dried instantly to prevent lack of effectiveness. The dried herb includes the plant’s flowering tops.

St. John’s Wort has become very popular in current decades like a possible cure-all herbal cure for a wide swath of conditions. Unlike a number of other herbal treatments, most of the health advantages of St. John’s Wort have been confirmed by the scientific community, and also the herbal supplements are generally recommended by medical experts. St. John’s Wort is really a small flowering plant from the Hypericum genus which has the medical name of Hypericum perforatum, also it develops wild in Europe, yet has since spread to the Americas, Russia, Asia, China, and also the Middle East. You may know St. John’s Wort by the different name, like rosin rose or even goatweed, however they all have the same impact! The vast range of the health effects make St. John’s Wort such an important factor in herbal supplementation, and it’s also now widely accessible around the world.

St. John’s Wort are available in capsule, tincture, oil, or even raw form plus they all have their very own individual uses. The chemical constituents of St. John’s Wort consist of bioflavanoids along with a variety of anti-oxidants that may have got a considerable impact on both the hormonal, physical, as well as chemical behavior of the body. Whilst the components can be quite beneficial to human health, additionally, there are numerous negative effects or problems that may arise by using St. John’s Wort in conjunction with particular conditions or even medications. Talk to your doctor prior to starting herbal supplementation or use of St. John’s Wort.

Health benefits of St. John’s Wort

St. John’s Wort is renowned for its anti-depressant activity. It’s been utilized in folk medicine for hundreds of years like a painkiller or sedative, in addition to deal with minor to serious health problems which includes burns and bruises, mood swings, sleep problems, bed-wetting in children, malaria, lung and kidney problems, tuberculosis, uterine cramping, PMS, hemorrhoids, peptic ulcers, gastrointestinal problems, breathing problems, hangovers and alcoholism. Original research has discovered that St. John’s Wort also may help with psoriasis, sore throats, chronic coughs, sinus infections, Parkinson’s disease, long-term exhaustion syndrome, arthritis, nerve pain, depression, anxiety as well as mental disorders. Listed here are a few well-known advantages of St.f John’s Wort

1. Depression

Among all herbal treatments for depression, St. John’s Wort is probably the very best recognized and studied. A converted summary of research from the Department of Pharmacology, J.W. Goethe University in Frankfort, Germany, claims that “a number of good studies have been completed which confirm the efficacy and tolerability of St. John’s Wort extract in mild clinical despression symptoms.” Several researches indicates that it is equally as powerful as many doctor prescribed tri-cyclic antidepressant drugs and it has fewer negative effects. Yet other studies from the National Institute for Complimentary as well as Alternative Medicine reveal that St. John’s Wort is no more efficient at dealing with depression than the usual placebo. While scientists in North America and Europe continue to carry out research on St. John’s Wort, centuries of use point to some benefit for the relief of depression.

Depression could be a severe illness, therefore usually seek advice from a physician for advice. Typical usage of St. John’s Wort for depression consists of capsules and tinctures. It will take several weeks for St. John’s Wort to relieve the symptoms of depression and anxiety, therefore if symptoms worsen seek advice from a physician or mental medical expert instantly.

2. Hormonal Balance

As already expressed in the explanation of the antidepressant effects of St. John’s Wort, the active ingredients have got powerful effects on hormone regulation within the body. Hypothyroidism is among the most typical thyroid problems and St. John’s Wort is shown to decrease those symptoms and help the thyroid gland produce normal levels of hormones again.

3. Hangovers and Alcoholism

Researchers think that the powerful element of St. John’s Wort, hyperforin, might help deal with hangovers as well as alcoholism. As a result, a tea made out of the flowering tops of St. John’s Wort might be efficient. For making St. John’s Wort tea take a teabag (or one tablespoon of the flowers) and add it to a cupful of boiling water. Allow it to simmer for approximately 5 minutes and strain the tea, then add honey like a natural sweetener. To fight alcoholism, drink one cup of the tea right after breakfast and dinner everyday for approximately 4 to 6 weeks. For relief of hangover symptoms, consume this tea 2 to 3 times during the day. The tea could be replaced with one every day capsule of 300 mg of St. John’s Wort extract.

4. Antiviral Agent

New research recently come to light that St. John’s Wort has particular antiviral capabilities, like the prevention or even decrease in risk for AIDS, hepatitis, along with other severe viral conditions. The only problem with this is that high doses of St. John’s Wort are needed for this kind of antiviral effect, which may also result in a range of unpleasant negative effects. Additional research into finding a happy balance within this specialized area of health is ongoing.

5. Parkinson’s disease

It is considered that a dopamine dysfunction is among the reasons for Parkinson’s disease as well as schizophrenia. Several research claim that St. John’s Wort may enhance the quantity of a neurotransmitter dopamine. Research also claim that antioxidant activity of the herb might help with neural degeneration linked to the onset of Parkinson’s disease. However, further research is necessary to prove the extent of effectiveness of the herb. However, just consuming one cup of St. John’s Wort tea or one capsule of the extract frequently with a meal might inhibit the development of Parkinson’s disease in people susceptible to developing it.

6. Menopausal Mood Swings

There’s two distinctive periods in feminine sexual health that may be challenging when it comes to mood swings; pre-menstrual syndrome as well as menopause. St. John’s Wort is broadly suitable for ladies in both of these periods of the life, as the chemical constituents have shown to decrease mood swings as well as anxiety in menopausal women, and in addition decrease the seriousness of cramping and pre-menstrual irritation and depression.

7. Sinus Congestion and Chronic Coughing

St. John’s Wort has got anti-biotic as well as antiviral activity that might help reduce phlegm congestion, sinus infection, flu as well as bronchitis symptoms. Just consuming one cup of St. John’s Wort tea right after breakfast as well as dinner might help relieve the throat and sinus problems. To make St. John’s Wort tea, just soak in a tea bag in a cup of boiling water and allow it to steep for 5 minutes. Add honey or sugar for sweetness if preferred.

8. Addiction and Withdrawal

Even though additional research on this particular benefit is still on-going, earlier signs reveal that the usage of St. John’s Wort can be extremely helpful in reducing cravings as well as withdrawal symptoms right after quitting cigarettes, alcohol, or any other addictive substances. This might prove very beneficial, as addiction and recovery is really a challenging and problematic science at present.

9. Wounds and Bruises

St. John’s Wort has got anti-bacterial as well as analgesic activity. As a result, a balm, oil, or even poultice made out of St. John’s Wort flowers and leaves might help cure cuts, wounds, insect bites, boils, as well as bruises. St. John’s Wort oil can be created by frying 1/2 cup of dried flowers and leaves of the herb in 2 tbsp of mustard oil. Leave the flowers and leaves within the oil and allow the mixture cool down. Then add 1/3 cup of Extra Virgin Olive Oil to the prepared St. John’s Wort oil. Use it 3-4 times on the wound during the day. The prepared oil could be kept in an air tight container in the cool and dark location for emergency use.

10. Other Mental Effects

This particular quality extends past depression, despite that being the most promoted benefit, to help individuals struggling with anxiety and mood swings too. By assisting to manage the hormonal balance within the body, St. John’s Wort has the capacity to get the metabolism and internal clock back in line, offering help for sleeping disorders, irritability, as well as long-term fatigue. Removing long-term stress hormones from the body usually improves all around health and also intellectual function, as excessive stress hormones can easily permanently modify numerous organ systems.

11. Anti-Inflammatory Agent

The calming nature of St. John’s Wort and also the rich concentration of antioxidant as well as anti-inflammatory compounds allow it to be ideal for reducing the painful pains of arthritis, along with gout, joint discomfort, as well as muscle aches. Just like it will help relieve inflammation on the skin as well as in the gut, St. John’s Wort also reduces inflammation within the cardiovascular system, therefore assisting to reduce blood pressure level and reduce stress on the heart.

12. Skin Treatment

If you utilize St. John’s Wort in topical application as a salve or even tincture, it may speed the healing process of burns, bruises, and also scrape by revitalizing circulation of oxygenated blood to those skin cells so that repairs may start.

13. Pregnancy Pains

During pregnancy, hemorrhoids or any other stretched out parts of the body may become very unpleasant. Although not suggested to take oral supplements through the pregnancy, external application of St. John’s Wort salves as well as pastes are strongly suggested for ladies struggling with these pregnancy-related problems.

14. Anti-Cancer Effects

Cancer research has lately started putting more faith within the role that St. John’s Wort could play. Laboratory research has revealed an absolute correlation between the prevention as well as management of leukemia along with constant usage of St. John’s Wort supplements. Any cancer-preventing compound is extremely valued, and also this research will definitely be ongoing.

15. Ear Pain

Ear infections (otitis media) that can cause ear pain is often curable with the use of St. John’s wort. One research involving 100 children proved that a mixture of garlic, St. John’s wort, calendula as well as mullein could work as a good herbal solution to offer rest from ear pain.

History of St. John’s Wort

The name by itself comes with an ancient history. The flower is usually in full bloom around June 24th, that is the day celebrated as John the Baptist’s birthday. The term “wort” means “plant” in Old English. Since medieval times, to celebrate this day, it really is customary to collect the herb and hang it over doors, windows, and icons like a safety measure to help keep evil away. Its capability to combat “evil spirits” or even “demons” is in fact what led the herb to its present depression fighting application. The ancients, in fact, considered that evil forces or even demons were accountable for making individuals melancholy or even downcast. Since treatment along with St. John’s wort provides a relaxing or even sedating effect, the herb started to realize a reputation to have a spiritual power that was able to safeguard individuals from being tormented by evil spirits.

St. John’s wort is known throughout history as a vulnerary (wound healer) and was in the heyday on the battlefields of the Crusaders. It absolutely was also credited with keeping evil away, for which purpose it absolutely was hung above doors on the Eve of St. John’s Day (24 June), whenever witches were considered to be most active. Its mystique was verified by the way the juice of the plant turns red on exposure to air – a phenomenon considered to represent the blood of St. John the Baptist.

Recommended dosage

Because dosages of herbal preparations usually are not always standardized, it is very important to discuss with an experienced practitioner probably the most reliable kind of St. John’s wort. Recommendations call for 300-500 mg (of a standardized 0.3% hypericin extract) 3 times every day. It will take 4 to 6 weeks to notice the antidepressant effects of this preparation.

On the other hand, one or two teaspoons of dried St. John’s wort may be put in a cup of boiling water.

Side Effects of St. John’s Wort

It’s been reported that St. John’s Wort may connect with various other drugs or its over dose might cause several negative effects like dry mouth, head ache, restlessness, confusion, dizziness, upset stomach, sexual dysfunction, as well as photosensitivity. Therefore, it is recommended talk to your physician just before consuming this particular herb, specifically if you are treated for depression, cancer, HIV infection, heart disease or even taking blood thinner (like Digoxin or Warfarin), or even oral contraceptives. Since the effects of St. John’s wort are still being analyzed, pregnant as well as breast-feeding ladies ought to prevent its use.Many people might be hypersensitive to St. John’s Wort, therefore it is crucial that you speak to your doctor if any unexplainable symptoms appear whenever taking this herb. To avoid photosensitivity, it really is recommended to wear a top quality sunblock prior to going out in the sun whilst taking St. John’s Wort supplements. Research has additionally discovered that the hypericum content in St. John’s Wort has tannic acid, which could restrict the body’s ability to soak up iron. As a result, taking iron supplements daily throughout the regular use of St. John’s Wort is usually recommended.

Depression could be a severe, even life-threatening, situation; as a result, it really is imperative which depressed patients using St. John’s wort are carefully monitored.

How to Plant Hypericum

Source:http://homeguides.sfgate.com/plant-hypericum-70448.html

By Patricia H. Reed, Demand Media

Add a burst of sunny yellow flowers to hard-to-plant areas under trees or to hillsides prone to erosion with St. John's wort (Hypericum sp.). While there are more than 400 species in the genus, those most suited to planting in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 through 9 are the 1- to 2-foot-tall ground cover variety, creeping St. John's wort (Hypericum calcinium), and the 3- to 4-foot-tall semi-evergreen shrub, called St. John's wort or gold flower (Hypericum moserianum). Plant either variety early in the fall or spring.

1 Dig a hole 1 foot deep and wide in an area of the garden that receives dappled shade, full sun or sun with afternoon shade in particularly hot microclimates. Fill the hole with water. Let it drain and refill it with water. After an hour, measure the number of inches the water has dropped with a ruler. A drop between 1 to 6 inches indicates soil that drains well. St. John's wort is susceptible to root rot where it doesn't have adequate drainage.

2 Clear weeds across a planting site that allows for 18 inches from center between ground cover St. John's wort, planting on a grid, or 3-foot spacing for hedges and 5-foot spacing for single specimens of the shrub variety.

3 Incorporate a 2- to 4-inch layer of compost with a shovel or tiller into the top 6 inches of soil across the planting area in any type of soil. Clay benefits from the increased aeration, and sandy soil, which St. John's wort prefers for its good drainage, gains additional nutrients.

4 Dig holes to accommodate the number of St. John's wort plants you are planting, each 1 to 2 inches shallower than the root ball of the plant and three times as wide.

5 Set the plant in its hole, filling in around the root ball and mounding the soil to create a gentle slope from the top of the root ball down to the surrounding soil to prevent water from settling around the plant. Firm the soil with your hands.

6 Water deeply after planting. Water once a week, about 1 inch of water per week when you don't receive rain, during its first year. After the plant's roots are established, it is drought tolerant.

7 Apply a 2-inch layer of mulch around the plants to keep weeds down and to retain moisture while ground cover plants fill in. Keep the mulch away from the stems of the plants to prevent rot.

Things You Will Need

• Shovel

• Ruler

• Compost

• Mulch

Tips

• Install a metal or plastic edging or periodically root prune ground cover St. John's wort, or it can grow out of bounds.

• Mow ground cover St. John's wort annually in late winter to revitalize it. Prune the shrub variety in early spring where it does not naturally die back.

Warnings

• Avoid common St. John's wort (Hypericum performatum) as it is considered invasive in nine states and is toxic to livestock.

• Shrubby St. John's wort may drop some leaves when temperatures cool. Where it dies all the way back, it only reaches 1 to 2 1/2 feet tall and is treated as a herbaceous perennial.

St. John's Wort for Depression

Source:https://www.verywell.com/st-johns-wort-for-depression-1066692

By Nancy Schimelpfening (Reviewed by a board-certified physician)

What Is St. John's Wort?

St. John's wort, or Hypericum perforatum, is a small shrub with clusters of yellow flowers which grows mainly in Europe, Asia and North America.

It has a long history of use as a depression remedy, going back to the time of ancient Greece. In modern times, it has gained increasing support in the medical literature as an effective treatment for mild to moderate depression and is quite popular in both the U.S.

and Europe.

All growing parts of the plant above the soil are used to manufacture the herbal extract, which is used medicinally in a variety of forms, such as pills, capsules, teas and tinctures.

How Does It Work?

It is unknown exactly how St. John's wort relieves depression, but there are two substances which are believed to be its main active components: hypericin and hyperforin.

It has been proposed that hypericin may act upon the brain in ways that decrease production of the stress hormone cortisol, while increasing the availability of neurotransmitters such as serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine.

Hyperforin may also work by increasing the availability of these mood-regulating substances, as well as others, but serotonin is thought to be the most important neutrotransmitter affected.

Other components of St. John's wort, such as the flavonoids, act as irreversible monoamine oxidase-A inhibitors, but their concentrations are so low that they are not likely to be involved in the antidepressants effect of St.

John's wort.

Effectiveness

The medical literature seems to suggest that St. John's wort is most effective for those with mild to moderate depression. However, it may be less effective for those with more severe or chronic depression.

Safety and Tolerability

The side effects that have been reported with St.

John's wort are both uncommon and mild, when they do occur. Some of the reported side effects include: dry mouth, dizziness, constipation, gastrointestinal symptoms and confusion.

Rarely, patients will report an increased sensitivity to light with St. John's wort, especially at higher doses. Some scientists have recommended the precautionary use of sunscreen for patients spending a large amount of time in the sun.

At least 17 cases of psychosis, 12 of which were comprised of mania or hypomania, have been reported in the literature. Bipolar patients are advised to use St. John's wort only if they are also taking a mood stabilizer.

If you are taking any other medications, you should consult with your doctor or pharmacist about the possibility of any drug interactions with St. John's wort. Several drugs - including warfarin, cyclosporin, birth control pills, theophylline, phenprocoumon, digoxin, indivir and irinotecan - may potentially become less effective if taken in conjunction with St. John's wort.

HIV-positive patients who take a protease inhibitor, cancer patients receiving chemotherapy and transplant patients receiving immunosuppressive drugs should be especially cautious about using St. John's wort. It is also recommended that St. John's wort not be combined with SSRIs due to anecdotal reports of serotonin syndrome, perhaps due to the monoamine oxidase inhibitor activity of St. John's wort.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Little is known about what effects St. John's wort may have during pregnancy and breastfeeding. It is advised that women who are pregnant or intend to become pregnant should avoid St. John's wort until more complete safety data is available.

Health benefits of St. John’s Wort

Source:https://www.healthbenefitstimes.com/health-benefits-of-st-johns-wort/

(Health Benefits Times)

St. John’s Wort, commonly known as hypericum perforatum, Tipton’s Weed, or even Klamath Weed, is really a yellow-colored flowering herb. It includes numerous powerful compounds like hyperforin and hypericin which display antidepressant, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory as well as antioxidant properties.

St. John’s wort is really a perennial plant indigenous to Europe, however discovered through the entire US and parts of Canada. The plant is definitely an aggressive weed perfectly located at the dry ground of roadsides, meadows, woods, as well as hedges. It usually reaches a height of 0.3 to 0.61 m, except on the Pacific coast of the US exactly where it’s achieved heights of 1.5 m. The plant has got oval-shaped leaves as well as produces golden-yellow flowers. The petals include black or even yellow glandular dots and lines. There are approximately 370 species within the genus Hypericum, that is produced from the Greek words, hyper as well as eikon meaning “over an apparition,” alluding to the plant’s historical use to ward off evil spirits. Perforatum signifies the leaf’s appearance. Whenever held up to light, the translucent leaf glands resemble perforations. Harvest of the plant for therapeutic purposes should occur in July and August; the plant should be dried instantly to prevent lack of effectiveness. The dried herb includes the plant’s flowering tops.

St. John’s Wort has become very popular in current decades like a possible cure-all herbal cure for a wide swath of conditions. Unlike a number of other herbal treatments, most of the health advantages of St. John’s Wort have been confirmed by the scientific community, and also the herbal supplements are generally recommended by medical experts. St. John’s Wort is really a small flowering plant from the Hypericum genus which has the medical name of Hypericum perforatum, also it develops wild in Europe, yet has since spread to the Americas, Russia, Asia, China, and also the Middle East. You may know St. John’s Wort by the different name, like rosin rose or even goatweed, however they all have the same impact! The vast range of the health effects make St. John’s Wort such an important factor in herbal supplementation, and it’s also now widely accessible around the world.

St. John’s Wort are available in capsule, tincture, oil, or even raw form plus they all have their very own individual uses. The chemical constituents of St. John’s Wort consist of bioflavanoids along with a variety of anti-oxidants that may have got a considerable impact on both the hormonal, physical, as well as chemical behavior of the body. Whilst the components can be quite beneficial to human health, additionally, there are numerous negative effects or problems that may arise by using St. John’s Wort in conjunction with particular conditions or even medications. Talk to your doctor prior to starting herbal supplementation or use of St. John’s Wort.

Health benefits of St. John’s Wort

St. John’s Wort is renowned for its anti-depressant activity. It’s been utilized in folk medicine for hundreds of years like a painkiller or sedative, in addition to deal with minor to serious health problems which includes burns and bruises, mood swings, sleep problems, bed-wetting in children, malaria, lung and kidney problems, tuberculosis, uterine cramping, PMS, hemorrhoids, peptic ulcers, gastrointestinal problems, breathing problems, hangovers and alcoholism. Original research has discovered that St. John’s Wort also may help with psoriasis, sore throats, chronic coughs, sinus infections, Parkinson’s disease, long-term exhaustion syndrome, arthritis, nerve pain, depression, anxiety as well as mental disorders. Listed here are a few well-known advantages of St.f John’s Wort

1. Depression

Among all herbal treatments for depression, St. John’s Wort is probably the very best recognized and studied. A converted summary of research from the Department of Pharmacology, J.W. Goethe University in Frankfort, Germany, claims that “a number of good studies have been completed which confirm the efficacy and tolerability of St. John’s Wort extract in mild clinical despression symptoms.” Several researches indicates that it is equally as powerful as many doctor prescribed tri-cyclic antidepressant drugs and it has fewer negative effects. Yet other studies from the National Institute for Complimentary as well as Alternative Medicine reveal that St. John’s Wort is no more efficient at dealing with depression than the usual placebo. While scientists in North America and Europe continue to carry out research on St. John’s Wort, centuries of use point to some benefit for the relief of depression.

Depression could be a severe illness, therefore usually seek advice from a physician for advice. Typical usage of St. John’s Wort for depression consists of capsules and tinctures. It will take several weeks for St. John’s Wort to relieve the symptoms of depression and anxiety, therefore if symptoms worsen seek advice from a physician or mental medical expert instantly.

2. Hormonal Balance

As already expressed in the explanation of the antidepressant effects of St. John’s Wort, the active ingredients have got powerful effects on hormone regulation within the body. Hypothyroidism is among the most typical thyroid problems and St. John’s Wort is shown to decrease those symptoms and help the thyroid gland produce normal levels of hormones again.

3. Hangovers and Alcoholism

Researchers think that the powerful element of St. John’s Wort, hyperforin, might help deal with hangovers as well as alcoholism. As a result, a tea made out of the flowering tops of St. John’s Wort might be efficient. For making St. John’s Wort tea take a teabag (or one tablespoon of the flowers) and add it to a cupful of boiling water. Allow it to simmer for approximately 5 minutes and strain the tea, then add honey like a natural sweetener. To fight alcoholism, drink one cup of the tea right after breakfast and dinner everyday for approximately 4 to 6 weeks. For relief of hangover symptoms, consume this tea 2 to 3 times during the day. The tea could be replaced with one every day capsule of 300 mg of St. John’s Wort extract.

4. Antiviral Agent

New research recently come to light that St. John’s Wort has particular antiviral capabilities, like the prevention or even decrease in risk for AIDS, hepatitis, along with other severe viral conditions. The only problem with this is that high doses of St. John’s Wort are needed for this kind of antiviral effect, which may also result in a range of unpleasant negative effects. Additional research into finding a happy balance within this specialized area of health is ongoing.

5. Parkinson’s disease

It is considered that a dopamine dysfunction is among the reasons for Parkinson’s disease as well as schizophrenia. Several research claim that St. John’s Wort may enhance the quantity of a neurotransmitter dopamine. Research also claim that antioxidant activity of the herb might help with neural degeneration linked to the onset of Parkinson’s disease. However, further research is necessary to prove the extent of effectiveness of the herb. However, just consuming one cup of St. John’s Wort tea or one capsule of the extract frequently with a meal might inhibit the development of Parkinson’s disease in people susceptible to developing it.

6. Menopausal Mood Swings

There’s two distinctive periods in feminine sexual health that may be challenging when it comes to mood swings; pre-menstrual syndrome as well as menopause. St. John’s Wort is broadly suitable for ladies in both of these periods of the life, as the chemical constituents have shown to decrease mood swings as well as anxiety in menopausal women, and in addition decrease the seriousness of cramping and pre-menstrual irritation and depression.

7. Sinus Congestion and Chronic Coughing

St. John’s Wort has got anti-biotic as well as antiviral activity that might help reduce phlegm congestion, sinus infection, flu as well as bronchitis symptoms. Just consuming one cup of St. John’s Wort tea right after breakfast as well as dinner might help relieve the throat and sinus problems. To make St. John’s Wort tea, just soak in a tea bag in a cup of boiling water and allow it to steep for 5 minutes. Add honey or sugar for sweetness if preferred.

8. Addiction and Withdrawal

Even though additional research on this particular benefit is still on-going, earlier signs reveal that the usage of St. John’s Wort can be extremely helpful in reducing cravings as well as withdrawal symptoms right after quitting cigarettes, alcohol, or any other addictive substances. This might prove very beneficial, as addiction and recovery is really a challenging and problematic science at present.

9. Wounds and Bruises

St. John’s Wort has got anti-bacterial as well as analgesic activity. As a result, a balm, oil, or even poultice made out of St. John’s Wort flowers and leaves might help cure cuts, wounds, insect bites, boils, as well as bruises. St. John’s Wort oil can be created by frying 1/2 cup of dried flowers and leaves of the herb in 2 tbsp of mustard oil. Leave the flowers and leaves within the oil and allow the mixture cool down. Then add 1/3 cup of Extra Virgin Olive Oil to the prepared St. John’s Wort oil. Use it 3-4 times on the wound during the day. The prepared oil could be kept in an air tight container in the cool and dark location for emergency use.

10. Other Mental Effects

This particular quality extends past depression, despite that being the most promoted benefit, to help individuals struggling with anxiety and mood swings too. By assisting to manage the hormonal balance within the body, St. John’s Wort has the capacity to get the metabolism and internal clock back in line, offering help for sleeping disorders, irritability, as well as long-term fatigue. Removing long-term stress hormones from the body usually improves all around health and also intellectual function, as excessive stress hormones can easily permanently modify numerous organ systems.

11. Anti-Inflammatory Agent

The calming nature of St. John’s Wort and also the rich concentration of antioxidant as well as anti-inflammatory compounds allow it to be ideal for reducing the painful pains of arthritis, along with gout, joint discomfort, as well as muscle aches. Just like it will help relieve inflammation on the skin as well as in the gut, St. John’s Wort also reduces inflammation within the cardiovascular system, therefore assisting to reduce blood pressure level and reduce stress on the heart.

12. Skin Treatment

If you utilize St. John’s Wort in topical application as a salve or even tincture, it may speed the healing process of burns, bruises, and also scrape by revitalizing circulation of oxygenated blood to those skin cells so that repairs may start.

13. Pregnancy Pains

During pregnancy, hemorrhoids or any other stretched out parts of the body may become very unpleasant. Although not suggested to take oral supplements through the pregnancy, external application of St. John’s Wort salves as well as pastes are strongly suggested for ladies struggling with these pregnancy-related problems.

14. Anti-Cancer Effects

Cancer research has lately started putting more faith within the role that St. John’s Wort could play. Laboratory research has revealed an absolute correlation between the prevention as well as management of leukemia along with constant usage of St. John’s Wort supplements. Any cancer-preventing compound is extremely valued, and also this research will definitely be ongoing.

15. Ear Pain

Ear infections (otitis media) that can cause ear pain is often curable with the use of St. John’s wort. One research involving 100 children proved that a mixture of garlic, St. John’s wort, calendula as well as mullein could work as a good herbal solution to offer rest from ear pain.

History of St. John’s Wort

The name by itself comes with an ancient history. The flower is usually in full bloom around June 24th, that is the day celebrated as John the Baptist’s birthday. The term “wort” means “plant” in Old English. Since medieval times, to celebrate this day, it really is customary to collect the herb and hang it over doors, windows, and icons like a safety measure to help keep evil away. Its capability to combat “evil spirits” or even “demons” is in fact what led the herb to its present depression fighting application. The ancients, in fact, considered that evil forces or even demons were accountable for making individuals melancholy or even downcast. Since treatment along with St. John’s wort provides a relaxing or even sedating effect, the herb started to realize a reputation to have a spiritual power that was able to safeguard individuals from being tormented by evil spirits.

St. John’s wort is known throughout history as a vulnerary (wound healer) and was in the heyday on the battlefields of the Crusaders. It absolutely was also credited with keeping evil away, for which purpose it absolutely was hung above doors on the Eve of St. John’s Day (24 June), whenever witches were considered to be most active. Its mystique was verified by the way the juice of the plant turns red on exposure to air – a phenomenon considered to represent the blood of St. John the Baptist.

Recommended dosage

Because dosages of herbal preparations usually are not always standardized, it is very important to discuss with an experienced practitioner probably the most reliable kind of St. John’s wort. Recommendations call for 300-500 mg (of a standardized 0.3% hypericin extract) 3 times every day. It will take 4 to 6 weeks to notice the antidepressant effects of this preparation.

On the other hand, one or two teaspoons of dried St. John’s wort may be put in a cup of boiling water.

Side Effects of St. John’s Wort

It’s been reported that St. John’s Wort may connect with various other drugs or its over dose might cause several negative effects like dry mouth, head ache, restlessness, confusion, dizziness, upset stomach, sexual dysfunction, as well as photosensitivity. Therefore, it is recommended talk to your physician just before consuming this particular herb, specifically if you are treated for depression, cancer, HIV infection, heart disease or even taking blood thinner (like Digoxin or Warfarin), or even oral contraceptives. Since the effects of St. John’s wort are still being analyzed, pregnant as well as breast-feeding ladies ought to prevent its use.Many people might be hypersensitive to St. John’s Wort, therefore it is crucial that you speak to your doctor if any unexplainable symptoms appear whenever taking this herb. To avoid photosensitivity, it really is recommended to wear a top quality sunblock prior to going out in the sun whilst taking St. John’s Wort supplements. Research has additionally discovered that the hypericum content in St. John’s Wort has tannic acid, which could restrict the body’s ability to soak up iron. As a result, taking iron supplements daily throughout the regular use of St. John’s Wort is usually recommended.

Depression could be a severe, even life-threatening, situation; as a result, it really is imperative which depressed patients using St. John’s wort are carefully monitored.

'St John's Wort plant as effective as Prozac for treating depression', say scientists

Source:http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1072414/St-Johns-Wort-plant-effective-Prozac-treating-depression-say-scientists.html

By Daniel Martin (Daily Mail)

It has long been a happy alternative for those reluctant to pop pills for depression.

But the herbal extract St John's Wort now has more than just cheerful converts to testify to its mood-lifting powers.

In what is billed as the most thorough study of the plant, scientists have found it is just as effective as Prozac at treating depression.

It also had fewer side effects than many standard drugs used to help those battling despair.

Researchers compared the effects of the plant hypericum perforatum - popularly known as St John's Wort - with placebos or a wide range of old and new anti-depressants, including those from the new generation of SSRI drugs, such as Prozac and Seroxat.

The findings could prompt more GPs to prescribe St John's Wort.

In Germany, it is commonly given to children and teenagers.

Experts do not know exactly how the plant lifts depression, although most believe it probably works by keeping the chemical serotonin, which is linked to positive moods, in the brain for longer.

The study's lead author, Dr Klaus Linde, from the Centre for Complementary Medicine in Munich, pooled data from 29 studies involving 5,489 patients with mild to moderately severe depression.

'Overall, the St John's Wort extracts tested in the trials were superior to placebo, similarly effective as standard anti-depressants, and had fewer side effects than standard anti-depressants,' he said.

But he pointed out that St John's Wort products available in health food shops and chemists differed greatly and some may be more effective than others.

'Using a St John's Wort extract might be justified but products on the market vary considerably, so these results only apply to the preparations tested,' he explained.

The findings were published by the Cochrane Library, which specialises in systematic reviews of research studies.

A separate study has found St John's Wort, available in countless health shops, is the only alternative medicine proven to have an effect.

Others, including ginseng, liquid tonic, cat's claw, gingko biloba and royal jelly, had no firm base in evidence and could be dangerous when taken with other drugs, according to the study by St James' University Hospital in Leeds.

Some other studies however have indicated that St John's Wort may interfere with the effectiveness of the contraceptive pill.

Other reported effects have included dizziness, tiredness and hair loss.

The extract has become a popular alternative to anti-depressants such as Prozac and Seroxat in recent years following fears over the safety of SSRI (selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor) drugs.

Doctors have been told not to prescribe most SSRIs to under-18s because of an increased risk of suicide.

Experts have also said they could not rule out a suicide risk to older users.

Another study found that pregnant women who take SSRI drugs were at risk of having babies with birth defects such as cleft palates and heart problems.

Four out of five GPs have admitted overprescribing Prozac and similar drugs.

They blamed a lack of suitable alternatives, including behavioural therapy and social care as well as medicines.

St. John's Wort Benefits: Natural Therapy

Source:http://www.motherearthliving.com/plant-profile/st-johns-wort-offers-natural-therapy.aspx

(The Herb Companion staff)

One Saturday last June, a stream of customers filed through Larry Schaefer’s health-food store in Sun City, Arizona, seeking St.-John’s-wort, the herb rapidly becoming known for its ability to combat depression.

“I sold every single bottle I had,” says Schaefer, owner of The Almond Tree, where St.-John’s-wort products normally sell at a rate of thirty bottles a week. On this June Saturday alone, he sold sixty bottles, the result, he says, of a national television broadcast about the herb. The following week he sold a total of 125 bottles—more than four times the weekly average. “People didn’t really care what form I had it in,” Schaefer says. “They just wanted it.”

Schaefer wasn’t the only one whose supplies of St.-John’s-wort were scooped up. Shop owners and manufacturers across the country reported phenomenal increases in sales of St.-John’s-wort products last summer—as much as 700 percent in some cases. Richo Cech of HerbPharm, a botanicals supplier based in Williams, Oregon, estimates that his company pressed 10,000 pounds of fresh St.-John’s-wort flowers into extracts this year, five times the company’s annual average of 2,000 pounds.

It Works: The Evidence

The St.-John’s-wort fervor was fanned by the ABC television news program 20/20, which in June described, for millions of viewers, the herb’s ability to fight mild depression as effectively as and more safely than synthetic antidepressants.

Until that broadcast, most Americans knew St.-John’s-wort (Hypericum perforatum) only as a noxious weed. But convincing news of the herb’s ability to beat depression had reached the U.S. medical establishment in 1996, when the British Medical Journal published a scientific analysis of twenty-three clinical trials of the herb as a depression treatment. The authors concluded that St.-John’s-wort extracts were as effective as standard antidepressants and caused fewer side effects, including nausea and dizziness. Patients who took St.-John’s-wort felt less sad, less anxious, and more hopeful, among other improvements.

The National Institute of Health’s Office of Alternative Medicine, the National Institute of Mental Health, and the Office of Dietary Supplements are collaborating to fund research on St.-John’s-wort and issued a request for proposals last June. But substantial research already exists in Europe, and German doctors commonly prescribe preparations made from the flowering tops of St.-John’s-wort to treat anxiety, mild depression, and sleep disorders. In 1994, German physicians wrote prescriptions for nearly sixty-six million St.-John’s-wort products worth about $35 million, according to the British Medical Journal.

Dosage: St. John's Wort

• Hypericum perforatum

What it does: Treats mild depression, anxiety

How we know: Controlled clinical trials show that it is safe and effective in treating depression, with far fewer side effects than conventional drugs.

How to use it: Dried St.-John’s-wort flowers can be used to make a tea; they are available in bulk at natural food stores. Use 1 to 2 teaspoons of dried herb steeped in a cup of boiling water for ten minutes. Drinking one to two cups of tea a day for at least four weeks is recommended.

Commercial St.-John’s-wort extracts standardized to 0.3 percent hypericin (similar wording often appears on the label) are taken in doses of one 300 mg capsule three times a day or 3 to 4 droppersful of the tincture twice a day. It takes from three to six weeks to work; increasing the dose doesn’t make it work more quickly.

Cautions: Prolonged use or high doses may make the skin more sensitive to sunlight. Prozac and St.-John’s-wort may be a bad combination, so they shouldn’t be taken at the same time until further research is completed.

St.-John’s-wort may interact badly with wine, cheese, and other foods, so consult your physician about a proper diet. How Health Experts Use St. John’s Wort To Treat Their Patients’ Depression

Americans are quickly catching on to St.-John’s-wort as a depression remedy, but some health-care practitioners have prescribed it for years.

Donald Brown, a naturopathic doctor practicing in Seattle, has prescribed extracts of the herb since the 1980s in certain cases. Hyla Cass, M.D., a psychiatrist specializing in nutrition in California, also recommends the herb when she feels it’s warranted. Here, Brown and Cass describe cases in which they’ve used St.-John’s-wort to treat depression; the patients’ names have been changed to protect their privacy. Case Study #1:

Freddie, the ‘failed’ jazz muscian

Freddie, a jazz musician in his late twenties, moved to Seattle from the East Coast to live with his girlfriend and her child. After the move, he went through “the typical existential dilemma” of not connecting with his new life as quickly as he thought he would, Brown says. Suddenly, he was father to a child. He didn’t exercise and he ate poorly, not to mention that he wasn’t making it in the music scene. He “crashed and burned”, then he consulted Brown, telling the doctor that he felt that he had failed and, as a result, he was depressed.

Recommended treatment: In addition to referring Freddie to a therapist and recommending changes in his diet, exercise regimen, and lifestyle, Brown prescribed St.-John’s-wort for four weeks. At the end of this test period, Freddie reported that he could get out of bed with a sense of purpose. After two months, Brown noticed outward signs of progress: Freddie was motivated to work things out with his girlfriend, and he was exercising. After continuous treatment for about six months, Brown reduced Freddie’s St.-John’s-wort intake over the course of a couple of weeks. Freddie is now off St.-John’s-wort and is doing fine. Case Study #2:

Sandy’s unceasing distress

Sandy, a secretary in her mid-thirties, fought depressive episodes off and on for years. Although she tried psychotherapy, it didn’t have a definitive effect; it would help for a while, but eventually she would get depressed again.

She tried , but disliked its side effects, including sleeplessness and reduced sex drive. To help her sleep, her doctors gave her a second antidepressant to take along with the Prozac, but that left her irritable and unable to get out of bed. She didn’t feel like herself; in fact, she was miserable, feeling overburdened by both her family and her job.

“When she came to me, she was ready to give up,” Cass says. “She didn’t want to feel like she had before medication, but she couldn’t stand being on it.”

Recommended treatment: Cass gradually moved Sandy off the pharmaceuticals and onto St.-John’s-wort, along with a specially tailored supplement program. Within a short period of time, Sandy felt “normal” and once more liked her job, husband, and kids. Today, eighteen months later, she is still taking St.-John’s-wort and hasn’t relapsed; she now takes in stride events that previously might have thrown her into a depression, Cass says.

Not A Quick Fix

The fervent interest in St.-John’s-wort is undoubtedly linked to the way many Americans feel. According to a National Institute of Mental Health estimate, 10.6 million Americans suffer mild cases of depression and 9.9 million suffer mild to severe cases of depression each year; many of these people are drawn to drugs such as Prozac or Nardil to relieve their symptoms.

Health researchers believe that depression can result from deficiencies of serotonin and norepenephrine, mood-regulating chemicals that send signals to the brain. Some antidepressants work by correcting these deficiencies. In the case of St.-John’s-wort, however, science hasn’t yet demonstrated exactly how it works, but it is believed that the herb’s therapeutic components perform in a few different ways. One of the herb’s constituents, hypericin, has been shown to increase the concentration of serotonin and norepinephrine in storage sites in the central nervous system. Other constituents appear to inhibit an enzyme called COMT (catechol-O-methyltransferase), which also can reduce the brain’s two “feel-good” chemicals. Yet another mechanism appears to suppress the release of interleukin-6, which affects mood through neurohormonal pathways.

Because St.-John’s-wort causes no serious side effects, says Hyla Cass, M.D., a California psychiatrist specializing in nutritional medicine, people generally find it more pleasant than synthetic remedies, which can cause dry mouth, headaches, nausea, reduced sexual drive, anxiety, insomnia, drowsiness, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and a dulling of emotional response.

“I don’t notice that happening with St.-John’s-wort,” says Cass, adding that her patients notice, too. “It seems to bring out their own natural energy and vibrancy.”

However, some health-care providers warn that St.-John’s-wort is not a panacea for depression. For one thing, it takes three to six weeks of use before it begins to work. And, adds Donald Brown, a naturopathic physician who has prescribed St.-John’s-wort since the 1980s, the most effective way to treat depression is not by taking a pill, natural or otherwise, but by following a holistic approach that includes lifestyle changes and the guidance of a qualified health-care provider. Brown says he tends to prescribe St.-John’s-wort primarily for patients who want to wean themselves off synthetic antidepressants.

Product Precautions, Choices

With the increased demand for St.-John’s-wort, some members of the herbal supplement industry worry about poor-quality products entering the market or products that claim to contain St.-John’s-wort but don’t. That could lead to St.-John’s-wort users experiencing unexpected reactions or no results at all.

“While it [the increased demand] was great, a lot of product got dumped on the market,” says Grace Lyn Rich of Nature’s Herbs, an herbal supplement manufacturer. “People who never had a St.-John’s product all of a sudden did.”

Rich and others advise consumers and retailers to buy wisely. Sounds simple enough. But that can be tricky because herbal products are sold as dietary supplements, so they aren’t as strictly regulated as medicine. Rich suggests that those who have used herbal supplements stick with brand names they trust and that new users check with their health-food retailer for guidance.

Not Just For Your Blues

St. John's Wort heals wounds and burns

St.-John’s-wort has been part of a variety of traditional medicine practices for centuries, and has been drawn upon not only to soothe anxiety but also to heal wounds.

John Gerard, a sixteenth-century herbalist, praised a blood-red extract of the plant as a “most precious” remedy for deep wounds. In the nineteenth-century’s Medicinal Plants by Charles F. Millspaugh (Yorston, 1892), a physician relates that he had great success using the herb to treat injuries to the nerves, especially those encased in the cranium and spinal column. Contemporary herbalists also recommend St.-John’s-wort to treat wounds, and use it to make lotions to speed the healing of bruises, varicose veins, and minor burns.

St.-John’s-wort’s power to fight bacteria and infection stems from constituents found in the flowers. The flowers are punctuated with black dots along their margins and, when the flowers are crushed, the dots produce a red pigment.

St.-John’s-wort grows in North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia. It is a perennial that grows from one to three feet high and is topped with yellow clusters of flowers from June through August.

To make your own oil, follow these easy steps: g Place a handful of St.-John’s-wort flowers in a jar. g Add olive oil, just enough to cover the petals. Blend the oil and flowers until creamy. g Cover the jar tightly and set in a dark place for two weeks. If you wish, place the jar in a sunny spot on the fourteenth day to bring out the herb’s amber pigment. Placing it in direct sunlight for a longer time period may break down the hypericin. g At the end of two weeks, strain the oil into a dark glass jar and store in a cool, dark place.

Remember, this oil is for external use only. Serious wounds or those that don’t heal quickly should be treated by your health-care provider.

As For Selecting A Product, It May Help To Know This:

Hypericin, a constituent found in St.-John’s-wort, is often used in commercial St.-John’s-wort preparations as a “marker” of quality assurance. Product labels will often state that the content is standardized to 0.2 to 0.3 percent hypericin. Identifying chemical markers is common in the effort to achieve consistency; the product is then said to be “standardized” to ensure that the product will give more-or-less guaranteed results.

In the case of St.-John’s-wort, as is true for many botanicals, more than one constituent may be responsible for the herb’s therapeutic action. So, until more is known about what makes St.-John’s-wort an effective depression remedy, going by its hypericin content may be the best way to assure product consistency. But if hypericin is preferentially extracted from the herb, then other components—which may also be contributing to the herb’s ability to combat depression—may be present only in lower amounts, or not at all.

Weekly Dose: St John’s Wort, the flower that can treat depression

Source:http://theconversation.com/weekly-dose-st-johns-wort-the-flower-that-can-treat-depression-56066

(The Conversation)