St. John’s Wort has been carrying out a wonderful tradition of treating depression and anxiety disorders, and healing other mental wounds through the centuries. With depression making inroads into the lives of millions of people, St. John’s Wort is proving to be the safest alternative to ease the strains of depression.
St. John’s Wort – A Brief:
St. John’s Wort is one of the most popularly known herbal remedies for depression. The Latin word Hypericum Perforatium is the botanical name of this herb. Though the use of St’ John’s Wort has become widely publicized only in the recent years in the United States, the herb has a rich history of curing many psychological disturbances and physical malaise in Europe, especially in Germany. Many clinical researches have shown the herb as an effective tonic for depression with minimal side effects.
St. John’s Wort Mechanism:
St. John's Wort elevates the levels of certain chemicals like serotonin, nor epinephrine, and dopamine neurotransmitters that aid in boosting morale and mood. The active chemical components of St. John’s Wort are bioflavonoid and anthroquinones. The active ingredient that helps in mood enhancement has not been determined, but the chemicals present in the herb are believed to be MAO inhibitors. Studies have shown that the active component of St. John’s Wort is an oily alcohol extract at 0.33% hypericin.
Traditional Use of St. John’s Wort:
Europeans have been using St. John’s Wort to cure a number of mental and physical ills. Historically the herb has been used as a remedy for the following health problems:
- Depression
- Anxiety disorder
- Mental illness
- Myalgia
- Neuralgia
- Premenstrual syndrome
- Menstrual cramp
- Insomnia excitability
- Bed wetting
- Night terrors
St. John’s Wort Safety Measures:
So far, there have been no reports of any serious mishaps resulting from the use of St. John’s Wort. However, people taking any psycho-active medications should refrain from taking this herb. You should also take cautions to keep away from foods containing tyramine. Long term use of the herb and an over exposure to sunlight, while taking the herbal supplement, may give rise to photosensitive problems. Due to its MAO inhibiting properties, St. John’s Wort may aggravate the health conditions of a person if he is using any of the following drugs:
- SSRIs
- Tricyclic antidepressants
- Amphetamines
- MAO inhibitors
- Dopamine
People mixing any of the above drugs with St. John’s Wort may develop Serotonin Syndrome. You must immediately consult a physician if you experience any signs of the Syndrome, like:
- Confusion
- Nausea
- Excited
- Tremors
- Diarrhea
- Shivers
- Fever
- Sweating profusely
St. John’s Wort Dosage Information:
- St. John’s Wort can be used both internally and externally
- St. John’s Wort is available in tincture, capsule, ointment, fluid extract, tea, and oil forms.
- 300 mg three times a day is the standard dose of St. John’s Wort in any form
- The average duration of the herbal treatment is four weeks
- The herbal supplement shouldn’t be double dosed to make up for a missed dose
- Immediately call emergency in case of overdose
St. John’s Wort Storage:
- St.John’s Wort should be kept away from direct heat and light
- St. John’s Wort shouldn’t be kept in moist and damp places
- St. John’s Wort should be stored in average room temperature
- St. John’s Wort should be stored in its original container
St. John’s Wort Side Effects:
St. John’s Wort has no side effects like nausea, low sexual drive, unlike the other anti-depressant drugs. It has a few negative effects of moderate intensity. Some of the commonly known side effects of St. John’s Wort are:
- Confusion
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Upset stomach
- Hyper photosensitivity
- Dry mouth
- Many gastrointestinal problems
- Allergies
- Restlessness
- Inflammation of mucus membrane
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