Herb of Happiness - St John's Wort
Relaxing Herb has Long-Lasting Tonic Effect on Nervous System
Aug 6, 2009 © Harry P. Schlanger
St John's Wort is used to relax and soothe the psyche with minimal side effects and is widely used
as herbal remedy for treating nerves.
St John's Wort extract derives from a yellow-flowered hedgerow plant, which blooms around St John's Day -
June 24.
A natural herb, St John's Wort is soothing to the nerves and
works
better than drugs for treating depression, with fewer side effects.
Botanical Background
St. John's Wort is native to Europe, but is now found growing in dry areas such as at the edges of
fields and along roadsides in many temperate climates throughout the world. It thrives in areas with
either a winter- or summer-dominant rainfall pattern. The plant's botanical name Hypericum Perforatum
is from the Greek language, meaning "to place something above a picture" - an ancient
practice to ward off evil.
St John's Wort in Australian Fields
Active Ingredients
Major active ingredients in St. John's Wort include:
- Hypericin (an antibiotic substance)
- Dianthrones (photosensitizing plant substances)
- Flavonoids (pigment that may have pharmacological action)
- Xanthones (organic compounds having medical uses)
- Hyperforin (main constituent responsible for antidepressant effects)
For many years researchers believed the antidepressant properties of St. John's Wort were a result of
its hypericin content and the inhibition of the enzyme monoamine oxidase. More recent research suggests
that antidepressant actions may be a result of other active constituents, such as hyperforin and
flavonoids.
Health Benefits - Nerve Tonic
The main health benefits of St John's Wort are as a tonic for the nerves and importantly, to treat
depression.
- Nerve Tonic. If long-term stress has led to nervous exhaustion, St John's Wort will
often help. The extract offers a persistent, gentle nerve tonic, boosting the whole nervous system.
- Antidepressant. One of the best known uses for St John's Wort is for helping banish
depression. According to a recent report, it can be as
effective as Prozac. The herb also has fewer side effects than many standard drugs used to help those battling
despair.
Other benefits claimed of St John's Wort have been toward helping the following conditions: Obsessive-
Compulsive Disorder (OCD), anxiety disorders, menopause symptoms, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS),
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), migraine, and nerve pain.
Dosage and Precautions
A common recommendation for taking St John's Wort as a nerve tonic is 200 - 1000 mg. Start at the
lower dosage and work up slowly over an extended period of 3-6 months. Results may be noted within two
weeks (or longer) of administering the herb.
It is important that one should seek medical advice before starting supplementation with St John's
Wort, especially in view that the herb has been shown to interfere with at least fifty drugs available
on the market . In particular, St John's Wort should not be taken by patients on blood thinners or
antidepressants, as in combination with the herb, this can bring on strokes.
St John's Wort promote mental health
St John's Wort is a herbal remedy that is typically used to promote mental health. It is most often
used as a tonic to treat nervous disorders and depression, but it has also been used to treat a range of other well known psyche or nerve-related conditions. St. John's Wort has minimal side effects when used on its own but can interact with medicines, therefore medical advice should be sought and caution exercised.
The reader may be interested in finding out about the so-called "miracle herb",
Spirulina. The reader is also alerted to the remarkable 1950s
Dr. Budwig diet as a health supplement for cell repair and treatment of cancer.
The copyright of the article Herb of Happiness - St John's Wort: Relaxing Herb has Long-Lasting
Tonic Effect on Nervous System is owned by Harry P. Schlanger. Permission to republish in print or
online must be granted by the author in writing.
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