The extract from St. John's Europe , it is used extensively to treat mild to moderate depression. In the United States
Historical St. John's Wort Applications
The historical use of medicalSt. John's St. John's
The ancient Greeks and Romans used to treat many ailments, including sciatica and poisonous reptile bites as well as to ward against evil spirits, placing sprigs of the plant on statues of their Gods. In fact, the genus name Hypericum is from Greek and means "over an apparition" as the herb was once considered odiferous enough to cause evil spirits to depart.
In the first centurySt. John’s
Dioscorides, a Roman army surgeon, recommended drinkingSt Johns St. John’s
During medieval times, the Europeans used the plant to treat all forms of madness (They thoughtSt. Johns St. John’s
Sixteenth century medical books refer to the plant as Fuga demonum, or devil’s scourge, a term that was repeated frequently in the literature of the next several hundred years.
The oil made from the flowers was listed in the first Pharmacopoeia Londinensis (1618). 1630 Angelo Sala stated thatSt. John’s St. John’s
There is even evidence that the American Indians usedSt. John
Civil War soldiers collectedSt. John's St. John's
19th century literature incorporated the use of hypericum to treat melancholia. 19th century British and American literature stressed the superficial use of the herb for the treatment of burns and wounds. A powerful antibacterial,St. John’s
More contemporarySt. Johns
The historical use of medical
The ancient Greeks and Romans used to treat many ailments, including sciatica and poisonous reptile bites as well as to ward against evil spirits, placing sprigs of the plant on statues of their Gods. In fact, the genus name Hypericum is from Greek and means "over an apparition" as the herb was once considered odiferous enough to cause evil spirits to depart.
In the first century
Dioscorides, a Roman army surgeon, recommended drinking
During medieval times, the Europeans used the plant to treat all forms of madness (They thought
Sixteenth century medical books refer to the plant as Fuga demonum, or devil’s scourge, a term that was repeated frequently in the literature of the next several hundred years.
The oil made from the flowers was listed in the first Pharmacopoeia Londinensis (1618). 1630 Angelo Sala stated that
There is even evidence that the American Indians used
Civil War soldiers collected
19th century literature incorporated the use of hypericum to treat melancholia. 19th century British and American literature stressed the superficial use of the herb for the treatment of burns and wounds. A powerful antibacterial,
More contemporary
- Over time, and the advent of modern pharmaceutical science,
- St. Johns Wort has also been shown to be useful in treating pulmonary complaints, bladder trouble, suppression of urine, dysentery, worms and nervous depression.
- St. Johns Wort can act to dissolve and remove bacterially based tumors and boils. It calms the nerves and increase the flow of urine.
- For Tourette's syndrome - used with Wormseed
- Bells' Palsy (apply directly on face)
- St. Johns Wort antibacterial/viral properties have been shown useful in relieve phlegm obstructions in the chest and lungs. It can be beneficial in addressing bronchitis as well.
- Like Horsechestnut, St. Johns Wort may be valuable for treating internal bleeding.
- St. Johns Wort is used to treat chronic uterine problems and will correct irregular and painful menstruation.
- St. Johns Wort contains an alkaloid that is a heart and artery stimulant
- Is useful for low back pain
- Mattioli wrote of its use as an emmenagogue and antimalarial (Bombardelli and Morazzoni 1995).
- Most recent research at two of the world's leading medical institutions, New York University and the Weizman Institute of Science in Israel ,found that 2 of the main constituents of St. John's Wort namely hypercin and pseudohypericin were found to inhibit the growth of retroviruses( including HIV, the AIDS virus) in animals. Although the results of these studies are promising, more work needs to be done. The mechanism is thought to involve the production of oxygen free radicals which can damage the viral envelope.
Why people use
Some patients who take antidepressant drugs do not experience relief from their depression. Other patients have reported unpleasant side effects from their prescription medication, such as a dry mouth, nausea, headache, or effects on sexual function or sleep.
Sometimes people turn to herbal preparations likeSt. John's
Finally, cost can be a reason.St. John's
Sometimes people turn to herbal preparations like
Finally, cost can be a reason.
How is St. John's
St. John's
- Capsules
- Teas--the dried herb is added to boiling water and steeped for a period of time.
- Extracts--specific types of chemicals are removed from the herb, leaving the desired chemicals in a concentrated form.
Does St. John's
There has been scientific research to try to answer this question.
In Europe, results from a number of scientific studies have supported the effectiveness of certainSt. John's St. John's
Other studies conducted recently have found no benefit from the use ofSt. John's St. John's
In addition, several components of the National Institutes of Health--NCCAM, the Office of Dietary Supplements, and the National Institute of Mental Health--funded a large, carefully designed research study to find out whether St. John's wort extract benefits people with major depression of moderate severity. This trial found thatSt. John's
In Europe, results from a number of scientific studies have supported the effectiveness of certain
Other studies conducted recently have found no benefit from the use of
In addition, several components of the National Institutes of Health--NCCAM, the Office of Dietary Supplements, and the National Institute of Mental Health--funded a large, carefully designed research study to find out whether St. John's wort extract benefits people with major depression of moderate severity. This trial found that
Are there any risks to taking St. John's
Yes, there are risks in taking St. John's
Many so-called "natural" substances can have harmful effects--especially if they are taken in too large a quantity or if they interact with something else the person is taking.
Research from the NIH has shown thatSt. John’s St. John’s St. John’s
Also,St. John's
People can experience side effects from takingSt. John's
Many so-called "natural" substances can have harmful effects--especially if they are taken in too large a quantity or if they interact with something else the person is taking.
Research from the NIH has shown that
Also,
People can experience side effects from taking
To address increasing American interests in
Other research has shown that
In general, you should be alert for any of the following effects if you are taking St. John's
- allergic reactions
- fatigue and restlessness with long-term use
- increased blood pressure
- increased sensitivity to the sun -- especially if you are fair-skinned and taking large doses
- stomach upsets
Sources and Additional Information:
