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St. Johns wort has been used in herbal healing for thousands of years. Today, it’s more popular than ever reaching top seller status among herbal medicines. The reason for the popularity is the 1980s discovery that St. John’s wort is as potent an antidepressant as any prescription drug on the market. Don’t be confused by the name. Wort means “plant” in Old English. Christians named it after John the Baptist and that’s how St. John’s wort came to be.
St John’s Wort Uses The main active ingredient in St. John’s wort is hypericin, which is responsible for the antidepressant properties of the herb. It also contains antiviral and immune boosting flavanoids, which makes it a good viral, bacterial, and fungal infection fighter. German researchers found that hypericin is an MAO inhibitor like many other antidepressant drugs. The only difference is that St. John wort is all natural - an exciting distinction. People with mild to moderate depression experienced mood elevation, improved self esteem, greater interest in life, increased appetite, and more normal sleep patterns. So how does it stand up to antidepressant drugs? It was put to the test in a study with Prozac. The patients who received St. John’s wort reported the same elevation of mood as those who took Prozac. And, the St. Johns wort produced fewer side effects than the drug. Have you heard of seasonal affective disorder, appropriately named SAD? It’s a winter depression that comes on as a result of shorter days and a lack of exposure to the sun. St. Johns wort has been shown to be effective in treating SAD. While St. John’s wort’s main use today is to alleviate depression, it still protects against a wide range of infections including influenza, herpes, polio, hepatitis C, and HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. It also protects against bacterial infections too. The herb’s red oil helps prevent infections and speeds healing. St. Johns wort ointment substantially cuts the healing time of burns and causes less scarring. St. John’s Wort Dosage Recommendations To treat depression, buy an extract or capsule. It will take up to six weeks to see results with depression. It is not a quick cure. It takes several weeks of consistent daily dosages to work, so don’t get discouraged too quickly. To heal wounds, apply crushed leaves and flowers to the affected area after you have cleaned it with soap and water. Consult a doctor for advice on how to treat AIDS with St. Johns wort. St. John’s Wort Safety St. John’s wort causes sun sensitivity and blistering sunburn. If you have fair skin, and take St. John’s wort make sure to use a sun block to prevent sun burn. AIDS patients report that the herb is relatively nontoxic, but some have experienced sun sensitivity, drowsiness, nausea, and diarrhea. Do not take St. John’s wort in combination with any other antidepressant medication without first consulting your physician. Likewise, don’t take the herb is you are already taking any of the protease inhibitor medications since it stops the action of those drugs.
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