St. John's wort is well known in folk medicine. It is one of the most popular medicinal plants. Its antidepressant effect has been proven by numerous studies. Consider what St. John's wort still helps and why it is in great demand today.
St. John's wort
St. John's wort contains dozens of biologically active substances, but hypericin and hyperforin are of the greatest medical importance. The remaining healthy compounds in it are mainly flavonoids, such as rutin, quercetin and kempferol. Most pharmaceutical companies produce a variety of St. John's wort health products that are widely used by millions of people across all continents. They can be purchased at a pharmacy or herbal store. They are produced in various forms, most often you can buy grass in the form of capsules, tablets, tinctures, etc. You can also sometimes find this plant in the form of dry raw materials or powder.
Pills from the plant
Nutritional supplements with St. John's wort extract are intended, as a rule, to improve the general mental state, including to support a positive mood, improve well-being and maintain emotional balance. The active components contained in the plant activate mental abilities and improve overcoming of stressful situations. Supplements of this type facilitate the achievement of a state of relaxation and proper relaxation, and also support a healthy sleep.
Tablets from a plant usually contain 200-400 mg of herbal extract. Be sure to use them according to the manufacturer's instructions, most often taken orally, 2-3 times a day, 1-2 tablets before or during meals. Do not exceed the doses indicated on the package.
The price of St. John's wort in tablets in the regions of Russia is from 50 rubles. They should not be used after the expiration date. Taking drugs with St. John's wort extract can be the cause of photosensitivity. This is an increased sensitivity to ultraviolet light.
St. John's wort - what helps?
St. John's wort is one of the most often recommended natural remedies, especially in the case of depression and symptoms such as increased irritability, constant fatigue, loss of appetite and trouble sleeping. It is also used to treat:
- heart palpitations;
- mood swings;
- with symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder - ADHD;
- with obsessive-compulsive disorders - OCD; seasonal affective disorders - GARDEN;
- symptoms of menopause.
St. John's wort for depression
Many studies indicate that St. John's wort in pills can help fight mild to moderate depression. Unlike most prescription antidepressants, it can reduce anxiety without causing any significant side effects, such as decreased libido. However, it can interact with many drugs, therefore it should be used only under the supervision of a doctor, especially if antidepressants are taken during treatment.
St. John's wort acts as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors - SSRIs, which are the main types of antidepressants that are usually prescribed at the beginning of treatment for depression. Therefore, it has properties similar to such popular drugs as Prozac and Zoloft. When using St. John's wort in tablets, an increase in the absorption of serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain is observed. Thanks to this, you can improve mood and well-being in the case of the first symptoms of depression.
St. John's wort improves mood during menopause
Numerous observations indicate that St. John's wort effectively alleviates the psychological and autonomic symptoms of menopause. German studies showed that after 12 weeks of treatment with herbal preparations, a significant improvement in mental and psychosomatic symptoms was observed. St. John's wort in tablets was prescribed to 111 women aged 43 to 65 years in the amount of 900 mg three times a day. Thus, it is highly likely that it is an effective means to improve the mood of women during the difficult period of menopause.
St. John's wort to relieve symptoms of PMS
British studies have shown that regular intake of this plant's extract actually improves women's well-being in the premenstrual period. The observation covered 36 women aged 18-45 years, who were divided into two groups. For two complete menstrual cycles, the first one took 900 mg of St. John's wort extract, and the second only took placebo tablets. The results showed that St. John's wort can be successfully used to alleviate symptoms and combat PMS, in particular with chronic fatigue, hormonal imbalance or depressed mood. However, it will not bring any significant effects in the fight against pain.
St. John's wort against cancer
Many will be surprised to learn from what St. John's wort still helps. Spanish scientists have discovered that plant extracts can inhibit the growth of certain cancer cells. Data from studies conducted in 2003 show that the hyperforin derivative is a compound that can inhibit the uncontrolled proliferation of cancer cells. These properties may be important in inhibiting tumor growth and the formation of metastases.
Side effects and contraindications
Detailed studies confirm that oral administration of hypericum in tablets for up to three months is generally safe for health.
The most common side effects when taking grass:
- trouble sleeping
- vivid dreams;
- night irritability;
- stomach upset;
- fatigue;
- dry mouth
- dizziness;
- headache;
- rash;
- diarrhea.
When taken in large doses and in the sun, St. John's wort can cause severely unpleasant body reactions.
St. John's wort is not recommended for pregnant women or breast-feeding. Some sources report that herbal preparations are safe for children aged 6 to 17 years, but should not be prescribed for longer than 8 weeks.
Special precautions
In the medical literature, you can find many contraindications to the use of St. John's wort in certain diseases and in the case of taking certain medications. Recent studies show the possibility of interaction of the components of St. John's wort with other medicines. They can contribute to the production of enzymes in the intestines and liver that cause the rapid removal of another drug from the body and turn it into an inactive form, helping to weaken the effectiveness of pharmacological therapy.
In case of serious diseases and ailments, the intention to use St. John's wort should always be reported to the doctor, as he can interact with several medications, including birth control pills, allergy medications, headaches and heart diseases. Particular care should be taken in case of:
- suicidal thoughts or severe depression;
- bleeding disorders;
- diabetes mellitus;
- cataract
- high cholesterol;
- epilepsy;
- weak nervous system.
St. John's wort: reviews
Most people positively evaluate the use of St. John's wort in various forms, in particular in tablets. It not only improves mental activity, but also provides better protection of the body against pathological changes.
Hypericum preparations are readily available and inexpensive, so they can be used without much effort. According to reviews, St. John's wort is a very beautiful and useful herb that everyone should have in a home medicine cabinet.