St John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum L.) is an herb with yellow flowers whose medicinal uses were first recorded in ancient Greece. It is also known as Hypericum, Klamath Weed and Goat Weed. The name St. John’s Wort apparently refers to John the Baptist, as the plant blooms around the time of the feast of St. John the Baptist in late June. It is aromatic, astringent, resolvent, expectorant and nervine. In ancient times St John’s Wort was used for the wide range of medical conditions and today it is particularly used as anti-depressant for the treatment of depression, anxiety and sleep disorders.
Here are Few Medicinal Uses of St John’s Wort:
- The historical use of medical St. John’s Wort is well documented. Commencing 2400 years ago it was used as a nerve tonic, a painkiller for arthritis, menstrual cramping, diarrhea, nausea and ulcers.
- The ancient Greeks and Romans use St John’s Wort 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.
- St. John’s Wort has also been used as a sedative and a treatment for malaria, as well as a balm for wounds, burns, and insect bites.
- For children troubled with incontinence of urine at night an infusion or tea made of St John’s Wort is found effective. It is also useful in pulmonary consumption, chronic catarrh of the lungs, bowels or urinary passages.
Though this article enlists the uses of St John’s Wort but the herb should be used under the direction of bona fide health provider. St John’s Wort does have side effects and it should be noted that any herb though natural may not be necessarily safe.
Side Effects and Precautions:
- Some of the side effects include gastrointestinal discomfort such as upset stomach, allergic reactions, fatigue, restlessness, increased sensitivity to sunlight, dry mouth, confusion and dizziness.
- St. John’s Wort is not recommended for the treatment of severe or manic depression, and components of St. John’s Wort may raise blood pressure, possibly resulting in a stroke.
- Pregnant women should not use St. John’s Wort as it increases uterine muscle tone, thereby leading to a possible increased risk of premature labour. It has also been suggested that hypericum contains tannic acid, which may interfere with iron absorption. Iron is important for a mother and foetus during pregnancy. Until more is known, women who are pregnant or breastfeeding need to avoid taking St. John’s Wort.
- St. John’s Wort should not be taken with prescription HIV or AIDS medications called protease inhibitors or non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, anti-depressant medications, and/or monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) because of possibly dangerous interactions.
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November 18th, 2009 at 12:01 am
There is obviously a lot to know about this. I think you made some good points here.