St
Johns Wort (latin name Hypericum perforatum) has been used as a
medicinal herb for hundreds of years for a number of conditions.
It is a shrub native to Europe and yellow leaves from late spring
to early autumn. St Johns Wort is available as a dietary supplement
in a number of forms such as powders, tablets, capsules and tinctures.
St Johns Wort
is most well known for its use in treating mild depression as it
is believed that the effective compounds help lift our mood as they
prevent the reuptake of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and
dopamine. With increased levels of serotonin we feel happier. It
has also used for a number of different treatments such as bruises,
rheumatic pain and as an anti-inflammatory. It is also used as a
relaxant helping combat panic attacks, tension, insomnia / sleep
disorders and anxiety. In women, St Johns Wort has been used for
helping treat premenstrual tension / stress.
The lack of
mental side effects compared to some other prescribed anti-depressants
is what makes St Johns Wort so popular with many people who take
it.
When you start
taking St Johns Wort the effects may take anything upto 2 weeks
or longer before you feel any benefits as it takes time for the
levels to build up in your blood. You should give it at least 4
weeks to see whether you are benefiting from using St Johns Wort.
St Johns
Wort is known to have an influence on many other prescription drugs
so before you starting to take St Johns Wort you should consult
your doctor or health professional, especially if you are currently
on prescription anti-depressants or if you are thinking about treating
the depression with St Johns Wort rather than your current anti-depressant.
Do not stop taking your prescribed anti-depressants before consulting
your doctor. Taking St Johns Wort can also change the effectiveness
of the female contraceptive pill.
Clinical
trials confirm its benefits for treating mild depression and show
that it may also be helpful for anxiety, sleep problems and seasonal
affective disorder (SAD).
