|
What Is It
A shrubby perennial bearing bright yellow flowers, St. John's
wort is cultivated worldwide. It was named for Saint John
the Baptist because it blooms around June 24, the day celebrated
as his birthday; "wort" is an old English word for
plant. For centuries, St. John's wort was used to soothe the
nerves and to heal wounds, burns, and snakebites. Supplements
are made from the dried flowers, which contain a number of
therapeutic substances, including a healing pigment called
hypericin.
What Does It Do
St. John's wort is most often used to treat mild depression.
Scientists aren't sure exactly how the herb works, though
it's believed to boost levels of the brain chemical serotonin,
which is key to mood and emotions.
Common Uses
• Treats depression.
• Helps fight off viral and bacterial infections.
• May help treat premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and fibromyalgia.
• Helps relieve chronic pain.
• Soothes hemorrhoids.
• May aid in weight loss.
Major Benefits
A careful recent analysis of 23 different studies of St. John's
wort concluded that the herb was as effective as antidepressant
drugs and more effective than a placebo in the treatment of
mild to moderate depression.(Few studies have examined its
usefulness for more serious depression, though it may prove
beneficial for this as well.) St. John's wort may be helpful
for many conditions associated with depression too, such as
anxiety, stress, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), fibromyalgia,
or chronic pain; it may even have some direct pain-relieving
effects. This herb promotes sound sleep and may be especially
valuable when depression is marked by fatigue, sleepiness,
and low energy levels. It may also aid in treating "wintertime
blues" (seasonal affective disorder), a type of depression
that develops in the fall and winter and dissipates in the
bright sunlight of spring and summer.
Some people are leery of conventional antidepressants because
of their potential for causing undesirable side effects, especially
reduced sexual function. St. John's wort has fewer bothersome
side effects than these drugs. In addition, although St. John's
wort may interact with antidepressant medications, it doesn't
appear to interact with most other conventional drugs, making
it useful for older people taking multiple medications. The
herb seems so promising that the National Institutes of Health
(NIH) is now conducting a major study of its effectiveness.
Additional Benefits
St. John's wort fights bacteria and viruses as well. Research
indicates that it may play a key part in combating herpes
simplex, influenza, and Epstein-Barr virus (the cause of mononucleosis),
and preliminary laboratory studies reveal a possible role
for the herb in the fight against AIDS. When an ointment made
from St. John's wort is applied to hemorrhoids, it relieves
burning and itching. Taken along with the herb ephedra, St.
John's wort may also be useful as a weight-loss aid.
How To Take It
Dosage: The recommended dose is 300 mg of an extract
standardized to contain 0.3% hypericin, three times a day.
Supplements containing 450 mg are also available and can be
taken twice a day.
Guidelines For Use: Take St. John's wort
close to mealtime to reduce stomach irritation. In the past,
those using the herb were advised not to eat certain foods,
including aged cheese and red wine, the same foods best avoided
by those taking MAO inhibitors (a type of antidepressant).
But recent studies suggest that these foods do not present
a problem for those on St. John's wort.
Like a prescription antidepressant, the herb must build up
in your blood before it becomes effective, so be sure to allow
at least four weeks to determine whether it works for you.
It can be used long term, as needed. Unless you are under
the care of a doctor familiar with both conventional antidepressants
and St. John's wort, the medication and the herb should not
be taken together because of the potential for adverse reactions.
Some doctors also recommend combining St. John's wort with
the nutritional supplement 5-HTP.
Though no adverse effects have been reported in pregnant or
lactating women using the herb, there have been few studies
in this group of patients, so caution is advised.
Latest Findings
• In one recent study, 50 participants with depression
were given either St. John's wort or a placebo. After eight
weeks, 70% of those on St. John's wort showed marked improvement,
versus 45% of those receiving a placebo. No adverse reactions
to the herb were noted.
• Although used for mild and moderate depression, St.
John's wort may one day prove effective for more severe cases.
A study of 209 people with serious depression found the herb
as effective as conventional antidepressants. But more research
is needed before the supplement can be recommended for this
purpose.
Caution!
• If you're taking conventional antidepressant drugs,
consult your doctor before adding or switching to St. John's
wort.
• If you develop a rash or have difficulty breathing
(rarely, people have allergic reactions), get immediate medical
help.
|
