St John’s Wort 100 g, 50 g, 25 g

St John’s Wort – 100 g ($11.99), 50 g ($7.99), 25 g ($5.99)

Benefits:

St. John’s wort has antibacterial, antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and pain-relieving properties. This herb’s ability to fight depression also makes it useful in treating fatigue, and its ability to relieve pain makes it helpful for treating vocal pain and laryngitis associated with fibromyalgia. Historically it was used for worm infestation, bronchitis, asthma, gallbladder disease, gastritis, bed-wetting, gout, and rheumatism. Oily versions of St. John’s wort were prepared for ingestion to treat dyspepsia and used externally to treat muscle soreness. Chinese medicine used it in a gargle solution for tonsillitis and in a lotion for skin irritations. Homeopathic remedies include those for nervous system issues, depression, and asthma. The German Commission E has approved St. John’s wort for internal use for anxiety and depressive moods, and in an oily mixture for stomach complaints. For external use, it has been approved, when used as an oily mixture, for blunt injuries, skin problems, muscle soreness, and first-degree burns.

Hypericin, a flavonoid component of St. John’s wort, is thought to be responsible for the bioactive activities of the herb.

Burns and skin disorders. Studies in rats have shown that St. John’s wort is more effective for wound healing than placebo or calendula. Clinical studies have found that an ointment prepared by mixing fresh St. John’s wort flowers with olive oil greatly accelerates the healing of burns. St. John’s wort lotions prevent skin infection with Staphylococcus aureus (staph infection). In one study, patients with subacute atopic dermatitis applied a topical cream made from hypericin extract for four weeks and their eczema healed better than the placebo group’s eczema. Hypericin-containing extracts may prove useful for the treatment of psoriasis, warts, and certain forms of skin cancer (see below).

Cancer. St. John’s wort increases sensitivity to light. Photodynamic therapy is a type of treatment based on the ability of cancer cells to selectively take up a specific compound that makes the cancer cells more sensitive to specific wavelengths of light, so that irradiation kills only the cancer cells. In experiments using mice, hypericin was shown to accumulate specifically in tumor tissue. When the hypericin-treated mice were irradiated, tumor growth was inhibited. Similar results have been found in human tumor cells. These results suggest that hypericin can be used as a photodynamic therapy in the treatment of cancer. The use of extracts containing hypericin may prove beneficial for certain types of skin cancer, such as cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, melanoma, and Kaposi’s sarcoma. Other studies were done in cell lines of human colon cancer, leukemia, and gastrointestinal tumor cells, and hypericin showed the ability to kill cancer cells, but more work is needed before it can be recommended as a treatment for any type of cancer.

Carpal tunnel syndrome. St. John’s wort is anecdotally reported to relieve pain of carpal tunnel syndrome. This is probably due to its ability to improve transmission over the median nerve, the nerve that runs through the carpal tunnel in the wrist. However, there is no historical use of this herb for similar complaints.

Crohn’s disease, hemorrhoids, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). St. John’s wort oil has been used clinically for a variety of digestive ailments. It regulates serotonin, a neurotransmitter that causes digestive irritation, and reduces inflammation and swelling. The tannins in the oil (which are not present in pure hypericin extract) prevent fluids from flowing into the intestines, thereby relieving diarrhea. For IBS, European doctors usually prescribe St. John’s wort oil as an overnight retention enema.

Cuts, scrapes, and abrasions. St. John’s wort may keep open wounds from becoming infected. One component in St. John’s wort, hyperforin, has antibacterial properties. In laboratory experiments, it shows greater antibiotic activity than sulfa drugs.

Depression. The most common use of St. John’s wort is in the treatment of depression. Although the exact way in which the herb works is not yet known, St. John’s wort is often described as a “natural Prozac.” Hypericin (or, more likely, a group of chemicals in this plant including hypericin) does in fact prevent the reuptake of serotonin by brain tissue, allowing this mood-controlling brain chemical to fight depression. However, St. John’s wort has also been described as a natural monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor, acting in the same way as the antidepressant drugs commonly used before fluoxetine (Prozac). The whole herb does not seem to have this effect because it is not concentrated enough. There is also another possible explanation of how St. John’s wort works to counteract depression. Scientists at Humboldt University in Berlin have found that hypericin stops the production of cytokines, hormonal messengers that transmit sensations of pain and irritation. Small changes in cytokine balance apparently can make huge differences in brain function, affecting not only depression but also partial seizure disorders. In one study, blood samples were taken from a group of depressed patients and a group of healthy volunteers. Cells were bathed in an extract of hypericum. In both groups there was a reduction in cytokines. It is thought that St. John’s wort lowered the number of cytokines, which leads to a decrease in corticotrophin releasing hormone, which triggers depressive moods.

However, St. John’s wort acts against depression, its effects have been demonstrated in large-scale clinical tests against placebos and other antidepressant medications. A statistical review of twenty-three studies involving 1,757 outpatients with mild to moderate depression found that St. John’s wort was better than placebo and had an effect comparable to such antidepressants as amitriptyline (Elavil), maprotiline (Ludiomil), and imipramine (Tofranil). Typical doses of St. John’s wort ranged from 350 to 1,800 milligrams a day. Other double-blind studies found that St. John’s wort was more effective than fluoxetine (Prozac) and sertraline (Zoloft), and that it caused fewer and less severe side effects. In a meta-analysis of several studies, St. John’s wort was shown to be more effective than placebo and as effective as tricyclic antidepressants in treating moderate depression. In one study, 65 percent of the participants who took the herb got better. The participants took 300 milligrams of St. John’s wort three times a day to total 900 milligrams daily. Another study of this herb discounted its effects against depression, but that study did not discriminate between mild to moderate depression and severe depression. Other studies of St. John’s wort have focused on mild to moderate depression and have found the herb effective. In another study, using an extract of hypericum WS 5570, patients with acute episodes of moderate depression got better and had fewer depressive symptoms, according to the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, and also had fewer relapses than a placebo group. The German Commission E has approved the use of St. John’s wort for mild to moderate depression. In all probability, the herb does not have usefulness in treating severe depression. And if it is used in cases of severe depression, it should be used in combination with other therapies. In one study of patients with severe depression, hypericum WS 5570 was as effective as a commonly used selective serontonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) drug. However, the authors cautioned about using St. John’s wort in this way because it has numerous interactions with other medications. The focus has now shifted from efficacy to the potential harmful aspects of the herb.

Diabetic neuropathy. Sometimes, successful treatment of diabetes that has gone uncontrolled for a long time can result in severe nerve pain. This happens because lowering blood sugar leads to restored nerve function, but the “pain fibers” in the nerves are disproportionately stimulated. St. John’s wort is an alternative to the tricyclic antidepressant usually prescribed for the condition, amitriptyline (Elavil). Unlike amitriptyline, St. John’s wort does not cause secondary effects such as drowsiness, orthostatic hypotension (a sudden drop in blood pressure when you move from a seated to a standing position), or urine retention.

Ear infection and herpesvirus infection. A reduction in ear pain has been reported with use of naturopathic herbal extract eardrops containing hypericum and other herbs. In studies, the product Otikon Otic Solution performed as well as a topical anesthetic and worked without antibiotics. Relief occurred within two to three days, which is also the amount of time it usually takes without any treatment. Hypericin and pseudohypericin, two of the primary active compounds in St. John’s wort, inhibit the herpes simplex 1 virus, the type of herpesvirus best known for causing cold sores (fever blisters). Hypericin and pseudohypericin act against a variety of other herpesviruses as well, including cytomegalovirus (CMV). The antiviral process triggered by St. John’s wort is enhanced when the user is exposed to sunlight, but no human studies are available to confirm its use for these conditions in humans; all studies were done on cell lines.

Headache. St. John’s wort is known to interrupt some of the metabolic pathways activated during tension headaches. The herb may work through its bioflavonoids, which contain a compound that relaxes blood vessels and increases blood circulation.

HIV/AIDS. Hypericin and pseudohypericin have been reported to have activity against some retroviruses, including HIV. Scientists are currently investigating the use of these compounds in fighting HIV.

Insomnia and anxiety. When used by itself, St. John’s wort does not increase the time in rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep (a deep sleep), but does increase the slow-wave sleep. In one study, women took a product called Jarsin, a hypericum extract that supplies 300 milligrams of St. John’s wort, three times a day for four weeks. The increase in slow-wave sleep (sleep stages 3 and 4) is postulated to be a significant contributor to the antidepressant effect of St. John’s wort. In another study, patients with generalized anxiety disorder experienced symptom relief from 900 milligrams of St. John’s wort twice a day. Although the study was only in three patients, the positive effects on the patients’ sleep and coping abilities persisted with use of the herb for one year. Laboratory studies show that when animals are given St. John’s wort in combination with sleep-inducing medications, it increases total time spent in sleep.

 

Recommended Use

St. John’s wort is available in a variety of forms. In some people, this herb may cause stomach upset, restlessness, increased urination, headaches, mild allergic reactions, or fatigue. There have been reports of mania, anxiety, and schizophrenia relapse.

No medication, including St. John’s wort, is adequate treatment for people who experience a preoccupation with or repeated thoughts of death or suicide. If you do experience such thoughts, you should immediately seek professional help. For other people with depression, St. John’s wort should be taken for no less than ten days to two weeks to determine if there is any improvement. If not, and especially if there is no benefit in four to six weeks, the herb should be discontinued. If the herb is helpful, however, there is no limitation on the length of time it can be taken. A dose of hypericin for depression can range from 200 to 1,000 milligrams a day, but as the actual amount of hypericin in St. John’s wort varies from product to product, care should be taken in determining the correct dosage for you. For general use, the herb is used at 2 to 4 grams per day.

Many science writers caution that hypericin can sensitize the skin to sunlight, causing a tendency to sunburn. To put this problem in perspective, over 60 million doses of St. John’s wort are dispensed every year in Germany alone, and only fewer than a dozen photosensitization reactions have ever been reported. As a caution, though, you should avoid the use of tanning beds or lamps while taking St. John’s wort for depression.

If you are taking St. John’s wort as an antiviral aid, or to treat cancer or vitiligo, you need to expose your skin to sunlight to activate the herb’s active constituents, so the preceding caution does not apply. However, you should note that over 85 percent of people with AIDS who take the herb for as long as six months experience at least one episode of severe sunburn. Also, people taking prescription medications that increase risk of sunburn, such as angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, commonly prescribed for high blood pressure, should also avoid St. John’s wort.

Since the antiviral effect of St. John’s wort against HIV has not yet been verified and is still undergoing scientific study, people with AIDS should use this herb only under the supervision of a knowledgeable health-care provider.

Some scientific articles maintain that St. John’s wort contains MAO inhibitors, which can cause sudden attacks of severe high blood pressure when combined with the protein tyramine, which is found in aged cheeses, chocolate, and red wine, among many other foods. The studies reporting to find MAO inhibitors in St. John’s wort have not been replicated, though, and there are no reports of people taking St. John’s wort having symptoms of this kind of drug interaction. However, if you are taking antidepressant drugs, whether MAO inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants, or SSRIs such as fluoxetine (Prozac); or the painkiller tramadol (Ultram); or the migraine medication sumatriptan (Imitrex), you should not take St. John’s wort at the same time. Doing so can cause serotonin syndrome, which can be life-threatening. It is characterized by high blood pressure, dizziness, weakness, and agitation that only goes away with discontinuation of the herb. If you are interested in switching from a prescription drug to St. John’s wort, you need to let the medication flush out of your system for several weeks (depending on the drug) before you start using the herb. Do not do this without speaking to your doctor.

Other drugs also pose a risk of undesirable interactions. If you are taking digoxin (Lanoxicaps, Lanoxin), cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune), protease inhibitors and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors for HIV infection, birth control pills, amitriptyline (Elavil), warfarin (Coumadin), theophylline (Aerolate, Elixophyllin, Slo-Phyllin, and others), chemotherapy drugs, or antipsychotic medications, St. John’s wort might cause these drugs to be less effective. Numerous other prescription drugs pose moderate to major risk to those who use them with St. John’s wort. It is best if you are using any prescription drug, even if you think it is benign, such as a contraceptive medication, to contact your doctor first. Of all of the herbs described in this book, St. John’s wort interacts with the greatest number of drugs.

If you are taking medications that cause sun sensitivity, such as sulfa drugs, the anti-inflammatory medication piroxicam (Feldene), omeprazole (Prilosec), or lansoprazole (Prevacid), keep in mind that St. John’s wort might increase that effect. Similarly, you should not take it if you are planning to undergo any type of surgical procedure. This herb can intensify the effects of anesthesia, resulting in oversedation. Some reports from patients show that St. John’s wort increases thyroid-stimulating hormone. If you have thyroid problems, speak to your doctor before using this herb. Use of St. John’s wort is contraindicated during pregnancy because it damages reproductive cells. Some people have reported problems with caffeine in combination with St. John’s wort. If you experience any unusual symptoms, discontinue one of the two (caffeine or the herb). Others have reported sexual dysfunction when taking St. John’s wort. Others have experienced symptoms of withdrawal, such as nausea, anorexia, dry retching, dizziness, thirst, cold, and extreme fatigue, after discontinuing its use.

Botanical Name: Hypericum perforatum
English: Common St. John’s wort
Also, known as: Balsana, bassan, bossant, common St John’s Wort, corazoncillo, dendlu, devil’s scourge, echtes Johanniskraut, Eisenblut, erba di San Giovanni, fl or de sao joao, fuga daemonum, hardhay, Hartheu, herbe à mille trous, herbe de millepertuis, Herrgottsblut, Hexenkraut, hierba de San Juan, hiperico, hipericon, houfarighoun, iperico, Jageteufel, Johannisblut, Johanniskraut, John’s wort, Jottannesort, klamath weed, Konradskraut, Liebeskraut, Lord God’s wonder plant, Mille pertuis, Mannskraft, millepertuis, pelicao, perforata, perforate St John’s wort, pinillo de oro, quian-ceng lou, St Jan’s kraut, St John’s Wort, seiyouotogiri, sint janskruid, Tupfelharthen, tenturotou, Teufelsfl ucht, Tüpfelhartheu, witches’s herb, zwieroboij, Hierba de San Juan, Perforata, Dadi, Hynfarikun, Chin-ssut sao, Johnswort, St. John’s Grass, Klamath Weed, Saint John
Habitat: Britain and throughout Europe and Asia
Origin: Bulgaria

General Information:
St. John Wort grows abundantly in the United States and Europe. An ornamental herb to our meadows often considered a pest when too freely mingled in corn and wheat fields. It is said that St. John’s wort is well known among bakers, as a small quantity added to the flour improves the quality of bread. An herbaceous perennial growing freely wild to a height of 1 to 3 feet in the uncultivated ground, woods, hedges, roadsides, and meadows; short, decumbent, barren shoots and erect stems branching in the upper part, glabrous, leaves pale green, sessile, oblong, with pellucid dots or oil glands which may be seen on holding leaf to light Flowers bright cheery yellow in a terminal corymb Calyx and corolla marked with black dots and lines, sepals, ovary pear-shaped with three long styles. Stamens in three bundles joined by their bases only. Blooms June to August, followed by numerous small round blackish seeds which have a resinous smell and are contained in a three-celled capsule; odour peculiar, taste bitter, astringent and balsamic.

How to use:

Hot Infusion:

The basic method for dried herbs and flower is, take 2-3 tablespoons of dried herb in a cup or teapot. Pour hot water over it and cover it with lid for 10-30 minutes. Hot water is needed to draw out the antioxidants, enzymes, vitamins, flavonoids, and volatile oils from the botanicals. Strain and squeeze out as much as liquid as possible and enjoy!

Tips

You can sweeten your herbal tea with a bit of honey, natural fruit juice, stevia leaves powder and or licorice root powder.