Today, I wanted to focus in on a specific herb – St. John’s Wort. Did you know that it is licensed in Germany and other European countries as a treatment for mild to moderate depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders? Sometimes called “Nature’s Prozac,” St. John’s Wort helps relieve stress, anxiety, and tension. As you can imagine, this herb has been studied extensively. In fact, more than 20 clinical studies have been completed using several different St. John’s wort extracts. Most have reported antidepressant action equal to standard prescription antidepressant drugs, without the side effects.
St. John’s Wort also has been helpful in relieving a number of the physical and emotional symptoms of PMS, including cramps, irritability, food cravings, and breast tenderness as well as improving mood and anxiety in menopause. The herb also has antibacterial properties and may help with fighting inflammation.
The herb has been promoted to help treat:
- bronchial inflammation
- bed-wetting
- stomach problems
- hemorrhoids
- hypothyroidism
- insomnia
- migraines
- kidney disorders
- diarrhea
- malaria
- insect bites and stings
- skin diseases
More research continues to be done on St. John’s Wort as it is also being studied as a potential treatment for HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, and other viral illnesses. And it is being studied as a treatment for obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) as well as other social phobias.
One caution though, people with bipolar disorder cycle between depression and mania, a state marked by excessive physical activity and impulsive behavior. St. John’s wort can bring on mania in these individuals and can also speed up the cycling between depression and mania, so it is not recommended for people with a bipolar depression. But many others can benefit from its wonderful health improving effects.
Be sure to check out our Organic St. John’s Wort by Solaray as well as Mood Support Blend by Now Foods which contains St. John’s Wort.
