Hypericum perforatum L. is the scientific name for St. John's wort. Currently popular as an alternative treatment for depression, this potent herb also boasts antiviral, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. You can use oral methods of ingestion for relief from depression and topically apply St. John's wort cream or oil for eczema, wounds, hemorrhoids and minor burns.
Botanical Information
St. John's wort is low lying shrub that grows up to two feet high and overtakes the surrounding area if given the opportunity. It produces clusters of small yellow flowers with five petals at the end of June. According to the USDA Plants Database zone map, you can find St. John's wort growing in every state and province in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The leaves and the flowers both contain active medicinal components.
History
Used for thousands of years to fight nervous disorders, depression and anxiety, the medicinal use of St. John's wort dates back to ancient Greece.
Consumer Use
Currently the most popular use of St. John's wort (hypericum) is to treat depression and other conditions, including anxiety disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder. However, treatment of mild to moderate depression is the only condition recognized by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as backed by strong scientific evidence. An article published by the NIH states that short-term studies of one to three months conducted in both the United States and Europe show St. John's wort works better than a placebo and is just as effective as the tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) used treat mild to moderate depression.
Dosage
The University of Maryland Medical Center cautions that patients may not feel any positive effects from St. John's wort (hypericum) for up to four weeks. Oral ingestion methods consist of a liquid extract, the dry herb, tablets and capsules.
The NIH warns there are many brands of St. John's wort (hypericum) which contain varying amounts of the active ingredient hypericin. They recommend "0.17-2.7 milligrams of hypericin by mouth, and 900-1,800 milligrams of St. John's wort extract daily by mouth." These dosages are based on the amounts received by participants in successful clinical trials.
Known Contraindications and Side Effects
The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine says some people who ingest St. John's wort experience "dry mouth, dizziness, diarrhea, nausea, increased sensitivity to sunlight, and fatigue." They go on to warn that St. John's wort can interact with medication by limiting the medicine's effectiveness.
People taking prescription medication including, but not limited to, anti-seizure medication, antidepressants, birth control pills, cyclosporine, digoxin, indinavir and HIV medication, irinotecan and anticancer drugs, along with warfarin and other anticoagulants should consult their doctor before self medicating with St. John's wort.
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