Nutrition plays an important role in both physical and mental health. The metabolic process of digestion converts the food you eat into chemicals needed to fuel your body and brain. Eating a balanced diet helps you avoid health problems, and lessens the impact should they occur. Not supplying enough raw materials to produce a sufficient supply of brain chemicals disturbs physical and mental balance. The amygdala is a small area of the brain that plays a major role in mental health. Serotonin is a brain chemical directly related to amygdala...
Dysthymia is a form of chronic depression characterized by a low mood that affects the individual much of the time and lasts for years. Dysthymia is not considered as severe as major depression, but its lengthy duration tends t...
Fish oil and ginkgo biloba are supplements that may help with brain and heart function. Both have been studied extensively, but results are mixed in terms of their effectiveness in treating various conditions. You should make a...
The amygdalae are small, bilateral regions in the brain considered part of the limbic system. As such, they are important in the processing and regulation of memory and emotions, especially fear and anxiety. Dysfunction or imba...
The St. John's Hospital diet is a three-day fad diet that is not associated with prestigious St. John's Hospital in Saint Paul, Minnesota, or any other medical facility, although it is also referred to as the Cleveland Clinic d...
While St. John’s wort is generally safe for short-term use, it can cause dangerous interactions with a wide range of medications, including Prozac. Understanding how St. John's wort works can help you reduce the risk of h...
Paxil, a brand-name version of paroxetine, belongs to a class of medications called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which are used to treat depression and anxiety disorders. Taking Paxil with herbal supplements...
In addition to adequate turning, exercise, cleanliness and a balanced diet, practitioners of alternative medicine claim that St. John's wort helps relieve bedsores. No scientific evidence exists, however, for the herb's effects...
Natural Balance manufactures HTP.Calm, a blend of dietary supplements. It contains 50 mg of 5-HTP, 300 mg of St. John's wort standardized to .3 percent hypericin, 20 mg of vitamin B-6 and a 590 mg proprietary blend of passion f...
If you are taking more than one health supplement at a time, you should be aware of possible interactions between them. Interactions can decrease the effectiveness of the supplements or possibly cause dangerous adverse reaction...
St. John's wort is an herb that some people take to alleviate the symptoms of depression. It might also be effective in reducing symptoms of anxiety, menopause, seasonal affective disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Lik...
While high blood pressure may be controlled through dietary and lifestyle changes, herbal remedies are offered by alternative medicine practitioners to help relieve or prevent this condition. St. John's wort is perhaps best kno...
Drastic changes in mood and activity level are the hallmarks of bipolar disorder, formerly called manic-depressive illness. Many treatment methods are available for this incurable condition, including several prescription drugs...
Many of the medications prescribed to treat bipolar disorder have significant side effects, such as weight gain, fatigue and depression. St. John's wort can add even more significant side effects; if you suffer from bipolar dis...
Many people take herbal supplements, including St. John's wort, to treat different health problems. Although St. John's wort is safe for many people, it can interact with prescription medications, including some drugs used to ...
Panic attacks are unpredictable and may occur without warning, affecting your mood and your physical body. Symptoms include extreme fear, dizziness, nausea, choking, trembling, a racing heart, chest pain and difficulty breathin...
St. John's wort has gained increased attention in recent years for its potential benefits in alleviating symptoms of a number of mental health disorders. While depressive disorders such as dysthymia are typically helped by a co...
The most common treatment for major depression is psychotropic medications, but there are concerns about the effects of these medications on children. St. John's wort is an herbal remedy that has been proved effective in the tr...
St. John's wort is a perennial shrub-like plant that blooms bright yellow flowers. The plant is native to northern Africa, western Asia and Europe, but colonists brought the plant to America, where it now grows in various parts...
A slight tremor of the hands is often the first symptom of this progressive disease. Although some types of alternative medicine may help people with Parkinson's disease deal with certain symptoms, St. John's wort is not a stan...
Weight-loss supplements contain various ingredients designed to help dieters lose weight. Some over-the-counter dietary supplements contain St. John's wort. While this herbal ingredient may be effective in treating some conditi...
This is known as cataract and is characterized by fuzzy vision, inability to see in dim light, double vision, loss of color intensity and sensitivity to glare. The use of certain herbs such as St. John's wort may increase the r...
Bipolar is a type of mental illness that affects approximately 6 million Americans, according to the Depression and Bipolar Alliance. Bipolar depression affects both men and women equally and may start as early as the adolescen...
Ginkgo, or ginkgo biloba, and St. John's wort are two of the most commonly purchased herbal supplements in the United States, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. These herbal supplements have been used for c...
St. John's wort, medically referred to as Hypericum perforatum L., is an herbal supplement that comes from a flowering plant. Proponents for the use of St. John's wort claim that its leaves and flowers contain the active ingred...
However, antidepressant medications are frequently associated with side effects, so many people turn to natural remedies, such as St. John's wort. Always discuss herbal treatments for depression with your doctor.
St. John's wort is an extract from the Hypericum perforatum plant. The extract has traditionally been given to patients suffering from a variety of conditions. One possible application of St. John's wort is in the treatment of ...
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, about 7 million Americans, or 3 percent of adults, experience GAD in a given year. Anxiety may appear at any age, although the average age of onset is 31. Women are slightly...
Photosensitivity occurs when skin experiences a reaction to sunlight. Skin normally resists sun damage because of its natural pigmentation, but some herbs can weaken the skin's natural protection and cause photosensitivity. The...
Symptoms of depression can include insomnia, irritability and frustration, feelings of unhappiness, slowed thinking and changes in appetite. According to Jack Challem and Melvyn Webach, authors of "The Food-Mood Solution," depr...
Herbal remedies are an appealing option for mental health sufferers, including the 15 million Americans yearly who suffer with social anxiety disorder. St John's wort is an herbal medicine derived from the St. John's wort plant...
If you are suffering from depression, your doctor may suggest counseling or antidepressants. St. John's wort is an herbal remedy often used to treat depression. Although it is available over-the-counter, you should talk to your...
Depression is an illness, and while there are prescription medications to help relieve symptoms, some people have turned to herbs and supplements as an alternative treatment. St. John's wort is an herb that has shown success in...
St. John's wort is a perennial herb that has been used since ancient Greek times to treat a variety of nervous disorders. Today, it is a popular dietary supplement that is thought to be useful for the treatment of certain types...
Often seen on health-food store shelves, bottles of St. John's Wort are reached for by those suffering from anxiety and depression. Used for centuries, this herb was used in ancient times to treat psychiatric conditions. Its ef...
St. John's wort is an herbal supplement available for purchase over the counter. Although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration forbids claims of treatment for medical conditions on supplement labeling, St John's wort has been ...
Over half of those suffering from this condition will experience their first anxiety attack around the age of 21. Most doctors will prescribe medications such as antidepressants and benzodiazepines to treat this condition, howe...
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter, a chemical that facilitates communication between nerve cells. The level of serotonin in the brain has a profound influence on behavior and mood. Many prescription antidepressants work by changi...
According to the NHS Choices website, the exact cause of anxiety disorder is unknown, but it may be caused by an imbalance of neurotransmitters in the brain. If you suffer from anxiety, your doctor may prescribe anti-anxiety dr...
The medicinal herb St. John's wort is a highly effective treatment for mild to moderate depression. According to the National Institutes of Health, St. John's wort rivals the efficacy of conventional antidepressant drugs and ma...
There are, however, alternative treatments that may help to ease the symptoms when used in conjunction with more traditional methods. Two of these options are passion flower and St. John's wort. Although these are herbal supple...
Preliminary research has indicated several potential uses for St. John’s wort in children, Pediatrics in Review journal notes. The most common application is for childhood depression. Many depressed children in Britain an...
Using St. John’s wort is a good way to treat mild to moderate depression, according to the National Institutes of Health, and there’s also promising scientific evidence that it can be used to treat somatoform disord...
St. John's Wort has been recommended for centuries as a treatment for a wide variety of illnesses. Otherwise known as Hypericum Perforatum L. or goat weed, extracts from the leaves and flowers of the plant today are often used...
St. John's wort is the common name for the herb Hypericum perforatum. The perennial originated in parts of Europe, Africa and Asia, and it now grows commonly in the United States. The National Center for Complementary and Alter...
St. John's wort is a plant extract commonly used to treat symptoms of mild or moderate depression. Although St. John's wort can provide you with significant treatment benefits, it can also create a number of unwanted or medical...
Gingko biloba and St. John's wort are two commonly available herbal supplements. You may use ginkgo biloba to improve your memory or to treat ailments such as dementia and leg pain due to reduced blood flow. You may use St. Joh...
St. John's Wort is an herbal remedy presently used to treat depression with great success. The herb has been used for centuries to treat everything from poisonous reptile bites to sciatic pain. The name has roots in Christianit...
St. John's wort has been used as a medicinal herb for centuries. Early users considered it a magic herb, but today it is used more commonly to treat mild depression. According to Medicinal Herb Info, St. John's wort originally ...
Easy to grow in the home garden and widely available as a supplement, St. John's wort has been touted as a safer alternative to prescription antidepressants. Used for centuries as a treatment for "nervous disorders," there is s...
Some people choose to forgo medication or look into alternative therapies. St. John's wort has been extensively studied in Europe and North America in its role as a treatment for mild-to-moderate depression and anxiety. St. Joh...
There is some controversy about how effective St. John's wort is for treating depression. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine says that while some studies show that the herb eases symptoms of depressi...
Recognized as a medicinal herb for thousands of years, St. John's wort has been traditionally used to treat nervous disorders and heal wounds, and it continues to be used for the same reasons down to this day. The herb contains...
The scientific name for St. John's Wort is Hypericum perforatum L. The herb is cultivated on farms, but it is also found in the wild throughout the majority of the United States. In the wild, St. John's Wort is often considered...
The levels of neurotransmitters your brain produces directly affects your moods, emotions and physical movements. When you are producing the right amounts of norepinephrine, you feel happier, can control your emotions and gene...
St. John's wort blooms around June 24, the birthday of St. John the Baptist. Like its namesake, this plant looks wild and shaggy but has a well-defined purpose: For centuries, it has been used as a folk remedy to treat mood di...
St. John's Wort is a plant that has been used for a very long time to treat mental disorders and nerve pain. The plant is native to Europe, West Asia and North Africa. In previous years, herbalists used St. John's Wort as a se...