St John’s Wort
St John’s Wort (Hypericum Perforatum) is perhaps one of the best known and most commonly used medicinal herbs. Presumably, this is due to the fact there has been much more research done on St John’s Wort than many of our other native medicinal plants. In recent years it has come to be regarded as a bit of a “cure-all” due to its impressive range of health benefits for many conditions.
- As well as being a treatment for depression (especially for S.A.D.) it also helps people suffering from mood swings and anxiety.
- Regulates the hormonal balance of the body and resets the metabolism and internal body clock, helping with insomnia, irritability and chronic fatigue.
- Eases the cravings and symptoms associated with withdrawal from addiction (to anything) and relieves the symptoms of obsessive compulsive disorder.
- Reduces the symptoms of hypothyroidism by helping the thyroid release normal levels of hormones again.
- Its anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds make it very effective for easing the pain associated with arthritis, gout, inflamed joints and muscle ache. Its anti-inflammatory action also soothes the digestive and cardio-vascular systems helping to lower blood pressure and decrease stress on the heart.
- If used externally as a salve it speeds-up the healing time of burns, scalds, bruises and scrapes by stimulating circulation of oxygenated blood to the damaged skin cells.
- Recommended for external use only on women suffering from pregnancy-related conditions. During pregnancy, St John’s Wort should NOT be taken internally.
- Research conducted by the University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada has shown that consistent use of St John’s Wort can greatly improve the ability to prevent and treat Leukemia.
- Other research has also found it to be useful for treating both melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers.
* PLEASE NOTE:
Despite its many and varied benefits for most people, St John’s Wort is NOT recommended for those suffering from bi-polar disorder or schizophrenia. It can also be dangerous when combined with certain medications. It would be best to consult with your physician about how it may affect your medication before making it part of your health regimen.