Do you know what it is St. John’s Wort? This green plants that have bright yellow flowers have another name that is Hypericum perforatum. This plant has been used for thousands of years to treat mood disorders as well as to reduce anxiety and depression. According to a scientific study conducted by Cochrane Collaboration, this herb is more effective than placebo in reducing severe depression. When combined with other herbs to overcome anxiety, St. John’s Wort can be very effective for treating anxiety associated with depression. See also about Symptoms of Depression.
This plant is also known by other names such as goatweed, damar rose, Klamath, and in Tipton weeds. St. John’s Wort grows worldwide in temperate and subtropical regions of North America, Europe, Turkey, Ukraine, Russia, Brazil, China, India, and the Middle East. This plant is one of the most common herbs used in the United States.
St. John’s Wort is known to contain hyperforin, hypericin, flavonoids, xanthone, oligomeric, procyanidin, and amino acids. St. John’s Wort can be used in several ways. Some people take this herb in the form of supplements. Others make oil from the flowers of this herb plant. Not a few people also get the benefits of this herbal plant by drinking tea from St. John’s Wort. As an alternative, evidently the Benefits of Green Tea for Health can also overcome anxiety because it contains L-Theanine.
If you regularly take St. John’s Wort as part of a natural treatment for depressive symptoms, this herbal remedy can help lift your mood and begin to reduce depressive symptoms in about three to five weeks. Health Benefits of Avocado can also improve your mood.
How do the benefits of St. John’s Wort for anxiety?
- It gives a sedative effect on the brain
St. John’s Wort works by strengthening the activity of neurotransmitters-serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine, as well as increasing the activity of gamma-aminobutyric acid or GABA, which naturally gives a sedative effect on the brain. This has been demonstrated through a study of 1,008 patients proven effective in reducing middle and severe depression with almost non-existent side effects.
- Nutritious content
Researchers in Europe have studied St. John’s Wort for decades. They found a combination of elements present in plants, especially those that are “hypericin”, which are elements that react with certain chemicals in the brain to reduce emotional discomfort, overcome depression, and soothe the nerves.
- For child and adolescents
In Germany, St. John’s Wort in supplement form is often used to treat mild depression, especially in children and adolescents. Although there is a stronger mood amplifier available in the nootropic class, St. John’s Wort is reviewed as being quite effective for dealing with anxiety problems associated with depression.
- Serotonin
St. John’s Wort also works by inhibiting the absorption of serotonin re-neurotransmitters in the brain, thus increasing serotonin activity. This neurotransmitter has an inhibitory effect on the firing of neurons, resulting in a reduction of anxiety symptoms. For information, you can also find serotonin on Health Benefits of Dark Chocolate.
- Hyperforin
In addition to hypericin, there is also another element, that is hyperforin, which is also present in St. John’s Wort in the form of supplements that have been shown to have anti-depressant effects as well.
What else benefits of St. John’s Wort?
- Overcoming premenstrual syndrome
St. John’s Wort can relieve some of the physical and emotional symptoms associated with the premenstrual syndrome such as cramps, irritability, hunger, and breast tenderness. Use 300 mg St. John’s Wort 3 times a day to ease the symptoms. However, you need to remember to stop using St. John’s Wort when premenstrual syndrome ends. Combination of Health Benefits of Black Cohosh and St. John’s Wort can also help improve mood and relieve anxiety during menopause.
- Treat Wounds
Besides the benefits of St. John’s Wort for anxiety, there are other benefits of this herb plant. St. John’s Wort has been used for healing the wounded foot. This helps reduce inflammation in septic wounds, ulcers, cellulite, and lymphangitis.
St. John’s Wort has also been used for centuries as a traditional remedy for a number of other conditions. For example, if applied to the skin, this herbal plant helps heal skin wounds, nerve pain, burns, and even hemorrhoids. St. John’s Wort in supplement form is considered to have anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effects.
- Useful for blood flow
The hypericin element in this plant is also beneficial for increasing blood flow to emphasize tissue. There is reduced capillary fragility and increased uterine tone due to increased blood flow hypotension.
- A very useful herbal plant
St. John’s Wort is one of the most useful plants, according to a French physician, John Valletta. This herbal plant has been used in the treatment of bronchitis, asthma, cystitis, cardiovascular disease, diseases caused by spinal cord injuries, insomnia, and others.
- Overcoming somatic disorders
Somatic disorders are a feeling of fear or pain for no apparent reason. You may feel sick, but the results of a medical examination give negative results. Use 300 mg St. John’s Wort 2 times a day to relieve these symptoms.
Other benefits of St. John’s Wort :
- Makes sleep more soundly.
- Improve capillary circulation.
- Improve cardiac circulation.
- Relieves indigestion.
- Against retroviruses.
- Treating malaria.
Side effects of St. John’s Wort!
Although this herbal plant supplement is considered to be very well tolerated by the body and is generally considered a safe treatment, there are some serious side effects.
- According to existing studies, there are some side effects associated with St. John’s Wort. Most appear minor effects such as abdominal pain, skin allergic reactions, fatigue, anxiety, anxiety, sexual dysfunction, dizziness, dry mouth, and headaches.
- John’s Wort can also cause a condition known as serotonin syndrome, which is characterized by too much serotonin in the central nervous system and can lead to confusion, fever, hallucinations, nausea, loss of coordination muscles, sweating, and shakiness.
- John’s Wort can cause increased sensitivity to sunlight. So, wear sunblock while you use St. John’s Wort. It would be better if you choose a sunblock with SPF 30 or more.
- Not recommended to use St. John’s Wort during pregnancy and during breastfeeding.
- May increase blood pressure.
If you are experiencing any of the serious side effects mentioned above, immediately discontinue use this herbal plant and seek medical help.
Those are some interesting facts about the benefits of St. John’s Wort for anxiety associated with depression. If you want to use this herbal plant to overcome your anxiety, you should discuss it first with your doctor.