St. john's wort plant is a flowering plant native to Europe, characterized by its star-shaped yellow flowers. These flowers are used in making pills, tea, and liquid extracts, in addition to being used to treat depression because they contain many chemicals that improve the mood of a person. It has been used in traditional European medicine since ancient Greek times.
st john's wort uses
St. john's wort plant
A 2016 review concluded that St. john's wort plant relieved symptoms of mild to moderate depression better than a placebo, plus it can be effective in treating cuts, bruises, burns, and sores. However, it can cause dangerous interactions with the use of certain medications.
Other names for St. John's wort
St. john's wort plant is known by many names, the most famous of which is John the Baptist's plant, because its flowering coincides with the feast day of St. John the Baptist on June 24.
Other common names: St. john's wort plant, hypericum, Klamath grass, and goat weed.
Latin name: Hypericum perforatum.
The benefits of the trench
St. john's wort plant has many benefits. It is one of the best herbal antidepressants. It has also been used since ancient times to treat a variety of diseases. It has been classified as the best medicine for treating neurological diseases by most countries and peoples of the world for more than two thousand years, in addition to its effectiveness in treating The following diseases with less side effects than the use of chemical drugs, the most prominent of these diseases:
Kidney disease.
lung diseases.
Insomnia.
Accelerate wound healing.
Reducing annoying symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes and pain associated with menstruation.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) treatment.
Treating mild and moderate depression, and reducing its consequences such as early menopause, menstrual problems, obesity, weight loss, skin problems, hair loss and hormonal disorders. In addition to alleviating symptoms of depression associated with old age.
Alleviating symptoms of seasonal affective depression (SAD), a form of depression that occurs during the winter months.
Cancer:
Studies have shown that St. john's wort plant contains hypericin that can prevent the growth of cancer cells. However, it is not recommended to use it as a treatment for cancer due to its possible interaction with other cancer drugs. Rather, it is recommended to take it to prevent cancer.
Relieving symptoms of somatic symptom disorder, a condition in which a person feels intense and exaggerated anxiety about physical symptoms such as pain, weakness, or shortness of breath.
Reducing symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), as well as potentially helping people quit smoking.
Treatment of enuresis in children.
Treatment of tinnitus problem.
Treatment of bruises and muscle pain, by topical use directly on the skin, but it must be noted that it may cause severe skin reactions when exposed to sunlight.
It should be borne in mind that the optimal effects of St. John's wort and most other herbal medicines do not appear before a period of at least two to three weeks after taking them, because herbal medicines are delayed in action and their effect appears mainly after a month.
Medicines that should be avoided with tinnitus
St. John's wort can weaken the effectiveness of many medications, including those of particular concern such as:
Antidepressant medications: Taking St. John's wort with certain antidepressants or other medications that affect serotonin, a substance produced by nerve cells , may increase associated side effects, which may be dangerous.
Birth control pills. Using St. John's wort with birth control medications may cause spotting, irregular bleeding, or an unplanned pregnancy.
Some immunosuppressive drugs , such as dacyclosporine, which prevent the body from rejecting transplanted organs.
Certain heart medications, including digoxin and ivabradine.
Certain anti-HIV medicines, including indinavir and nevirapine.
Certain cancer medicines, including irinotecan and imatinib.
Warfarin, an anticoagulant (blood-thinning) medication, commonly used to prevent heart attacks, strokes, or blood clots. St. John's wort increases your risk of blood clots by decreasing the effectiveness of this medication.
Some statins, including simvastatin.
Medicines that act as central nervous system depressants, such as barbiturates. Taking St.
Certain cough suppressants, such as dextromethorphan. Taking St. John's wort with it may increase the risk of building up high levels of serotonin in the body.
Antihistamine medications .
Omeprazole (Prilosec), a medication used to treat persistent heartburn, as the supplement can reduce the medication's effectiveness.
Medications used to treat migraine headaches , such as triptans. This supplement may increase your risk of building up high levels of serotonin in your body.
Side effects of taking St. John's wort
Many people who consume St. john's wort plant do not experience any side effects. St. John's wort extract, which is a medicinal plant, has been prepared in the form of drops and named "HYPIRAN" according to international standards and with quality equal to foreign species, and has been recognized as a medicine in the official medicine of Iran. St. john's wort plant is generally safe when taken in appropriate doses for up to to 12 weeks as an oral dietary supplement However, it may cause:
Feeling stressed and anxious.
Dizziness.
Suffering from digestive problems, such as diarrhea, constipation, and stomach upset.
Dry mouth.
Feeling tired and insomnia.
Headache.
Increased sensitivity to sunlight ( photosensitivity ).
St. john's wort plant should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
He warns against taking St. John's wort supplement in excess, as this may lead to serotonin syndrome , which is a rare condition in which serotonin levels are too high and in some cases severe and can be fatal.
Some evidence suggests that St. John's wort can reduce fertility in men by inhibiting sperm production and preventing the fertilization of eggs.
One last tip
Several studies have evaluated the effectiveness of St. John's wort supplement and its derivatives, with some of these studies suggesting benefits, but others finding no properties. In addition to the warning that St. John's wort may not be safe to use during pregnancy or breast-feeding, it has caused birth defects in laboratory animals. Infants who are breastfed by mothers taking St. john's wort plant may experience colic, drowsiness, and other disturbances.
