St. John’s Wort – A Wonder Herb

St John’s Wort – A Wonder Herb

St. John’s Wort is a wealth of beneficial properties and has an interesting history.  For centuries St. John’s Wort has been known as a therapeutic plant. The Roman military used it as a pain remedy for soldiers.  Paracelsus, a Swiss physician, and scholar from the Middle Ages, considered it a healing plant. St John’s Wort displays bright yellow-orange flowers at the time of St. John’s Day around June 24 – John the Baptist’s birthday.  

In 1939 a group of German researchers discovered hypericin, one of the many active constituents (the ingredients of a plant that have medicinal properties) of Hypericum perforatum, the botanical name for this plant.  In Germany and in other European countries, St. John’s Wort is considered a first line of treatment for mild to moderate depression.  And while many have heard about hypericin and St. John’s Wort for helping in the symptoms of depression, the value of this plant does not end there.  

Within every plant, many have over 200 nutritive constituents!  And St. John’s Wort is no exception.  Two of the other active compounds within this wonderous plant are hyperforin and pseudo-hyperforin.  We know for example that the effects of hypericin are markedly enhanced when the whole plant is used and these other compounds are present.  The medicinal effects of these compounds are volatile as they are alcohol soluble and will quickly evaporate when they are exposed to air.  So St John’s Wort is not effective when ground up and put in capsule form.  Solid tablets and tinctures are the best option. There are a number of companies out there that have the protocols down on how to properly manufacture the herb in these preferred forms.  One company I have used for many years and trust is MediHerb.

Therapeutically, depression is only the beginning of the benefits list of this impressive plant.

St John’s Wort has also been known to be effective in somatoform disorders

(physical pain due to psychological distress), reduced depression in patients with seasonal affective disorder when combined with light therapy, improved fatigue in patients (particularly those subsequently assessed as depressed), and enhanced mood in athletes.

It has also proved to be beneficial for generalized anxiety disorder, symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder, symptoms of menopause, decreased severity of anxiety-related symptoms in premenstrual tension.  Other benefits include reducing symptoms of herpes in patients with recurrent orofacial herpes and genital herpes and producing a trend of lower total pain in polyneuropathy (the simultaneous malfunction of many nerves throughout the body).

 It raises a nerve healing compound the body naturally produces called BDNF (Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor).  The herb has shown to double the activity of CP450, a detox pathway.  Certain tumors have been found to respond to St. John’s Wort — in particular skin & bladder tumors.  For patients with chronic pain, especially facial/oral pain and neuralgias associated with spinal problems, it can be a safe and natural solution used in combination with inositol, as long as the patient is not taking certain other drugs. 

Caution is advised for patients taking St. John’s Wort with other HIV protease inhibitors, non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, theophylline, digoxin, anticonvulsants, oral contraceptives, selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors and triptans (migraine medication).  It is contraindicated:  for those taking indinavir (HIV protease inhibitor), cyclosporin (immunosuppressive agent) and warfarin.  

Hyperforin can make some individuals photosensitive, so care must be taken to avoid the sun while on St. John’s Wort.

For certain folks the proactive use of St. John’s Wort would be quite beneficial – in particular for moodiness and neuralgias (intermittent pain). Dosing would be dependent upon factors such as clinical presentation, weight, and what, if any prescription drugs are being used. Symptoms, however, are not the only indications to take herbs.  So for example, if I knew I was going to a concert where I’d be surrounded by hundreds of people and had a concern about exposed to many bacteria and viruses in a confined space I might use St. John’s Wort (along with licorice; which is also anti-viral) prophylactically to boost my immune system.  I would highly recommend taking this incredible herb –not just as a remedy to current ailments – but also used proactively as well.