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Additional St. John's Wort Information
Growing St. John's Wort
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 St.
John's Wort has recently become one of the heavyweight herbs in medicine, mostly
due to it's reputed anti-depressant effects. Lesser known medicinal
attributes of this plant include usefulness as an antiseptic, pain killer, and
anti-viral agent.
Externally,
St. John's Wort can be made into an Ointment
for bruises, wounds, burns, hemorrhoids, sunburn, herpes sores, varicose veins,
sciatica, and nerve pain. An Oil
can be made to rub on areas affected by arthritis and rheumatism, and massaged
around the spinal cord for back pain symptoms.
Internally,
St. John's Wort is believed to be of benefit for symptoms of depression,
anxiety, cough, digestion, bronchial problems, diarrhea, menstrual problems,
fatigue, flu, gout, insomnia, irritability, and ulcers. As an
anti-depressant, it may take some time when used regularly to have any
noticeable effects. A
Tea
can be made for any of the above symptoms using the leaves or flowers, and the
dosage should be 1-2 cups morning and night until the symptoms retreat.
Capsules can also be made from the flowers or leaves after drying and
pulverizing into a powder. See the link on How to Make Herbal Capsules
below for instructions.
There
are some drawbacks to taking St. John's Wort, so do consider these before
embarking on a self-medication regimen with this herb. A study has shown
that it may interfere with some of the drugs used in cases of HIV and immune
suppressants used in transplant patients. If either of these categories
fit your situation, please consult your doctor before taking any medications
containing St. John's Wort. Side effects are also reported, including
photosensitivity and a mild nauseated feeling that usually corrects itself after
a few weeks of taking the medication. Lastly, in some people a rise in blood
pressure after taking the herb has been reported, and there is one study that
suggests that it might interfere with birth control pills, although there have
been no reports of unplanned births associated with its use.
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