Hypericum is Not Just Another Roadside Weed By: Nancy Kobielak

St. John’s Wort is becoming increasingly popular in the treatment of mild to moderate depression throughout both Europe and the United States.

St. John’s Wort is being prescribed eight times more frequently than the leading prescription antidepressant in Germany. Presently, St. John’s Wort is being taken by more than twenty million consumers in Germany. What can a "Roadside Weed" do for you"?

Well, St. John’s Wort, thought of as a troublesome weed by some, is proving helpful to millions of people now suffering from the effects of depression. Recently an article in Newsweek Magazine as well as a feature segment on the popular ABC Network TV show 20/20, have assisted in bringing St. John’s Wort to the forefront of public awareness as an alternative herbal therapy.

There are two major reasons for the popularity of St. John’s Wort as an herbal remedy for depression. First St. John’s Wort produces results equal to or better than synthetic antidepressants in the treatment of mild to moderate depression. St. John’s Wort has far fewer and less serious or intense side effects than synthetic antidepressants.

About Depression

Depression can be difficult to recognize in oneself, but it is a medical illness and in most cases can be successfully treated. Depression robs you of your vitality and the ability to enjoy life.

It can be quite debilitating if left untreated. Most people who are depressed often dismiss the notion of depression, thinking they should be feeling really "down," or that they should be suffering some other negative discomfort, when mild to moderate depression can be experienced without feeling that "depressed."

Some of the obvious symptoms of depression include persistent thoughts of death or suicide. Other less obvious symptoms of depression could include loss of pleasure in ordinary activities, insomnia, feelings of guilt, persistent sadness, irritability, difficulty concentrating, loss of sex drive or decreased energy.

The causes of depression vary, and may include childhood traumas, stressful events and biochemical imbalances. In most cases of depression the causes are usually a combination of many reasons. The severity, duration and the number of symptoms provide the information necessary for a qualified care professional to make an accurate diagnosis.

There are two main forms of modern day treatment for depression.
One is psychotherapy which involves a therapist and client relationship. The therapist assists the client, through regular counseling sessions, in changing his perception of his life’s circumstances, as well as teaching the client how to live a more productive life.

The other is antidepressant medications which are used based on the theory that depressed people have a biochemical imbalance, specifically, deficiencies of serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain. However, about 50% of people who take antidepressant medications will suffer side effects such as dry mouth, nausea, headache, reduced sex drive, restlessness, dizziness and stomach upset.

HYPERICUM

Now that we’ve discussed some of the causes, symptoms and treatments of depression, let’s look at a viable alternative to the conventional medications used in the treatment of mild to moderate depression.

St. John’s Wort is an abundant perennial that grows from 1 to 3 feet tall, and can be found throughout the world. In the United States, St. John’s Wort flourishes primarily in northern California and southern Oregon. It is topped with bright yellow clusters of flowers that bloom from June through August.

The flowers contain black dots along their margins, so that when the flowers are crushed, the dots produce an oily red pigment. Folklore says that early Christians named the plant after St. John the Baptist because it releases this blood red oil around the June anniversary of his beheading.

St. John’s Wort, wort meaning plant, is also known as hypericum. It was first used not only to soothe anxiety, but topically, to treat battle wounds in the crusades. It is still used today as a topical aid in promoting healing of leg ulcers, burns and various other types of inflammation. Folk medicine remedies for anxiety, sleep disturbances, moodiness and other symptoms of what is now called depression, have included St. John’s Wort.

More recently St. John’s Wort extract is being recognized by western medicine as a therapeutic aid in reducing symptoms of mild to moderate depression.

Exactly how St. John’s Wort works is still being researched, but currently scientists feel that it has an effect on the neurotransmitters in the brain such as serotonin and possibly by acting as a link between the immune system and the nervous system. A study published by the British Medical Journal in 1996 analyzed 23 studies involving 1,757 outpatients with mild to moderate depression.

The results showed standardized St. John’s Wort Extract to be as effective as prescription antidepressants. However, unlike prescription antidepressants, the side effects of St. John’s Wort Extract are few and mild, it costs notably less than prescription antidepressants and is available without a prescription.

Some of the benefits of St. John’s Wort might include improved mood and sense of well being, increased motivation, more energy and decreased feelings of anxiety.
St. John’s Wort is one of the safest and most extensively researched herbs available today. The Commission E is a German government backed scientific committee that studies herbal medicines. It extensively evaluates the safety and benefits of alternative herbal therapies.

As previously stated, over 20 million people in Germany use St. John’s extract as a treatment for mild to moderate depression without any reports of serious drug interactions or toxicity. In fact according to Dr. Harold Bloomfield, author of Hypericum & Depression, Hypericum is safer than aspirin.

Five hundred to one thousand people die each year in the United States from aspirin, usually from internal bleeding. Hypericum, by comparison, does not have a single recorded death in more than 2400 years of known medicinal use. In a study of 3,250 patients taking St. John’s Wort Extract, only 2.4% experienced any side effects at all.

The reported side effects from St. John’s Wort tended to be mild and included stomach irritation, tiredness and restlessness, all of which went away soon after the patients stopped taking it.

Studies suggest taking 300 mg of St. John’s Wort extract containing 0.3% of the active ingredient, hypericin, three times per day. Do not expect instant results; as with many herbal remedies, it can take from 2 to 6 weeks before improvement is noted. St. John’s Wort extract is not a "more is better" herb.

For most people the dose recommended above for St. John’s Wort is suitable. It is best to consult your health care professional before taking St. John’s Wort extract, especially if you are currently using prescription antidepressants. Do not discontinue prescription antidepressants without consulting your physician.

It is also recommended that you avoid excessive sun exposure when taking St. John’s Wort. Although no cases of phototoxicity have been reported in humans, it is known to occur in some animals such as sheep, grazing extensively on the plant.
Depression can have far reaching consequences if left untreated. Job loss, divorce, bankruptcy, alcohol and drug abuse and even suicide can result. With such devastating consequences, lack of treatment is a sad option when a natural alternative is readily available.

One might ask what can ancient herb like St. John’s Wort do for you? In Summary, some of the benefits may include the following: improved mood and sense of well being, increased motivation to accomplish tasks, greater interest in socializing with others, improved productivity, more energy, improved ability to concentrate and decreased feelings of anxiety.

St. John’s Wort is less costly than prescription antidepressants. St. John’s Wort is available without a prescription, in easy to swallow gel capsules. Studies have shown that gel capsules are preferred by 74% of those polled. Most St. John’s Wort extract is standardized to contain 0.3% of the active ingredient, Hypericin, in a 300 mg capsule.

Standardized product means that each capsule contains the same recommended amount of active ingredients. Taking a product with more or less than the recommended amount may not produce the same effective results as noted in the medical studies. Please consult your health care provider if you are currently taking prescription antidepressants. Medications should not be suddenly discontinued.
If your physician is unfamiliar with St. John’s Wort, you may want to recommend Dr. Harold Bloomfield’s book, "Hypericum & Depression," to them.

Ancient Herbs, Inc. Is a competitively priced, quality oriented company. Ancient Herbs will provide you with the highest quality, natural, standardized St. John’s Wort Extract available. We view ourselves as partners with our customers, our employees, our community and our environment. We, at Ancient Herbs, look forward to assisting you in developing and maintaining a healthy and rewarding lifestyle.
For more information, you can E-mail us at ancherbs@netnet.net

Sources:

(1)(2)(3)(4) "Hypericum and Depression," Harold H. Bloomfield, Mikael Nordfors, M.D., Peter McWilliams, copyright 1997.
American Journal of Natural Medicine, "Common Questions about St. John’s Wort Extract," Michael T. Murray, N.D., Sept. 1997 Vol. 4, No. 7.