There are many st johns wort benefits, this herb was used in ancient times by the Greeks and Romans to deter evil spirits. But today it is used as a natural antidepressant which is a alternative which is gentle and can be used instead of conventional medications and has far less side effects. This herb comes from bright yellow flowers and can be found worldwide, it was named after Saint John The Baptist because it blooms around June 24, the day of his birthday and wort is an old english name for plant.
This herb has been used for centuries to help heal wounds, burns, snake bites and to help soothe the nerves. The dried flowers are used in the supplements which offer therapeutic properties including a healing agent called hypericin. St johns wort is most commonly used to treat mild depression. Doctors do not know why this herb works so well but it is believed to boost levels of the brain chemical serotonin which controls our moods and emotions.
Other st johns wort benefits is that it can help treat other conditions that can be associated with depression such as fibromyalgia, PMS, anxiety and chronic pain. It also has some pain relieving effects and can help you get more sleep and increase low energy levels. It can also be taken if you suffer from seasonal depression which causes you to feel sad in autumn and winter and goes away in spring and summer.
For some people taking conventional medications is a concern as it can cause unpleasant side effects such as a low sexual function. So this herb is the ideal choice as it has very little side effects and is safe.St johns wort can interfere with other anti depressant medication but does not interfere with other conventional drugs which makes it useful if you take multiple medications.Additional st johns wort benefits is that it can fight bacteria and viruses as well, studies have shown that it can fight the herpes simplex virus, the Epstein-Barr virus and influenza and it also has a positive role against AIDS.
If you suffer from hemorrhoids the ointment can be applied to relieve itching and burning.St johns wort should be taken with meals to prevent stomach irritation, for it to be effective the herb needs to build up in your blood before it is effective, this usually takes up to 4 weeks. Conventional medication for depression should not be taken if you decide to go on this herb because it may cause adverse reactions.As you can see there are many st johns wort benefits that can help with the health conditions that I have mentioned above, by using this herb it is a more gentle and natural approach.