Disability Resource Directory

Chasing the Blues Away with St John's Wort

St. John's Wort has slowly become one of the most popular herbs for treating mild symptoms of anxiety and depression. It is said that the St. John's Wort plant got its name from the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem. It is said that the knights would use the plant to treat the terrible wounds that they came across on the Crusade battlefields. St. John's Wort also had a supernatural aura attached to it. In medieval days, many believed that St. John's Wort had the ability to dispel evil spirits. People who suffered from mental disorders were often given the plant in order to calm the so-called evil spirits. St. John's Wort was often also associated with choleric disturbances and humors. Some believe this is because of the plant's yellow color. The yellow color of St. John's Wort has caused some people to associate the plant with hysteria and jaundice.

The taste and character of St. John's Wort has alternately been described as cool, drying, bitter yet with a hint of sweetness. The main constituents of St. John's Wort are glycosides, volatile oils, flavonoids, tannins and resins. The primary actions of St. John's Wort can be described as analgesic, astringent, antidepressant sedative, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and restorative toward the nervous system. There are many ways to prepare St. John's Wort to take full advantage of its properties. One of the most popular ways to take St. John's Wort is through a capsule or tablet. These have become so popular that they are now available at most local drugstores and pharmacies.

However, taking St. John Wort as a fresh herbal remedy is always recommended as it ensures that you are receiving the best quality and potency available. Here are a few ways you can take St. John's Wort naturally. You can take St. John's Wort as an infusion to treat symptoms of depression, anxiety or emotional upsets. St. John's Wort is also recommended to treat the symptoms associated with menopause or premenstrual syndrome. Some herbalists also use St. John's Wort to treat colds and infections. St. John's Wort is often combined with elderflower to treat colds.

St. John's Wort is often also prepared as a wash or cream. As a wash, use an infusion of St. John's Wort to bathe wounds, bruises, skin sores, or other skin problems. As a cream, you can use St. John's Wort to treat areas of localized nerve pains. In the past, St. John's Wort has been used to treat the painful symptoms of conditions such as sprains, sciatica, cramps, and it has even been used to treat help relieve breast engorgement during lactation. Cream made with St. John's Wort has also been used as an antiseptic and styptic. As an antiseptic, St. John's Wort cream can be used on sores, skin ulcers and scrapes.

St. John's Wort can also be prepared as an infused oil or tincture. As infused oil, you can use St. John's Wort on burns and muscle joint or inflammations. As a tincture, take several drops a day for a minimum of two months to treat nervous tension or depression.

Disclaimer: Statements in this article may not be approved by the FDA, and are not made by a licensed medical practitioner or physician.