What is Hypericum used for?
St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum L., SJW) extracts are known to have antidepressant properties and have been used for many years to treat mild to moderate depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders. The link between smoking and depression has been long recognized.
What does St John’s Wort help with?
St John’s wort is a herbal remedy that has been used for hundreds of years to treat mental health problems. Today it is mainly used as an over-the-counter remedy to treat mild and moderate depression, and sometimes seasonal affective disorder (SAD), mild anxiety and sleep problems.
How does hypericin work?
Hypericin is believed to act as an antibiotic, antiviral and non-specific kinase inhibitor. Hypericin may inhibit the action of the enzyme dopamine β-hydroxylase, leading to increased dopamine levels, although thus possibly decreasing norepinephrine and epinephrine.
What is St John’s Wort classification?
| Hypericum perforatum | |
|---|---|
| Family: | Hypericaceae |
| Genus: | Hypericum |
| Section: | Hypericum sect. Hypericum |
| Species: | H. perforatum |
What are the side effects of hypericum?
It can cause some side effects such as trouble sleeping, vivid dreams, difficulty sitting still, nervousness, irritability, stomach upset, tiredness, dry mouth, dizziness, headache, skin rash, diarrhea, and skin tingling.
How long can you take hypericum?
When taken orally for up to 12 weeks in appropriate doses, St. John’s wort is generally considered safe. However, it may cause: Agitation and anxiety.
Is St John’s wort poisonous to humans?
St. John’s wort has been used for centuries and is generally regarded as safe when taken alone and in recommended doses. However, it is well known to have several drug interactions that can result in serious adverse effects or other problems with medications you might already be taking.
Who should not use St John’s wort?
Do not take St. John’s wort if you are taking medications for depression. Some of these medications for depression include fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), amitriptyline (Elavil), clomipramine (Anafranil), imipramine (Tofranil), and others.
Is Hypericum good for the skin?
Saint John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) was recognised as a traditional, folk medicine used topically for the treatment of wounds, abrasions, burns, sunburns and inflammatory skin disorders. Its use in wound healing could be justified with its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and astringent effects.
