6 Benefits Of Using St. John Wort On Your Health

St. John's Wort is a plant native to temperate regions like Europe, with a history of medicinal use dating back to ancient Greece. For ages, herbal medicines such as jatamansi have been used in India's Ayurveda medicine. St. John Wort is also one of them. Even western healthcare professionals use St John's Wort to treat depression.

The plant gets its name from blooming around the feast day of St. John the Baptist on 24 June. The shrub with star-shaped yellow flowers has active ingredients that work as antidepressants to relieve the symptoms of depression and mood disorders. Moreover, St. John's Wort benefits include its antibacterial, antioxidant, and antiviral properties. In addition, it heals wounds and burns as an anti-inflammatory skin agent.

Its chemical ingredients primarily act as brain messengers to regulate mood and trigger interactions with other drugs. So, let's find out more about St. John's Wort uses.

# Depression

Scientists believe hypericin and other St John's Wort chemicals work as antidepressants. Moreover, these chemicals do not affect one's sex drive.

# Menopause

Evidence shows improvement in mood and anxiety during menopause when St John's Wort is taken.

# Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)

Many women show physical and emotional symptoms signifying PMS. They include irritability, cramps, breast tenderness, and food cravings. Use of St. John's Wort reduces symptoms by nearly 50%.

# Skin Benefits

St. John's Wort has Skin benefits as its anti-inflammatory properties significantly reduce the severity of skin conditions, including eczema, wounds, burns, and hemorrhoids. Their antibacterial property fights inflammation upon local application to relieve symptoms.

# Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

Lack of sunlight during the winter triggers depression in some individuals, referred to as seasonal affective disorder. It lifts the mood in the affected people but acts better when combined with phototherapy.

# Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

There are conflicting views about the efficacy of St John's Wort on obsessive compulsive disorder. While some studies show no improvement, others show marked improvement in the symptoms with a dosage of 450 mg twice daily for twelve weeks.