St. John's Wort, Nature's Remedy

St. John's Wort is a common plant in many regions of the world. The plant is easily recognized with its oblong thin leaves with translucent dots that give them the appearance of having perforations and the bright yellow star-shaped flowers. It grows in meadows, along roadsides, and any other place weed-like plants grow. Some countries in the world actually list this plant as a noxious weed.

History of St. John's Wort

Health Benefits

Considerations and Uses

There are some precautions you should take with this herb. Taking the plant by tablet, capsule or tincture creates photosensitivity, so you need to be careful not to spend too much time outdoors in the sun. You should avoid alcohol, foods that contain tyramine, and over the counter cold and flu medications. Prescription anti-depressants should not be taken at the same time as this plant. If you have high blood pressure, you should only take this plant under a doctor's care, and get your blood pressure checked weekly for a period of time to determine its effect. This herb should also not be taken simultaneously with amino acid supplements.

This herb is an amazing plant with a lot of beneficial effects on our health. It has a long history being used all over the world in a medicinal capacity. While some of its effects are still being studied, it has been proven to be effective against many forms of depression. As with any medication, use caution, and this is best used under the care of a physician or certified herbalist.