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Have you heard of St. John's Wort? Discover Its Benefits Here

Nature has given us many plants that can be used as natural treatments for a variety of different problems, and today, health stores offer a wide range of medicines based on Mother Nature’s gift. One of these plants is the hypericum, also known as St. John’s Wort, it can treat a variety of health problems that many people suffer from, leading to a cure for both the body and the soul.

In order to enjoy this wonderful plant, learn about its 9 amazing health benefits and its recommended dosages so that your days will be more relaxed, comfortable and full of health.

St. John's Wort

What is St. John’s Wort?

St. John’s Wort is a plant of the Hypericaceae family characterized by the proliferation of pollen and yellow flowers. It is very common in America, Asia, Europe and Africa, and has been used for thousands of years as a natural cure for a variety of problems, and there are even prescription drugs containing its essence. St. John’s Wort has a significant effect on various mental states, such as depression, and can be found in three forms: liquid essence, tea, and dry extract.

Although there are not many cases of side effects due to the use of St. John’s Wort, such as hypertension and sun sensitivity, it is still recommended to consult with a doctor before using the plant in its various forms, the recommended dosages are:

  • Liquid essence (1:3 concentration), 45% alcohol - 4-10 ml daily.
  • Tea: 3-12 grams per day.
  • Dry extract (0.3% concentration) - 300-900 mg daily.

All forms of St. John’s Wort can be purchased at health stores, and it is recommended that you consult with experts to ensure that you are getting the right dosage.

9 Great health benefits of St. John’s Wort:

Now that you know how to consume St. John’s Wort and what doses, we’ll discuss its benefits so that you can make it a significant key player in your mission to maintain your health and quality of life, especially in situations of stress and anxiety:

1. Antidepressant

St. John’s Wort is best known for its benefits with regards to feelings of depression and has been used for thousands of years for this purpose, even before depression was understood and defined. The advantage of this unique plant is the combination of 10 components, including flavonoids and bioflavonoids, which positively affect depression and help to relieve it naturally.

The effect of these ingredients is so strong that it is used as a major component of antidepressant prescription drugs, which are particularly common in Europe and are popular because of the effectiveness of the St. John’s Wort in treating the problem, as found in a study conducted in Germany in a private clinic for neurology and psychiatry.

St. John's Wort

2. Eliminates anxiety

Modern, busy life today makes many people feel anxious in different situations, which can affect daily behavior as well as their general mood. For all those who suffer from anxiety and mood changes, the natural solution may lie in St. John’s Wort, as it brings hormonal balance, which sometimes spins out of control and contributes to creating those unpleasant anxieties.

As a result of consuming St. John’s Wort, thoughts become clearer, the brain is cleared of negative thoughts, and pleasant and calmer days can be enjoyed without getting into situations where anxiety worsens to the point of a panic attack and dysfunction.

3. Relieves withdrawal symptoms

Addiction is not just about cigarettes or alcohol, but about everything we feel we can’t do without, like sugar for example. The emotional and physical disconnection from the harmful substances we like can be particularly difficult, but St. John’s Wort can help with the task and relieve withdrawal symptoms.

Whether we’re talking about quitting smoking, high-sugar foods or anything else, St. John’s Wort can shorten the path to recovery from those harmful addictions, and allow the body to cleanse toxins accumulated over time due to prolonged consumption of these things. St. John's Wort

4. Reduces mood swings

Fickle moods, such as an extreme shift from joy to anger, characterize different transitional stages in life such as menstrual cycle and menopause. Apart from women, anyone with mood swings often knows that you feel trapped inside your own body, which is certainly not easy for anyone. Often these extreme changes result from hormonal fluctuations that require balance to return to a sense of calm without waves of volatile moods, and St. John’s Wort can help with this wonderfully.

In a study conducted by the German pharmaceutical firm Lichtwer, the administration of St. John’s Wort tablets 3 times a day for 12 weeks significantly alleviated the moods and psychological state of women aged 43-65 before, during, and after menopause.

5. Anti-viral

Fighting infections caused by viruses is very difficult, and most doctors simply recommend waiting and resting until the symptoms wain. If you do not want to wait for a viral infection to pass by itself, or want to prevent it from the start, you may want to consume St. John’s Wort on a regular basis. This unique plant will fight viral infections effectively, which will allow you to heal quicker and also to be stronger if another virus lurks around the corner, as is often the case in these situations.

 
St. John's Wort

6. Fights bacterial infections

Besides being an effective fighter against viruses, St. John’s Wort is also very effective in the pursuit of various bacterial infections in the body. Thanks to its high antioxidant content, St. John’s Wort fights both acute and chronic infections, such as arthritis, effectively, as found in a study published in the Journal of Experimental Pharmacology. In addition, the reduction of inflammation relieves pain resulting from them, so this wonderful plant is useful on two fronts in terms of relieving inflammation and its painful side effects.

7. Accelerates healing of skin lesions

The small yellow plant, which is the hypericum, is particularly effective in curing various skin lesions, such as bruising and burns, allowing the skin to return to its smooth appearance or at least to improve it. This miraculous healing of the skin is due to the fact that the application of  St. John’s Wort to the affected area stimulates the oxidized blood flow to it and thus accelerates the healing process.

St. John's Wort

8. Relieves pregnancy pain

Unlike many other plants, St. John’s Wort is safe for use in pregnant women (after consultation with a doctor) and can significantly ease the range of painful symptoms that many women suffer during this period. The plant should not be taken in forms that require swallowing, but it is recommended to purchase St. John’s Wort in health stores and apply it to problematic areas, such as those that are prone to stretch marks, pain and various stresses that characterize pregnancy.

9. Prevents and treats leukemia

A study published in 2007 found cause for optimism among leukemia patients - one of the most common cancers in the world. In the comprehensive study, hypericin, the active ingredient in St. John’s Wort, was found to cause cancer and tumor cell death in patients with leukemia.

This reduction in tumors can be very helpful in combination with drug treatments and chemotherapy, and besides, regular consumption of this miraculous plant can fight off various types of cancer thanks to the hypericin and antioxidants taking part in this role.

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