Perhaps the biggest appeal of St. John's Wort is the fact that it's so widely available. It's safe, very effective (for most people), and you don't need to see a doctor to get it. Well, unless you live in Germany where it's sold by prescription only. High-quality St. John's Wort can be as effective as a prescription antidepressant, and this has been proven by several scientific studies. LifeSource Vitamins is proud to introduce our clean and pure St. John's Wort. You will love the purity.

What does St. John's Wort may help with:

Mood imbalances, even in the most modest sense, can keep us from functioning at our best. St. John's Wort, a perennial extract that blooms from June to September has been shown to help balance mood, encourage feelings of calmness, and even support healthy sleeping patterns. Hypericin, one of the active pigments in St. John's Wort has the ability to naturally support our brain’s serotonin production. As a result, it may be beneficial in providing the balance needed to maintain a positive mood naturally without side effects.*

Parts used and where grown: St. John's Wort is found in Europe and the United States; it is especially abundant in northern California and southern Oregon. The above-ground (aerial) parts of the plant are gathered during the flowering season. Similar species are found around the world.

Historical or traditional use (may or may not be supported by scientific studies): In ancient Greece, the herb was used to treat many ailments, including sciatica and poisonous reptile bites. In Europe, St. John's Wort was, and continues to be, very popular for the topical treatment of wounds and burns. It is also a folk remedy for kidney and lung ailments as well as depression.


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Active constituents: St. John's wort has a complex diverse chemical makeup that includes hypericin and other dianthrones, flavonoids, xanthones, and hyperforin.

1. While it was previously thought that the antidepressant actions of St. John’s wort were due to hypericin and inhibition of the enzyme monoamine oxidase,

2. Current research has challenged this belief. Recent studies have focused on other constituents, such as hyperforin, xanthones, and flavonoids.

3 & 4. New research suggests that St. John’s wort extracts exert their antidepressant actions by inhibiting the reuptake of the neurotransmitters serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine.

5. This action is possibly due to the constituent hyperforin.

6. By making more of these neurotransmitters available to the brain, St. John’s wort is able to act as an antidepressant.

What the Science Says About St. John’s Wort for Depression

Study results on the effectiveness of St. John’s wort for depression are mixed.

• A 2009 systematic review of 29 international studies suggested that St. John’s Wort may be better than a placebo (an inactive substance that appears identical to the study substance) and as effective as standard prescription antidepressants for major depression of mild to moderate severity. St. John’s Wort also appeared to have fewer side effects than standard antidepressants. The studies—conducted in German-speaking countries where St. John’s Wort has a long history of use by medical professionals—reported more positive results than those done in other countries, including the United States.

• Preliminary studies suggest that St. John’s Wort may prevent nerve cells in the brain from reabsorbing certain chemical messengers, including dopamine and serotonin. Scientists have found that these naturally occurring chemicals are involved in regulating mood, but they are unsure exactly how they work.

University of Maryland Study:

Overview

St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) has a history of being used as a medicine dating back to ancient Greece, where it was used for a range of illnesses, including various "nervous disorders." St. John's wort also has antibacterial and antiviral properties. Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, it has been applied to the skin to help heal wounds and burns. St. John's wort is one of the most commonly purchased herbal products in the United States.*

In recent years, St. John's wort has been studied extensively as a treatment for depression. Most studies show that St. John's wort may help treat mild-to-moderate depression, and has fewer side effects than most other prescription antidepressants. But it interacts with a number of medications, so it should be taken only under the guidance of a health care provider.

You shouldn’t try to treat severe depression -- where you may not be able to function day to day, or have thoughts of harming yourself or others -- with herbs. Always see a doctor if your depression is making it hard for you to function (See "Precautions" section).

Depression

There is good evidence that St. John's wort may reduce symptoms in people with mild-to-moderate but not severe (or major) depression. In many studies, it seems to work as well as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), a popular type of antidepressant that doctors often prescribe first to treat depression. They include fluoxetine (Prozac), citalopram (Celexa), and sertraline (Zoloft). In addition, St. John's wort doesn’t seem to have one of the most common side effects of antidepressants, which is loss of sex drive.*

St. John's wort contains several chemicals, including hypericin, hyperforin, and flavonoids. Researchers aren't exactly sure how St. John's wort works. Some have suggested that the herb acts similar to an SSRI, making more of the brain chemicals serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine available. These neurotransmitters help improve one's mood. Scientists thought that hypericin was responsible, but now they believe that other chemicals in St. John's wort may help.*

Not all studies agree, however. In one study, St. John's wort was found to be no more effective than placebo for treating depression. But these studies should be weighed against the majority that has found St. John's wort helps depression. For example, in the same study, Zoloft also failed to show any benefit in treating depression. Many other studies have compared St. John's wort to Prozac, Celexa, paroxetine (Paxil), and Zoloft, and found that the herb works as well as the drug. Other studies are ongoing.

Other Uses

St. John's wort has also shown a promise in treating the following conditions, a few of which are related to depression.

• Premenstrual syndrome (PMS): An early study suggests that St. John's wort may help relieve physical and emotional symptoms of PMS in some women, including cramps, irritability, food cravings, and breast tenderness.*
• Menopause: Two studies suggest that St. John's wort, combined with black cohosh, helps improve mood and anxiety during menopause.*
• Seasonal affective disorder (SAD): Used alone, St. John's wort has improved mood in people with SAD, a type of depression that occurs during the winter months because of lack of sunlight. SAD is usually treated with light therapy, and there is some evidence that using St. John's wort together with phototherapy works even better.*
• Eczema, wounds, minor burns, hemorrhoids: St. John's wort has antibacterial properties and may also help fight inflammation. Applied topically (to the skin), it may relieve symptoms associated with minor wounds and skin irritation.*
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder, social phobia: One early open-label study found that taking St. John's wort 450 mg two times a day for 12 weeks improved OCD symptoms. But two other studies found that St. John's wort didn’t help OCD.*

Plant Description

St. John's wort is a shrubby plant with clusters of yellow flowers that have oval, elongated petals. Scientists believe it is native to Europe, parts of Asia and Africa, and the western United States. The plant gets its name because it is often in full bloom around June 24, the day traditionally celebrated as the birthday of John the Baptist. Both the flowers and leaves are used as medicine.

What is It Made Of?

The best-studied active components are hypericin and pseudohypericin, found in both the leaves and flowers. Researchers now think that these components may not be responsible for St. John’s wort’s healing properties. Scientists are now studying St. John's wort's essential oils and flavonoids.

LifeSource Vitamins St. John's Wort helps with Depression, Anxiety, PMS Relief, Ear Infections, Cold Sores, Ulcerative Colitis, Vitiligo, Menopause, and Wound Healing. *

WARNING: This product can expose you to [name of chemical], which is known to the State of California to cause birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.

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Disclaimer: All the information contained throughout this website is based upon the opinions of the founder of LifeSource Vitamins, Bruce Brightman, and the entire team at LifeSource Vitamins whose relentless research and studies have been ongoing since 1992. Other articles and information are based on the opinions of the authors, who retain the copyright as marked in the article. The information on this site is not intended to replace your health care professional, but to enhance your relationship with them. Doing your own studying and research and taking your health care into your own hands is always best, especially in partnership with your health care professional.

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