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Herbal Spotlight:
St. John's Wort
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St.
John's Wort is a many branched perennial herb growing form one to
three feet high. The hollow stem has two raised ribs on opposite sides.
Black glands are found along the ridges of the stems, with distinct dark
rings at the lower nodes. The oblong leaves are covered by black translucent
dots easily seen by holding the leaves up to the light. These are the
perforations of H. perforatum. The star-shaped golden yellow flowers bloom
June through August. The one inch 5 petal flowers are marked with minute
dark dots and lines which are small black oil glands. When the fresh flower
is crushed a blood-red juice is released producing a blue violet stain.
The plant is native to Europe and introduced to North America by early European settlers. Because of its aggressive growth pattern it is considered in some places to be a serious weed problem. It now grows wild throughout much of North America.
It is found in meadows, on banks and roadsides. The plant is not particular about soil conditions and grows in any average garden soil. However, it prefers good drainage, a slightly acid soil, and full sun.
The herb is harvested just as the plant comes into full bloom. The flowering tops are harvested in the peak of flowering, around June 24, usually before noon on dry days. Depending on the region it is usually harvested during the months of June and July. Medicinal preparations can be made from the flowering tops of the plant. The flowers soaked in oil impart a bright, red color to the oil. This is because the pigment hypericin is being extracted. Hypericin is considered to be one of the biologically active compounds of the plant. The fresh herb is used for preparations because hypericin is mostly lost during drying.
Traditional Uses
The generic name is derived from the Greek Hypericum, 'over an apparition' which refers to the fact that the plant has been closely associated with magical properties. When the oil glands of the plant are crushed they release a balsamic odor similar to incense. Supposedly, this smell from the herb was so unpleasant to evil spirits that one whiff of it would purify the air and cause the evil spirits to disappear. In past times people who suffered from possession of evil spirits, mental illness, and melancholy sniffed the juice to drive out their evil spirits. It was used in medieval exorcisms to protect the soul, and the flowers burned to cleanse the community of ill will. It was considered by some church leaders to be an herb of fairies and the perfume of God. Many carried St. John's Wort with them when out walking at night since no demon would be able to approach them while holding this flower. St. John's Wort was hung over house and church doors to protect them from negative influences, thunder, lightning, fire and witches.
St. John's Wort is not a New Age treatment but an ancient remedy that has been handed down for hundreds of years. It was known to such ancient authorities as Dioscorides and Hipporates and has been recommended in herbals down through the Middle Ages. Galen and Discorides recommended it as a diuretic, emmenagogue, and for killing internal worms. In the Middle Ages it was used by the Crusaders to heal their wounds. This may have been originally suggested, according to the 'doctrine of signatures' by its red juice which was taken as a signature of human blood.
Christianity changed the pagan summer solstice -Midsummer's Day to the Christian St. John's Day, June 24 and dedicated the herb to St. John the Baptist with the red pigment now representing the blood of this saint. There are claims that red spots, symbolic of the blood of St. John, appeared on the leaves of the plant on the anniversary of the saint's beheading. On St. John's Day, June 24, the Christians gathered the herb for special cures. The dew that had fallen on the flowers before daybreak was gathered and used all year to protect the eyes from harm. It was a common medieval belief that if one slept with a piece of the plant under his pillow on St. John's Eve that the saint would appear in a dream, give his blessing, and prevent one from dying during the following year.
Internally the oil was taken for colic, worms and abdominal pain. It was used for bronchial catarrh, asthma, irregular menstruation, ovarian inflammation, depression, insomnia, fainting fits and toothache. It has been a popular domestic remedy since ancient times for bladder infections, dysentery, diarrhea and bed wetting. In Turkish folk medicine it was reputed to protect the liver from toxins.
Healing Properties
Today the German government allows external preparations to be labeled for the treatment or after-treatment of sharp or abrasive wounds, myalgias (muscular pain) and first-degree burns. St. John's Wort oils are listed in the official drug compendiums of Czechoslovakia, Poland, Romania, and the former Soviet Union and are widely used in western Europe. Externally, this oil is applied to bruises, sprains, burns, skin irritations or any laceration accompanied by severed nerve tissue. As an astringent remedy, with a secondary benefit to blood vessels, it is highly valued as a remedy for hemorrhoids and varicose veins.
St. John's Wort has been found to be very beneficial in healing dirty, septic wounds and has been used in cases of putrid ulcers that resist healing. It does not destroy the healthy tissues and healthy cells as it cleans and reduces inflammation in septic wounds and promotes the elimination of catabolic waste products. It increases blood flow to stressed tissue, reduces capillary fragility and enhances muscle tone.
St. John's Wort is an excellent remedy for nerve pain, and any trauma to the nervous system. It is given for inflamed conditions of the nerves and is an anti-inflammatory for internal or external swellings, inflammations and bleeding wounds. It can be used for trigeminal neuralgia and sciatica (fibrositis), back pain, shingles, headaches and rheumatic pain. It is good to take after surgery and laceration of nerve tissue. Externally, the oil can be applied to sites of nerve pain such as sciatica and shingles and due to its pain reducing effects it may ease the pain and speed healing.
It soothes and heals burns, cuts, wounds, sores, and ulcers. It is one of the most effective agents for assisting in the healing of wounds or burns when applied externally, especially where nervous tissue has been damaged. It's tannin constituents are thought to exert some wound-healing effects through its astringent and protein -precipitating actions. St. John's Wort helps the body repair tissue and form granulation tissue for minimal scarring after severe burns. German scientists reported that first degree burns healed in 48 hours and second and third degree burns healed three times faster than burns treated conventionally.
It is a good remedy for nerve injuries to the extremities and teeth/gums and facial neuralgia after dental extractions and toothache. As an oil or lotion it is especially useful for healing sunburn. It is also an excellent remedy for sprains, scratches, skin irritations, and insect bites and has been shown to improve blood circulation.
St. John's Wort is considered specific for muscular bruises, deep soreness, and painful areas. Often it is used on a throbbing pain in the body that is not accompanied by fever. Indicated for burning pain, or deep soreness of the spine upon pressure, spinal irritation, circumscribed areas of intense soreness over the spinal cord or ganglia. Useful for concussion, shock or injury to the spine, lacerated or punctured wounds in any location that are accompanied with great pain. In addition, it is recommended for tumors, masitis, boils, enlarged glands and eccymosis.
Anti-Depressive Effects
St. John's Wort is now receiving much attention and is highly esteemed for its anti-depressive and sedative properties. It is an effective remedy for the nervous system, relaxing tension, and anxiety and lifting the spirits. St. John's Wort has acquired an excellent reputation for use in cases of anxiety, depression, and unrest. It is thought that this might be brought about by the plant's ability to enhance the effect of neurotransmitters in the brain. As a tissue restorative for nerves, St. John's Wort is indicated for stroke patients, for mild neuroses, sleepwalkers, and accident victims. It is a specific tonic to debilitated nerves and is given for melancholy and exhaustion, nervous exhaustion and mental burnout. It is particularly valuable in cases where there is nerve deficiency with low level tension, restlessness, spasms and depression.
An extract, hypericin, has been found to be an antidepressant. In a clinical trail researchers measured metabolites of noradrenaline and dopamine in urinalysis. After taking the hypericin extract, there was a significant increase in 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglucol, which is a chemical marker for anti-depressive reactions. Results showed an improvement in symptoms of depression, apathy, anxiety, hypersomnia and insomnia, dysphoric mood, anorexia, psychomotor retardation and self-esteem. No side-effects were reported. The results of more than 26 double-blind controlled studies with the standardized St. John's Wort extract indicate that it may be as effective in relieving symptoms of depression as standard antidepressants but is much better tolerated with fewer side effects.
In animal studies with mice St. John's Wort was found to enhance the exploratory activity of mice in a foreign environment, extend the narcotic sleeping time in a dose-dependent fashion, antagonize the effects of reserpine, and decrease aggressive behavior in socially isolated mice.
A widely accepted theory on the cause of depression is deficient effectiveness of brain chemicals that act as neurotransmitters. Monamine oxidaze (MAO) inhibitors are chemicals that retard enzymes which breaks down monoamine. Theoretically MAO inhibitors will leave a larger concentration of neurotransmitters in the brain. As a result of MAO inhibition the level within the brain increases of certain nerve impulse transmitters that maintain normal mood and emotional stability.
Animal experiments have shown that hypericin in St. John's Wort may be an MAO inhibitor though the results are not conclusive and some research has shown it not to be an MAO inhibitor. Recent studies, however, have linked the anti-depressive effects of St. John's Wort to various xanthones and flavonoids that act as monoamine oxidase inhibitors. Some preliminary tests on animals and humans have confirmed this activity. Standard reference works attribute the anti-depressive effects of St. John's Wort to its content of hypericin, pseudohypericin, and related naphtodianthrones that are found in the herb.
It is excellent for emotional problems during menopause. It is especially regarded as a herb to use where there are menopausal changes triggering irritability and anxiety. The herb has the paradoxical effects of moistening dry tissues while drying up excess discharges or bleeding, including spotting between cycles. St. John's Wort is useful for relieving painful, heavy periods and symptoms of PMS . It reduces blood pressure, capillary fragility and benefits the uterus.
The German government allows therapeutic claims for St. Johns Wort preparations to relieve depressive states, fear, and nervous disturbances. The official German Commission E monograph for St. John's Wort lists psychovegetative disturbances, depressive states, fear, and nervous disturbances as clinical indications for the extract. Recent evidence suggests that the herb's action is primarily that of an anti-depressive and not of a sedative. It has been used to help those suffering with seasonal affective disorder (SAD) during winter, caused by lack of sunlight . The mood elevating properties take 2-3 months to produce lasting effects. The earliest response times noted have been two to three weeks.
Anti-Viral Effects
Hypericin seems to interfere with the reproduction of retroviruses. Its antibacterial and anti-viral action has been effective against TB and influenza A and may help in the treatment of AIDS, HIV, and cancer. Research has discovered potential anti-retroviral properties for hypericin. Both hypericin and the closely related pseudohypericin have been shown to exhibit anti-viral effects in mice infected experimentally with two murine leukemia retroviruses. Mice given the extract have the damage from the viruses alleviated and the proliferation of the virus was decreased. The researchers stated that 'when the compounds interact with the infecting particles shortly after in vivo administration, disease is completely prevented'. New findings have shown it to be useful for preventing infection in immune-compromised individuals such as those on conventional cancer therapy. Compounds of St. John's Wort have been shown to be effective against Staphylococcus aureus infection in laboratory tests, mononucleosis, and influenza and is useful for herpes infections. Combined with its antidepressant activity it appears to be a promising remedy for chronic fatigue syndrome.
St. John's Wort's constituents, hypericin and pseudohypericin, are being explored for their impact against the human immunovirus (HIV) as a possible treatment for AIDS. Preliminary studies have shown that the compounds can reduce the spread of HIV in animals. Hypericin apparently interferes with the virus's reproduction. The hypericins seem to work by interfering with the virus budding, shedding, or attaching to cell membranes. It appears to do this without affecting the way viral proteins use the RNA or DNA of the cell that has already been infected. Nor does the herb appear to affect the enzyme polymerase. This makes it a different mode of anti-viral action from the nucleoside analogs such as AZT. The compounds can cross the blood-brain barrier which is considered important in the treatment of retroviral infections.
Anecdotal reports have claimed hypericin has benefited people with the HIV virus. Some individuals have reported dramatic improvements in a more positive outlook, more energy, and less fatigue. There are preliminary indications that hypericin extract works synergistically with AZT against HIV.
In one study St. John's Wort extracts were studied in 31 patients and concomitant use of AZT and other treatments were permitted. The results of the study were encouraging. In the 10 patients who took no AZT either before or during the study and who did not have AIDS the mean helper T cell count increased 13 percent from baseline in 1 month on St. John's Wort and maintained this increase for 4 months. These increases were not statistically significant. Helper T cell counts of the 10 patients using AZT throughout the study fell significantly after an initial mild rise.
In another pilot study 18 HIV patients were treated solely with standardized St. John's Wort extract (weekly intravenous injection and daily oral intake). The 16 patients with good compliance showed stable or even increasing absolute helper T cell counts over the 40 months of observation. Also, the helper-to-suppresser T cell ration showed an improvement in the majority of these patients. Only 2 of the 16 patients contracted any opportunistic infection during this time. The remaining 14 patients remained clinically stable and were active in work and life. This steady state situation correlated with stable values for hemoglobin, leukocytes, and platelets. None of the usual viral complication due to cytomegalovirus, herpes virus, or Epstein-Barr were encountered in the 16 patients.
However, researchers were disappointed with the trails in general because significant blood levels of hypericin could not be achieved using the extract either orally or intravenously.
General Usage
In the digestive tract St. John's Wort's astringent and anti-microbial action relieves gastroenteritis, diarrhea, and dysentery. When taken internally the herb stimulates both gastric and bile secretions. St. John's Wort also has an expectorant action relieving phlegm obstructions in the chest and lungs. It speeds recovery from coughs and chest infections and is helpful in bronchial catarrh and asthma.
Since it reduces bleeding, it is given for problems as severe as bleeding from coughing or anemia associated with cancer.
It has a tonic effect on the urinary system and has been used for bedwetting in children and to stop incontinence. Through its diuretic action it reduces fluid retention and hastens the elimination of toxins through urination. It is also a useful remedy for gout and arthritis.
Recent research is suggesting St. John's Wort to be a useful cancer treatment. Researchers have found that the active constituent in the herb, hypericin, may be valuable in photodynamic therapy, which is used to make tumor tissues more vulnerable to radiation. After injecting mice with tumor cells, one group received hypericin, followed by radiation at the site of tumor injection. The other group received radiation but no hypericin.
Tumors grew as expected in the group that did not receive the hypericin but no tumors grew in the mice treated with hypericin and radiation. Also the radiation had no toxic effect on the normal skin next to the tumor. Researchers also found that hypericin accumulated in the tumor tissue, meaning that it could sensitize the tumor to radiation's toxic effect without affecting normal tissue. These results were interpreted to suggest that St. John's Wort may be useful in photodynamic therapy in cancer treatment.
The herb can be combined with drugs without any negative side effects. Some sources do not consider it to be a MAOI or to have negative drug interactions with antidepressants in therapeutic use, though experimentally this MAOI effect may be produced with high doses of isolated constituents.
Some authorities still recommend avoiding foods and medications that are known to interact negatively with MAO-inhibiting drugs. Tyramine-containing foods (cheeses, beer, wine, pickled herring, yeast) and drugs such as L-dopa and 5-hydroxtryptophan should be avoided as these may produce negative interactions when taking an isolated constituent extract.
Individuals with sensitive digestive functions should take St. John's Wort with food as it may cause them mild gastric upset.
St. John's Wort is a gentle remedy especially suited for children and the elderly. It combines well with other herbs and is able to treat very acute situations and very chronic ones. It is a valued first aid remedy working quickly to resolve bleeding, injury, and pain and is beneficial in long-term use for cases of exhaustion and deficiency.
Dosages vary according to the situation, symptom picture and individual taking the herb and should be individualized. General standard dosages include:
Tea- 2-4 grams, up to 1 oz. per pint infused, 1 cup 3 times a day.
Tincture- 1-5ml = 10 drops to 1 tsp. diluted in water 3 times a day
Dynamic Usage
Dynamically St. John's Wort works well with sensitive people who are prone to fears of the dark and of 'evil spirits' and who experience restless, disturbed sleep and nightmares. For those people oversensitive to their environment with a tendency toward environmental allergies it helps to promote a feeling of being protected from negative influences and to dispel fears. It brings one a feeling of being strong and full of light. St. John's Wort is thought to impart the warmth of life and energy of the sun to those who use it. It is used to impart a positive feeling and joy of life, making the user feel happy and confident.
This essence appears to be useful for releasing any hidden or obvious fear or paranoia, including fears of past life experiences. Some have found it helpful to use in situations when there is an inability to separate emotional feelings and mental constructs which can lead to frustration and fears of unknown quality. When experiencing pain or trauma the remedy may assist in better understanding the pain and releasing deep-seated fears in association with the pain. This can be especially useful after an accident, injury or operation.
It may aid visionary states and ease cluttered dreams and nightmares. For those working on intensely spiritual pursuits it may be very restorative and strengthening assisting in the integration of expanded states of awareness.
Potential Toxicity
The plant has been considered by some to be a potential hazard to livestock. There have been a few reports concerning the photosensitizing or phototoxcity of the plant. When light -skinned livestock, such as sheep, goats, horses, and cattle eat the plant and then are exposed to bright sunlight, they develop welts on their skin and other symptoms. This is the result of the interaction of sunlight and oxygen with the pigment hypericin, after it has been ingested, absorbed throughout the intestinal wall, and reached the blood without being eliminated by the liver or kidneys. The presence of these phototoxins may cause photodermatitis in fair-skinned persons who take the herb internally and then are exposed to bright sunlight . Because of this possibility the FDA put this herb on the 'unsafe herb list' in 1977.
This photosensitization is not widely reported to occur in animals and reports of photosensitivity in humans are rare and have been limited to those taking excessive quantities for HIV infections. St. John's Wort is unlikely to be toxic to humans when used at recommended medicinal doses, although it may occur in sensitive individuals. Some individuals with AIDS who take larger amounts of St. John's Wort extracts have developed photosensitivity. It is recommended that individuals with fair skin should avoid lengthy and strong sunlight exposure and other sources of ultraviolet light while using St. John's Wort. Sensitive people may develop a sensitivity to sunburn or intolerance for bright light which stops when the herb is discontinued. However, considering the extensive use of the herb in Europe and the lack of reported incidents it is felt that consumers should not be in danger as long as they confine their use to moderate doses and restrict their exposure to sunlight. It is less likely to occur on external contact with the plant.
The safety of St. John's Wort was questioned when cytotoxic and mutagenic properties of some of its extracts were identified. Quercetin, a common plant constituent was identified as the responsible compound. Quercetin is widely available in the plant kingdom and the average person is estimated to consume about 50 mg of it in fruits and vegetables daily. The use of St. John's Wort in normal amounts would increase this by about 1 mg.. Commission E of the German Federal Health Agency has noted that concern regarding St. John's Wort toxicity is unwarranted due to the small amount of quercetin in the herb and the considerable uncertainty about the carcinogenic properties of quercetin.
Find St. John's Wort in the Evenstar Herbal Products Catalog.
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© Copyright 1997 - 2008 by Mary Ann Copson and Evenstar. All rights reserved.
About the Author:
Mary Ann Copson is the founder of the Evenstar Mood & Energy Wellness Center for Women. With Master's Degrees in Human Development and Psychology and Counseling, Mary Ann is a Certified Licensed Nutritionist; Certified Holistic Health Practitioner; Brain Chemistry Profile Clinician; and a Health, Wellness and Lifestyle Coach. Reconnect to your physical, emotional, mental, psychological and spiritual natural rhythms at
http://evenstaronline.com
